Ezra 6

1Then Darius the king issued a command, and they searched in the house of records where the treasures were deposited in Babylon.

2A single scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace in Media's province, with a record thus written within it.

3In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree concerning God's house in Jerusalem: let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits.

4three rows of great stones and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given from the king's house.

5Also, the gold and silver vessels of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must be restored and returned to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place, and you shall set them in God's house.

6Now, Tatnai, governor beyond the River, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites who are beyond the River, stay far from there.

7Leave 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 site.

8I decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews concerning the building of this house of God: from the king's resources, from the tribute beyond the River, supply these men with expenses without delay, so they face no hindrance.

9Whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil—according to the word of the priests in Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day with no lack.

10that they may offer pleasing aromas to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

11I have decreed that whoever alters this edict shall have a beam pulled from his house and erected, on which he shall be hanged, and his house shall be made a dunghill because of this.

12May the God who caused his name to dwell there destroy every king and people who extend a hand to change or harm this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued a decree; let it be carried out promptly.

13Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharboznai, and their companions did so with speed, according to what Darius the king had sent.

14The elders of the Jews built and advanced through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, son of Iddo, and they built and completed it according to the command of the God of Israel and the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

15This house was completed on the third day of the month Adar, which was the sixth year of Darius the king's reign.

16The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity performed the dedication of this house of God with joy.

17They offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred oxen, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18They appointed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God in Jerusalem, as written in the book of Moses.

19The children of the exile observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month.

20For the priests and Levites had purified themselves as one, all of them pure, and they slaughtered the Passover for all the sons of the exile, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

21The Israelites who had returned from exile, and all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them in seeking Yahweh God of Israel, ate.

22They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for Yahweh had gladdened them and turned the heart of Assyria's king toward them to strengthen their hands in the work of God's house, the God of Israel.