Ezra 4 Cross References - ACV

¹ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a temple to LORD, the God of Israel, ² then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers, and said to them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God, as ye do, and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria who brought us up here. ³ But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers of Israel, said to them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God, but we ourselves together will build to LORD, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. ⁴ Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, ⁵ and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. ⁶ And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. ⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue. ⁸ Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way. ⁹ Then 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, ¹⁰ 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 beyond the River, and so forth. ¹¹ This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. ¹² Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from thee have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and the evil city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. ¹³ Be it known now to the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. ¹⁴ Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and certified to the king, ¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. So thou shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces. And that they have made sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this city was laid waste. ¹⁶ We certify to the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means thou shall have no portion beyond the River. ¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. ¹⁸ The letter which ye sent to us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ And I decreed, and search has been made. And it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. ²⁰ There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River, and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. ²¹ Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree shall be made by me. ²² And take heed that ye be not slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? ²³ 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 to the Jews, and made them cease by force and power. ²⁴ Then the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

⁴ But now LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence. ⁵ And, behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of LORD my God, as LORD spoke to David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy place, he shall build the house for my name.

⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest. And I will give him rest from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Solomon. And I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He shall build a house for my name. And he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.

¹¹ All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up when those of the captivity were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue. ⁸ Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way. ⁹ Then 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, ¹⁰ 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 beyond the River, and so forth.

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

¹⁹ And the sons of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. ²⁰ For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. And they killed the Passover for all the sons of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

⁹ For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

⁷ And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the sons of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And the sons of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart. And they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

¹ But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. ² And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burnt? ³ Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox goes up he shall break down their stone wall. ⁴ Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and so turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity, ⁵ and do not cover their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee, for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. ⁶ So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half the height of it, for the people had a mind to work. ⁷ But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry, ⁸ and all of them together conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. ⁹ But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. ¹⁰ And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens has become feeble, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall. ¹¹ And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.

¹³ Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are thou that Daniel, who are of the sons of the captivity of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah?

²⁵ Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the anointed one, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublesome times.

⁹ For a great and effective door has opened to me, and yet there are many who are hostile.

¹¹ He went forth out of that land into Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-ir, and Calah,

²⁴ And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel. And they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities of it.

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry there one of the priests whom ye brought from there, and let them go and dwell there. And let him teach them the law of the god of the land. ²⁸ So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear LORD. ²⁹ However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. ³⁰ And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. And the Sepharvites burnt their sons in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² So they were afraid of LORD, and made for them priests of the high places from among themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. ³³ They were afraid of LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

⁴¹ So these nations were afraid of LORD, and served their graven images, their sons likewise, and their son's sons, as did their fathers, so do they to this day.

³⁷ And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

⁵ Then the heads of fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred, rose up to go up to build the house of LORD which is in Jerusalem.

² who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

² Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, stood up and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

¹² But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy.

⁸ They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.

²³ Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. ²⁴ He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him. ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.

³⁷ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

³ Assyria shall not save us. We will not ride upon horses, nor will we say any more to the work of our hands, Our gods. For in thee the fatherless finds mercy.

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no marvel, for even Satan disguises himself into an agent of light. ¹⁵ Therefore, it is no great thing if his helpers also disguise themselves as helpers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

⁴ But that issue was because of those false brothers smuggled in, who sneaked in to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us,

⁸ And by which way Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also do these oppose the truth. Men corrupted in mind, worthless about the faith.

¹ But false prophets also developed among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will sneak in pernicious denominations, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their wantonness, because of whom the way of the truth will be blasphemed.

²² Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

³ In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built-the place where they offer sacrifices-and let the foundations of it be strongly laid, the height of it sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits, ⁴ with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king's house. ⁵ And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place. And thou shall put them in the house of God.

²⁰ Then I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us. Therefore we his servants will arise and build, but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

²⁸ who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built, and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

⁴ For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name. I have surnamed thee, though thou have not known me.

¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.

²² Ye worship what ye do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But an hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for also the Father seeks such kind who worship him.

²¹ There is no part nor lot for thee in this matter, for thy heart is not straight in the sight of God.

⁴ who are Israelites, of whom is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the divine service, and the promises, ⁵ of whom are the fathers, and from whom (according to flesh) is the Christ, God who is over all is blessed into the ages. Truly.

