²⁴ Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of DariusNe 2:1-8; Da 9:25; Hag 1:1, 15; Zec 1:1 king of Persia.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

5 Now HaggaiEzr 6:14; Hag 1:1, 3, 12; 2:1, 10, 20 the prophet and ZechariahZec 1:1; 7:1 the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesiedHag 1:14-2:9; Zec 4:9-10; 8:9 to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.² Then ZerubbabelS 1Ch 3:19; Hag 1:14; 2:21; Zec 4:6-10 son of Shealtiel and JoshuaS Ezr 2:2 son of Jozadak set to workver 8; Hag 2:2-5 to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

³ At that time Tattenai,Ezr 6:6 governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-BozenaiEzr 6:6 and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”S Ezr 4:12⁴ TheySee Septuagint; Aramaic We. also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?”⁵ But the eye of their GodS 2Ki 25:28; Ezr 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31; Ne 2:8, 18; Ps 33:18; Isa 66:14 was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

⁶ This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius.⁷ The report they sent him read as follows:

The Decree of Darius

6 King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archivesS Ezr 4:15 stored in the treasury at Babylon.² A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

¹³ Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associatesS Ezr 4:9 carried it out with diligence.¹⁴ So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preachingS Ezr 5:1 of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,S Ezr 1:1-4 Dariusver 12 and Artaxerxes,Ezr 7:1; Ne 2:1 kings of Persia.¹⁵ The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.Zec 1:1; 4:9

¹⁶ Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedicationS 1Ki 8:63 of the house of God with joy.¹⁷ For the dedication of this house of God they offeredS 2Sa 6:13; S 2Ch 29:21; S 30:24 a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offeringOr purification offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel.¹⁸ And they installed the priests in their divisionsS 2Ch 35:4; Lk 1:5 and the Levites in their groupsS 1Ch 24:1 for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.Nu 3:6-9; 8:9-11; 18:1-32

The Passover

¹⁹ On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover.S Ex 12:11; S Nu 28:16²⁰ The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughteredS 2Ch 30:15, 17; 35:11 the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves.²¹ So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselvesEzr 9:1; Ne 9:2 from the unclean practicesS Dt 18:9; Eze 36:25 of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord,1Ch 22:19; Ps 14:2 the God of Israel.²² For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,S Ex 12:17 because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitudeS Ezr 1:1 of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

The Rebuilding Resumes

²⁴ So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.The second year of Darius’s reign was 520 B.c. The narrative started in 4:1-5 is resumed at verse 24.

5 At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.² Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of JehozadakAramaic Jozadak, a variant spelling of Jehozadak. responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.

³ But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River,Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in 5:6. and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?”⁴ They also asked forAs in one Hebrew manuscript and Greek and Syriac versions; Masoretic Text reads Then we told them. the names of all the men working on the Temple.⁵ But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.

Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius

⁶ This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River sent to King Darius:

Darius Approves the Rebuilding

6 So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.² But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said:

⁶ So King Darius sent this message:

The Temple’s Dedication

¹³ Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Darius.¹⁴ So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia.¹⁵ The Temple was completed on March 12,Aramaic on the third day of the month Adar, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in Ezra can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was March 12, 515 B.c. during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign.

¹⁶ The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.¹⁷ During the dedication ceremony for the Temple of God, 100 young bulls, 200 rams, and 400 male lambs were sacrificed. And 12 male goats were presented as a sin offering for the twelve tribes of Israel.¹⁸ Then the priests and Levites were divided into their various divisions to serve at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as prescribed in the Book of Moses.

Celebration of Passover

¹⁹ On April 21Hebrew On the fourteenth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 21, 515 B.c.; also see note on 6:15. the returned exiles celebrated Passover.²⁰ The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.²¹ The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their corrupt practices to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.²² Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of AssyriaKing Darius of Persia is here identified as the king of Assyria because Persia had conquered the Babylonian Empire, which included the earlier Assyrian Empire. to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

²⁴ Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

5 Then 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, even unto them.

² 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.

³ At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

⁴ Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

⁵ But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

⁶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

⁷ They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

⁸ Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

⁹ Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

¹⁰ We asked their names also, to certify 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 the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

¹² But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

¹³ But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

¹⁴ And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them 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;

¹⁵ And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

¹⁶ Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation 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 finished.

¹⁷ 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.

6 Then Darius the king made a decree, 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 palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

³ In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore 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 of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

⁶ Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

⁷ Let 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 his place.

⁸ Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto 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 of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:

¹⁰ That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

¹¹ Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, 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 the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

¹³ Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

¹⁴ And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God 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 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 this house of God with joy.

¹⁷ And offered at the dedication of this house of God an 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 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 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

²⁰ For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and 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, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat,

²² And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos?S Ac 18:24 And what is Paul? Only servants,1Co 4:1; 2Co 6:4; Eph 3:7; Col 1:23, 25 through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.⁶ I planted the seed,Ac 18:4-11; 1Co 4:15; 9:1; 15:1 Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.ver 14; Ps 18:20; 62:12; Mt 25:21; 1Co 9:17⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service;Mk 16:20; 2Co 6:1; 1Th 3:2 you are God’s field,Isa 61:3 God’s building.Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:5

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me,S Ro 12:3 I laid a foundationRo 15:20; S Eph 2:20 as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,¹³ their work will be shown for what it is,1Co 4:5 because the DayS 1Co 1:8; 2Th 1:7-10; 2Ti 1:12, 18; 4:8 will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.Nu 31:22, 23; Jer 23:28, 29; Mal 3:3; S 2Th 1:7¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.S ver 8¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.Jude 23

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:21, 22; Heb 3:6 and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?S Ro 8:9¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseIsa 5:21; 1Co 8:2; Gal 6:3 by the standards of this age,S 1Co 1:20 you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishnessver 18; Ro 1:22; 1Co 1:20, 27 in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”Job 5:13;Job 5:13²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”Psalm 94:11Ps 94:11²¹ So then, no more boasting about human leaders!1Co 4:6 All things are yours,Ro 8:32²² whether Paul or Apollosver 5, 6 or CephasThat is, PeterS 1Co 1:12 or the world or life or death or the present or the futureRo 8:38—all are yours,²³ and you are of Christ,1Co 15:23; 2Co 10:7; Gal 3:29 and Christ is of God.

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

¹² Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.¹³ But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.¹⁴ If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.¹⁵ But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

¹⁶ Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives inOr among. you?¹⁷ God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

¹⁸ Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say,

²⁰ And again,

²¹ So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—²² whether Paul or Apollos or Peter,Greek Cephas. or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

⁸ Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

⁹ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

¹⁷ If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

²⁰ And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

²¹ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;

²² Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;

²³ And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

29 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

² Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.

⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

⁶ He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

⁷ The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.

⁸ The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

¹⁰ The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.

¹¹ The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

²⁶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.