Ezra Chapter 6
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
2
And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
3
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
4
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5
Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel
6
prophesied they unto them.
7
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
8
At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
9
Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.
10
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
11
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;
12
they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.
13
Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.
14
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
15
We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
16
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
17
But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto 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.
18
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
19
And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
20
and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
21
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
22
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Then king Darius gave orders, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2
And there was found at Achmetha in the fortress that is in the province of Media a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3
In the first year of king Cyrus, king Cyrus made a decree [concerning] the house ofGod at Jerusalem: Let the house be built for a place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be solidly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits,
4
[with] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5
and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house ofGod, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple that is at Jerusalem, in their place; and thou shalt put [them] in the house ofGod.
6
Therefore Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
7
let the work of this house ofGod alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house ofGod in its place.
8
Moreover, I give orders what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews, for the building of this house ofGod: that of the king's goods, of the tribute beyond the river, expenses be diligently given to these men, that they be not hindered.
9
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks and rams and lambs, for the burnt-offerings to theGod of the heavens, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
10
that they may present sweet odours to theGod of the heavens, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11
Also I have given order that whosoever shall alter this rescript, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon, and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12
And theGod that has caused his name to dwell there overthrow every king and people that shall put forth their hand to alter [or] to destroy this house ofGod which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have given [this] order; let it be done diligently.
13
Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, because of that which king Darius had sent, did so diligently.
14
And the elders of the Jews built; and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and completed [it] according to the commandment of theGod of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.
16
And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house ofGod with joy;
17
and they presented at the dedication of this house ofGod a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
And they set the priests in their classes, and the Levites in their divisions, for the service ofGod, which is at Jerusalem: as it is written in the book of Moses.
19
And the children of the captivity held the passover upon the fourteenth of the first month.
20
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves as one [man]: they were all pure; and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21
And the children of Israel that were come back out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah theGod of Israel, did eat;
22
and they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for Jehovah had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house ofGod, theGod of Israel.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and caused a search to be made in the record-offices, where the treasure is stored in Babylon.
2
And there was found in the city, in the palace, a volume, and this was the record written in it.
3
In the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the holy house of God that was in Jerusalem, [saying], Let the house be built, and the place where they sacrifice the sacrifices. (Also he appointed its elevation, in height sixty cubits; its breadth [was] of sixty cubits.)
4
And [let there be] three strong layers of stone, and one layer of timber; and the expense shall be paid out of the house of the king.
5
And the silver and the gold vessels of the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor carried off from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried to Babylon, let them even be given, and be carried to the temple that is in Jerusalem, and put in the place where they were set in the house of God.
6
Now, ye rulers beyond the river, Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants the Apharsachæans, who [are] on the other side of the river, give [these things], keeping far from that place.
7
Now let alone the work of the house of God: let the rulers of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build that house of God on its place.
8
Also a decree has been made by me, if haply ye may do somewhat in concert with the elders of the Jews for the building of that house of God: to wit, out of the king's property, [even] the tributes beyond the river, let there be money to defray the expenses carefully granted to those men, so that they be not hindered.
9
And whatever need [there may be], ye shall give both the young of bulls and rams, and lambs for whole-burnt-offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, oil:—let it be given them according to the word of the priests that are in Jerusalem, day by day whatsoever they shall ask;
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that they may offer sweet savours to the God of heaven, and that they may pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11
And a decree has been made by me, that every man who shall alter this word, timber shall be pulled down from his house, and let him be lifted up and slain upon it, and his house shall be confiscated.
12
And may the God whose name dwells there, overthrow every king and people who shall stretch out his hand to alter or destroy the house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be diligently [attended to].
13
Then Thanthanai the governor on this side beyond the river, Satharbuzanai, and his fellow-servants, according to that which king Darius sent, so they did diligently.
14
And the elders of the Jews and the Levites built, at the prophecy of Aggæus the prophet, and Zacharias the son of Addo: and they built up, and finished [it], by the decree of the God of Israel, and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Arthasastha, kings of the Persians.
15
And they finished this house by the third day of the month Adar, which is the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of the house of God with gladness.
17
And they offered for the dedication of the house of God a hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, twelve kids of the goats for a sin-offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their separate orders, for the services of God in Jerusalem, according to the writing of the book of Moses.
19
And the children of the captivity kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20
For the priests and Levites were purified, all were clean to a man, and they slew the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21
And the children of Israel ate the passover, [even] they that were of the captivity, and every one who separated himself to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel.
22
And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with gladness, because the Lord made them glad, and he turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the house of the God of Israel.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Tunc Darius rex præcepit: et recensuerunt in bibliotheca librorum, qui erant repositi in Babylone,
2
et inventum est in Ecbatanis, quod est castrum in Medena provincia volumen unum, talisque scriptus erat in eo commentarius:
3
Anno primo Cyri regis: Cyrus rex decrevit ut domus Dei ædificaretur, quæ est in Ierusalem, in loco ubi immolent hostias, et ut ponant fundamenta supportantia altitudinem cubitorum sexaginta, et latitudinem cubitorum sexaginta,
4
ordines de lapidibus impolitis tres, et sic ordines de lignis novis: sumptus autem de domo regis dabuntur.
5
Sed et vasa templi Dei aurea et argentea, quæ Nabuchodonosor tulerat de templo Ierusalem, et attulerat ea in Babylonem, reddantur, et referantur in templum in Ierusalem in locum suum, quæ et posita sunt in templo Dei.
6
Nunc ergo Thathanai dux regionis, quæ est trans Flumen, Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii vestri Apharsachæi, qui estis trans Flumen, procul recedite ab illis,
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et dimittite fieri templum Dei illud a duce Iudæorum, et a senioribus eorum, ut domum Dei illam ædificent in loco suo.