⁹ I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first of them, did not accept us. ¹⁰ Because of this, if I come, I will remember his works that he does, prating against us with evil words. And not being satisfied in these, he himself does not even accept the brothers, and he forbids those who would, and expels them out of the congregation.

³ And they set the altar upon its base, for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries. And they offered burnt offerings on it to LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

⁷ But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry, ⁸ and all of them together conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.

¹¹ And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.

⁹ For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work that it not be done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.

³ Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. ⁴ Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.

⁴ Then the rulers said to the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death, inasmuch as he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them. For this man seeks not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

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

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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 to Darius the king; ⁷ they sent a letter 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 great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls. And 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 Also, we asked them their names, to certify to thee, that we might write the names of the men who were at the head of them. ¹¹ And thus they returned us an 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 that 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 And also the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar whom he had made governor. ¹⁵ And he said to him, Take these vessels. Go put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place. ¹⁶ Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now it has been in building, and yet it is not completed. ¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seems 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 from Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

⁵ And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place. And thou shall put them in the house of God. ⁶ Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from there: 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 its place. ⁸ Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to 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 be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered. ⁹ And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and 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 sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ¹¹ Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon, and let his house be made a dunghill for this. ¹² And the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, 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, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because of what Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence. ¹⁴ And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree 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 sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷ And they offered at the dedication of this house of God 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 divisions, and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

¹ Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate vain things? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

¹¹ He has gone forth out of thee, who devises evil against LORD, who counsels wickedness.

¹ And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and a certain orator, Tertullus, who appeared to the governor against Paul. ² And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Experiencing much peace because of thee, and worthy deeds happening to this nation because of thy foresight, ³ we welcome, both always and everywhere, eminent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ But, that I may not detain thee on more, I entreat thee in thy clemency to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, who even instigates sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, ⁶ who also attempted to profane the temple, whom also we took, ⁷ [This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.] ⁸ from whom thou will be able, having examined him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him. ⁹ And the Jews also agreed, claiming to have these things this way. ¹⁰ And when the governor gestured to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing for many years thou being a judge to this nation, I gladly make a defense of these things about myself, ¹¹ thou being able to learn that there are for me not more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² And they found me neither in the temple disputing against any man, nor making a gang of a group, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city. ¹³ Neither can they prove against me of which things they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to thee, that according to the Way that they call a sect, so serve I the paternal God, believing all things written according to the law and the prophets, ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also await, to come to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. ¹⁶ And in this I fashion myself, having a conscience always non-stumbling before God and men. ¹⁷ Now after more years I came, going to make donations to my nation, and offerings, ¹⁸ during which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd or with a tumult, ¹⁹ who ought to be here before thee, and to accuse, if they would have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me, having stood before the council, ²¹ or about this one voice that I cried out standing among them: About a resurrection of the dead I am judged by you this day. ²² Now Felix, having heard these things, having known more precisely the things about the Way, he deferred them, having said, When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will determine the things toward you. ²³ He also arranged for the centurion to guard Paul, and to have reduced confinement, and to forbid none of his own men to serve or to come to him. ²⁴ And after some days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla, his wife being Jewish, he summoned Paul, and heard him about the faith in Christ. ²⁵ And as he discoursed about righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment going to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, Go now, and having a convenient time, I will summon thee. ²⁶ He also hoped simultaneously that money would be given him by Paul so that he might free him. And so, summoning him more frequently, he conversed with him. ²⁷ But two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus. And wanting to lay down favors to the Jews, Felix left behind Paul bound.

¹ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces),

¹ In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,

³⁷ And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

⁵ For we have found this man a plague, who even instigates sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, ⁶ who also attempted to profane the temple, whom also we took, ⁷ [This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.] ⁸ from whom thou will be able, having examined him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him. ⁹ And the Jews also agreed, claiming to have these things this way.

¹³ Neither can they prove against me of which things they now accuse me.

⁷ And when he arrived, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around, bringing many and serious accusations against Paul, which they could not prove,

¹⁰ And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now it came to pass, the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. Because the accuser of our brothers was cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night.

²⁶ Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.

⁹ Then 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,

¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

⁶ 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 to Darius the king;

¹¹ Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.

⁴ Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever. Tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

¹⁷ and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests, and Seraiah was scribe,

²⁵ and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests,

¹⁸ And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

²² The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

³⁰ And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. And the Sepharvites burnt their sons in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

⁶ Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from there:

² that in those days, when king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

³ And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women. And let their things for purification be given them,

² A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media, all the sighing of it I have made to cease.

