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Ezra Chapter 5

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asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM

1 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
2 then
3 wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
4 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest
5 of the country beyond the River, and so forth.
6 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
7 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
8 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.
9 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
10 that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.
11 We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the River.
12 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest
13 of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
14 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
15 And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
16 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all
17 the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of theGod of Israel [did they prophesy] to them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house ofGod which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets ofGod, who helped them.
3 At that time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them: Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?
4 And they said to them after this manner: What are the names of the men that build this building?
5 But the eye of theirGod was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease till the matter came to Darius; and then they returned answer by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king.
7 They sent a report to him in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace!
8 Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the greatGod, which is being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work is being carried on with diligence, and prospers in their hand.
9 Then asked we those elders: thus we said to them, Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?
10 We asked their names also, to inform thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of theGod of the heavens and the earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago; and a great king of Israel built and completed it.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked theGod of the heavens to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away unto Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, king Cyrus gave orders to build this house ofGod.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house ofGod, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was at Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did king Cyrus take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one Sheshbazzar by name, whom he had appointed governor.
15 And he said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is at Jerusalem, and let the house ofGod be built in its place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house ofGod which is at Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been in building, and it is not completed.
17 And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that orders were given by king Cyrus to build this house ofGod at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And Aggæus the prophet, and Zacharias the [son] of Addo, prophesied a prophecy to the Jews in Juda and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, [even] to them.
2 Then rose up Zorobabel the [son] of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to build the house of God that was in Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God assisting them.
3 At the same time came there upon them Thanthanai, the governor on this side the river, and Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants, and spoke thus to them, Who has ordained a decree for you to build this house, and to [provide] this preparation?
4 Then they spoke thus to them, What are the names of the men that build this city?
5 But the eyes of God were upon the captivity of Juda, and they did not cause them to cease till the decree was brought to Darius; and then was sent by the tribute-gatherer concerning this
6 the copy of a letter, which Thanthanai, the governor of the part on this side the river, and Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants the Apharsachæans who were on this side of the river, sent to king Darius.
7 They sent an account to him, and thus it was written in it: All peace to king Darius.
8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the land of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is building with choice stones, and they are laying timbers in the walls, and that work is prospering, and goes on favourably in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and thus we said to them, Who gave you the order to build this house, and to [provide] this preparation?
10 And we asked them their names, [in order] to declare [them] to thee, so as to write to thee the names of their leading men.
11 And they answered us thus, saying, We [are] the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we [are] building the house which had been built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it, and established it for them.
12 But after that our fathers provoked the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the Chaldean, king of Babylon, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people captive to Babylon.
13 And in the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built.
14 And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor brought out from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried them into the temple of the king, them did king Cyrus bring out from the temple of the king, and gave them to Sabanasar the treasurer, who was over the treasure;
15 and said to him, Take all the vessels, and go, put them in the house that is in Jerusalem in their place.
16 Then that Sabanazar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem: and from that time even until now it has been building, and has not been finished.
17 And now, if it [seem] good to the king, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king at Babylon, that thou mayest know [if it be] that a decree was made by king Cyrus to build that house of God that was in Jerusalem, and let the king send to us when he has learnt concerning this [matter].