8
Sed et a me præceptum est quid oporteat fieri a presbyteris Iudæorum illis ut ædificetur domus Dei, scilicet ut de arca regis, id est, de tributis, quæ dantur de regione trans Flumen, studiose sumptus dentur viris illis ne impediatur opus.
9
Quod si necesse fuerit, et vitulos, et agnos, et hœdos in holocaustum Deo cæli, frumentum, sal, vinum, et oleum, secundum ritum Sacerdotum, qui sunt in Ierusalem, detur eis per singulos dies, ne sit in aliquo querimonia.
10
Et offerant oblationes Deo cæli, orentque pro vita regis, et filiorum eius.
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A me ergo positum est decretum: Ut omnis homo, qui hanc mutaverit iussionem, tollatur lignum de domum ipsius, et erigatur, et configatur in eo, domus autem eius publicetur.
12
Deus autem, qui habitare fecit nomen suum ibi, dissipet omnia regna, et populum qui extenderit manum suam ut repugnet, et dissipet domum Dei illam, quæ est in Ierusalem. Ego Darius statui decretum, quod studiose impleri volo.
13
Igitur Thathanai dux regionis trans Flumen, et Stharbuzanai, et consiliarii eius, secundum quod præceperat Darius rex, sic diligenter executi sunt.
14
Seniores autem Iudæorum ædificabant, et prosperabantur iuxta prophetiam Aggæi prophetæ, et Zachariæ filii Addo: et ædificaverunt et construxerunt iubente Deo Israel, et iubente Cyro, et Dario, et Artaxerxe regibus Persarum:
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et compleverunt domum Dei istam, usque ad diem tertium mensis Adar, qui est annus sextus regni Darii regis.
16
Fecerunt autem filii Israel Sacerdotes et Levitæ, et reliqui filiorum transmigrationis, dedicationem Domus Dei in gaudio.
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Et obtulerunt in dedicationem domus Dei, vitulos centum, arietes ducentos, agnos quadringentos, hircos caprarum pro peccato totius Israel duodecim, iuxta numerum tribuum Israel.
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Et statuerunt Sacerdotes in ordinibus suis, et Levitas in vicibus suis super opera Dei in Ierusalem, sicut scriptum est in libro Moysi.
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Fecerunt autem filii Israel transmigrationis, Pascha, quartadecima die mensis primi.
20
Purificati enim fuerant Sacerdotes et Levitæ quasi unus: omnes mundi ad immolandum pascha universis filiis transmigrationis, et fratribus suis Sacerdotibus, et sibi.
21
Et comederunt filii Israel, qui reversi fuerant de transmigratione, et omnes qui se separaverant a coinquinatione Gentium terræ ad eos, ut quærerent Dominum Deum Israel.
22
Et fecerunt sollemnitatem azymorum septem diebus in lætitia, quoniam lætificaverat eos Dominus, et converterat cor regis Assur ad eos, ut adiuvaret manus eorum in opere domus Domini Dei Israel.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched.
2
A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:
3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits;
4
with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
5
Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.
6
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there.
7
Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
8
Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
9
That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,
10
that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.
11
I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12
May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
13
Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence, because Darius the king had sent a decree.
14
The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15
This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16
The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17
They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
19
The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20
Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21
The children of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, ate,
22
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and they sought in the house of the books of the treasuries placed there in Babylon,
2
and there hath been found at Achmetha, in a palace that <FI>is<Fi> in the province of Media, a roll, and a record thus written within it <FI>is<Fi> :
3
`In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king hath made a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: the house let be builded in the place where they are sacrificing sacrifices, and its foundations strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits;
4
three rows of rolled stones, and a row of new wood, and the outlay let be given out of the king's house.
5
`And also, the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, let be given back, and go to the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, <FI>each<Fi> to its place, and put <FI>them<Fi> down in the house of God.
6
`Now, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, the Apharsachites, who <FI>are<Fi> beyond the river, be ye far from hence;
7
let alone the work of this house of God, let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God on its place.
8
`And by me is made a decree concerning that which ye do with the elders of these Jews to build this house of God, that of the riches of the king, that <FI>are<Fi> of the tribute beyond the river, speedily let the outlay be given to these men, that they cease not;
9
and what they are needing--both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil according to the saying of the priests who <FI>are<Fi> in Jerusalem--let be given to them day by day without fail,
10
that they be bringing near sweet savours to the God of heaven, and praying for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11
`And by me is made a decree, that any one who changeth this thing, let wood be pulled down from his house, and being raised up, let him be smitten on it, and his house let be made a dunghill for this.
12
And God, who caused His name to dwell there, doth cast down any king and people that putteth forth his hand to change, to destroy this house of God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem; I Darius have made a decree; speedily let it be done.'
13
Then Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king hath sent, so they have done speedily;
14
and the elders of the Jews are building and prospering through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, and they have built and finished by the decree of the God of Israel, and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15
And this house hath gone out till the third day of the month Adar, that is <FI>in<Fi> the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16
And the sons of Israel have made, <FI>and<Fi> the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, a dedication of this house of God with joy,
17
and have brought near for the dedication of this house of God, bullocks a hundred, rams two hundred, lambs four hundred; and young he-goats for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve, according to the number of the tribes of Israel;
18
and they have established the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, over the service of God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
19
And the sons of the captivity make the passover on the fourteenth of the first month,
20
for the priests and the Levites have been purified together--all of them <FI>are<Fi> pure--and they slaughter the passover for all the sons of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21
And the sons of Israel, those returning from the captivity, and every one who is separated from the uncleanness of the nations of the land unto them, to seek to Jehovah, God of Israel, do eat,
22
and they make the feast of unleavened things seven days with joy, for Jehovah made them to rejoice, and turned round the heart of the king of Asshur unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
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).