²⁵ and all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

³⁴ The word of LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,

²⁴ There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror in the land of the living, and have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit.

² And I saw in the vision, now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.

⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

²⁴ And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel. And they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities of it. ²⁵ And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they were not afraid of LORD. Therefore LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. ²⁶ Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou have carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria know not the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they kill them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land. ²⁷ Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry there one of the priests whom ye brought from there, and let them go and dwell there. And let him teach them the law of the god of the land. ²⁸ So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear LORD. ²⁹ However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. ³⁰ And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. And the Sepharvites burnt their sons in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² So they were afraid of LORD, and made for them priests of the high places from among themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. ³³ They were afraid of LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. ³⁴ To this day they do after the former manner. They do not fear LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom he named Israel, ³⁵ with whom LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them. ³⁶ But LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him ye shall fear, and to him ye shall bow yourselves, and to him ye shall sacrifice. ³⁷ And the statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore. And ye shall not fear other gods. ³⁸ And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget. Neither shall ye fear other gods, ³⁹ but ye shall ye fear LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. ⁴⁰ However they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. ⁴¹ So these nations were afraid of LORD, and served their graven images, their sons likewise, and their son's sons, as did their fathers, so do they to this day.

¹ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a temple to LORD, the God of Israel,

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

⁷ Render therefore to all, the things due: tax to the man of tax, tribute to the man of tribute, fear to the man of fear, esteem to the man of esteem.

²⁰ Thou say (but they are but vain words), There is counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do thou trust that thou have rebelled against me?

¹ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.

¹³ And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to LORD, the God of Israel.

¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. So thou shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces. And that they have made sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this city was laid waste.

¹⁹ And I decreed, and search has been made. And it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.

³ At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, came to them, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

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?

³ And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. Also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.

¹ Great is LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. ² Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

²¹ How the faithful city has become a harlot! She who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. ²² Thy silver has become dross, thy wine mixed with water. ²³ Thy rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They judge not the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come to them.

³ For it came to pass through the anger of LORD, in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king of it, and the rulers of it, and brought them to him to Babylon. ¹³ And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him. He also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land, ¹⁴ that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. ¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? ¹⁶ As I live, says the lord LORD, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. ¹⁷ Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons. ¹⁸ For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant. And, behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things. He shall not escape. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the lord LORD: As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it upon his own head. ²⁰ And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me. ²¹ And all his fugitives in all his groups shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind. And ye shall know that I, LORD, have spoken it.

³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather thy children together as a hen does her brood under her wings, and ye would not.

² And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying himself to be Christ, a king. ³ And Pilate questioned him, saying, Are thou the king of the Jews? And having answered him, he said, Thou say. ⁴ And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, I find nothing guilty in this man. ⁵ But they were emphatic, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee as far as here.

⁵ For we have found this man a plague, who even instigates sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

¹³ Therefore because of the Lord, ye should submit to every human establishment, whether to a king as being supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as being sent by him for vengeance of evildoers and praise of well-doers. ¹⁵ Because this way is the will of God, doing good to muzzle the ignorance of the foolish men.

²⁰ There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River, and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.

²⁴ Also we certify to you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.

⁴ There were also who said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.

² Thy tongue devises wickedness, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me. With my whole heart I will keep thy precepts.

⁹ And passing forth from there, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And he says to him, Follow me. And after rising, he followed him.

²⁵ He says, Yes. And when he entered into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What think thou, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they take taxes or tribute, from their sons or from strangers?

⁶ For because of this ye also fulfill taxes, for they are servants of God being devoted to this same thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all, the things due: tax to the man of tax, tribute to the man of tribute, fear to the man of fear, esteem to the man of esteem.

³¹ And they come to thee as the people come, and they sit before thee as my people. And they hear thy words, but do not do them. For with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.

⁵ Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor? ⁶ Now he said this, not because it was a concern to him about the poor, but because he was a thief, and he had the purse and removed things that were put in.

¹² From this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou are not Caesar's friend. Every man who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. ¹³ When Pilate therefore heard this word, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the Preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he says to the Jews, Look at your king! ¹⁵ But they cried out, Away, away, crucify him! Pilate says to them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king except Caesar.