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Prophetaverunt autem Aggæus Propheta, et Zacharias filius Addo prophetantes ad Iudæos, qui erant in Iudæa et Ierusalem, in nomine Dei Israel.
2 Tunc surrexerunt Zorobabel filius Salathiel, et Iosue filius Iosedec, et cœperunt ædificare templum Dei in Ierusalem, et cum eis prophetæ Dei adiuvantes eos.
3 In ipso autem tempore venit ad eos Thathanai, qui erat dux trans Flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii eorum: sicque dixerunt eis: Quis dedit vobis consilium ut domum hanc ædificaretis, et muros eius instauraretis?
4 Ad quod respondimus eis, quæ essent nomina hominum auctorum ædificationis illius.
5 Oculus autem Dei eorum factus est super senes Iudæorum, et non potuerunt inhibere eos. Placuitque ut res ad Darium referretur, et tunc satisfacerent adversus accusationem illam.
6 Exemplar epistolæ, quam misit Thathanai dux regionis trans Flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliatores eius Arphasachæi, qui erant trans Flumen, ad Darium regem.
7 Sermo, quem miserant ei, sic scriptus erat: Dario regi pax omnis.
8 Notum sit regi, isse nos ad Iudæam provinciam, ad domum Dei magni, quæ ædificatur lapide impolito, et ligna ponuntur in parietibus: opusque illud diligenter extruitur, et crescit in manibus eorum.
9 Interrogavimus ergo senes illos, et ita diximus eis: Quis dedit vobis potestatem ut domum hanc ædificaretis, et muros hos instauraretis?
10 Sed et nomina eorum quæsivimus ab eis, ut nunciaremus tibi: scripsimusque nomina eorum virorum, qui sunt principes in eis.
11 Huiuscemodi autem sermonem responderunt nobis, dicentes: Nos sumus servi Dei cæli et terræ, et ædificamus templum, quod erat extructum ante hos annos multos, quodque rex Israel magnus ædificaverat, et extruxerat.
12 Postquam autem ad iracundiam provocaverunt patres nostri Deum cæli, tradidit eos in manus Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis Chaldæi, domum quoque hanc destruxit, et populum eius transtulit in Babylonem.
13 Anno autem primo Cyri regis Babylonis, Cyrus rex proposuit edictum ut domus Dei hæc ædificaretur.
14 Nam et vasa templi Dei aurea et argentea, quæ Nabuchodonosor tulerat de templo, quod erat in Ierusalem, et asportaverat ea in templum Babylonis, protulit Cyrus rex de templo Babylonis, et data sunt Sassabasar vocabulo, quem et principem constituit,
15 dixitque ei: Hæc vasa tolle, et vade, et pone ea in templo, quod est in Ierusalem, et domus Dei ædificetur in loco suo.
16 Tunc itaque Sassabasar ille venit et posuit fundamenta templi Dei in Ierusalem, et ex eo tempore usque nunc ædificatur, et necdum completum est.
17 Nunc ergo, si videtur regi bonum, recenseat in bibliotheca regis, quæ est in Babylone, utrumnam a Cyro rege iussum fuerit ut ædificaretur domus Dei in Ierusalem, et voluntatem regis super hac re mittat ad nos.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.
2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3 At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”
4 They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.
5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.
7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14 The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15 He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’
16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And prophesied have the prophets, (Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo) unto the Jews who <FI>are<Fi> in Judah and in Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel--unto them.
2 Then have Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, risen, and begun to build the house of God, that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and with them are the prophets of God supporting them.
3 At that time come to them hath Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and thus they are saying to them, `Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?'
4 Then thus we have said to them, `What <FI>are<Fi> the names of the men who are building this building?'
5 And the eye of their God hath been upon the elders of the Jews, and they have not caused them to cease till the matter goeth to Darius, and then they send back a letter concerning this thing.
6 The copy of a letter that Tatnai, governor beyond the river, hath sent, and Shethar-Boznai and his companions, the Apharsachites who <FI>are<Fi> beyond the river, unto Darius the king.
7 A letter they have sent unto him, and thus is it written in it:
8 `To Darius the king, all peace! be it known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the great house of God, and it is built <FI>with<Fi> rolled stones, and wood is placed in the walls, and this work is done speedily, and prospering in their hand.
9 Then we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?
10 And also their names we have asked of them, to let thee know, that we might write the names of the men who <FI>are<Fi> at their head.
11 `And thus they have returned us word, saying, We <FI>are<Fi> servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built many years before this, that a great king of Israel built and finished:
12 but after that our fathers made the God of heaven angry, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the Chaldean, and this house he destroyed, and the people he removed to Babylon;
13 but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,
14 and also, the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken forth out of the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, them hath Cyrus the king brought forth out of the temple of Babylon, and they have been given to <FI>one<Fi> , Sheshbazzar <FI>is<Fi> his name, whom he made governor,
15 and said to him, These vessels lift up, go, put them down in the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and the house of God is builded on its place.
16 Then hath this Sheshbazzar come--he hath laid the foundations of the house of God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and from thence even till now it hath been building, and is not finished.
17 `And now, if to the king it be good, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king, that <FI>is<Fi> there in Babylon, whether it be that of Cyrus the king there was made a decree to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and the will of the king concerning this thing he doth send unto us.'

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).