²⁰ For it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah through the anger of LORD, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

⁴ Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about), and the king went by the way of the Arabah.

¹² Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from thee have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and the evil city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?

⁶ in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou are building the wall. And thou would be their king according to these words.

⁵ And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor do him reverence, then Haman was full of wrath. ⁶ But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. ⁷ In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ⁸ And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are diverse from those of every people, nor do they keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to endure them.

³ For it came to pass through the anger of LORD, in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. ⁴ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. And they built forts against it round about. ⁵ So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. ⁶ In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. ⁷ Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about), and they went toward the Arabah. ⁸ But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. ⁹ Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he gave judgment upon him. ¹⁰ And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. He also killed all the rulers of Judah in Riblah. ¹¹ And he put out the eyes of Zedekiah. And the king of Babylon bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. ¹² Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem. ¹³ And he burned the house of LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Even every great house, he burned with fire. ¹⁴ And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. ¹⁵ Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen. ¹⁷ And the pillars of brass that were in the house of LORD, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. ¹⁸ The pots also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, they took away. ¹⁹ And the cups, and the fire pans, and the basins, and the pots, and the lampstands, and the spoons, and the bowls-that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver-the captain of the guard took away. ²⁰ The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of LORD-the brass of all these vessels was without weight. ²¹ And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed it, and the thickness of it was four fingers; it was hollow. ²² And a capital of brass was upon it. And the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass. And the second pillar also had like these, and pomegranates. ²³ And there were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides. All the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network round about. ²⁴ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold. ²⁵ And from the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war, and seven men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city, and the scribe of the captain of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city. ²⁶ And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. ²⁷ And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land. ²⁸ This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: In the seventh year three thousand twenty-three Jews. ²⁹ In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty-two persons. ³⁰ In the twenty-third year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand six hundred. ³¹ And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison. ³² And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, ³³ and changed his prison garments. And he ate bread before him continually all the days of his life. ³⁴ And for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

⁴ Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault, inasmuch as he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God. ⁶ Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him: King Darius, live forever. ⁷ All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter. ⁹ Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. ¹⁰ And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he knelt upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did formerly. ¹¹ Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. ¹² Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict. Have thou not signed an interdict, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter. ¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the sons of the captivity of Judah, does not regard thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.

⁶ And not having found them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the city rulers, shouting, The men who have agitated the world, these are present here also, ⁷ whom Jason has received. And all these men are acting against the decrees of Caesar, asserting another man to be king, Jesus.

³ David also smote Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.

²⁴ For he had dominion over all the region on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River. And he had peace on all sides round about him.

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. And the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.

⁹ Then 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, ¹⁰ 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 beyond the River, and so forth. ¹¹ This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.

⁷ they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace.

⁵ And into whatever house ye enter, first say, Peace to this house.

²⁶ Claudius Lysias to the eminent governor Felix, greeting.

⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, to the called, to the sanctified: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

¹⁴ then thou shall inquire, and make search, and ask diligently. And, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of thee,

⁷ And LORD was with him. Wherever he went forth he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and did not serve him.

²⁰ For it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah through the anger of LORD, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seems 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 from Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

¹³ And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him. He also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land, ¹⁴ that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. ¹⁵ But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? ¹⁶ As I live, says the lord LORD, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. ¹⁷ Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons. ¹⁸ For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant. And, behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things. He shall not escape. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the lord LORD: As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.

¹⁸ In that day LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To thy seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:

³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you I have given it, as I spoke to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.

²¹ And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

³ And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

⁶ Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹³ And he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him, neither would the Syrians help the sons of Ammon any more.

¹⁴ besides that which the traders and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

²³ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁴ And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

¹¹ And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.

⁷ And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. ⁸ And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. And his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he grew exceedingly strong.

¹³ Be it known now to the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.

¹⁶ We certify to the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means thou shall have no portion beyond the River.

⁸ He shall also have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

⁸ And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are diverse from those of every people, nor do they keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to endure them. ⁹ If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed. And I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

³ Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. ⁴ For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.

⁸ Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this way. ⁹ Then 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,

¹⁶ For they do not sleep unless they do evil. And their sleep is taken away unless they cause to fall.

¹ Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood.

⁵ 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.

¹ Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

³ And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you?

⁵ that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?

¹⁵ in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

¹⁸ Therefore we wanted to come to you, indeed I, Paul, even once and again, and Satan hindered us.