Ezra 4 Cross References - NHEB

¹ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people from the exile were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel; ² then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of ancestral houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." ³ But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of ancestral houses of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as king Koresh 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 Koresh king of Persia, even until the reign of Daryavesh king of Persia. ⁶ In the reign of Achashyerosh, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. ⁷ In the days of Artachshasta wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artachshasta king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic, and set forth in the Aramaic language. ⁸ Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artachshasta the king as follows: ⁹ [From] Rehum the commander, 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 Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River. ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshasta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River. And now, ¹² be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and wicked city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. ¹³ Be it known now to the king that if this city is 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 appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; ¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you 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 moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. ¹⁶ We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you 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 of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. ¹⁸ The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ 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 been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. ²¹ Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. ²² Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? ²³ Then when the copy of king Artachshasta's letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. ²⁴ Then ceased the work of God's house which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Daryavesh king of Persia.

⁴ But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence. ⁵ Look, I purpose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for my name.'

⁹ Look, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; 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 for ever.'

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

⁷ In the days of Artachshasta wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artachshasta king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic, and set forth in the Aramaic language. ⁸ Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artachshasta the king as follows: ⁹ [From] Rehum the commander, 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 Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River.

¹⁶ The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the people from the exile, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

¹⁹ The people from the exile kept the Passover on 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 lamb for all the people from the exile, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

⁹ For on 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, for the good hand of his God was on him.

⁷ They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem;

¹⁶ But the descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest selected for himself men, heads of fathersʼ houses, according to their fathersʼ houses, and all of them by their names. So they began their sessions on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

¹ But it happened 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 restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, which are burned?" ³ Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall." ⁴ "Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their insults on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; ⁵ do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders." ⁶ So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height: for the people had a mind to work. ⁷ But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, then they were very angry; ⁸ and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion in it. ⁹ But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. ¹⁰ Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall." ¹¹ Our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease."

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

²⁵ Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until the time of the Messiah, the Prince, there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again, with open spaces and a moat, but in times of distress.

⁹ for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹¹ Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth Ir, and Calah,

²⁴ 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 children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and lived in the cities of it.

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry there one of the priests whom you 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 lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the 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 in which they lived. ³⁰ 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 children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² And they worshiped the LORD, yet they established their abominations in the houses of the high places which they made in Samaria, each nation in the city in which they dwelt. And they worshiped the LORD, yet appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. ³³ And they worshiped the LORD, yet served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

⁴¹ So these nations feared the LORD, and served their engraved images. Their children likewise, and their children's children, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

³⁷ It happened, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

⁵ Then the heads of ancestral houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up rose up to build the house of the 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 stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

¹² But many of the priests and Levites and heads of ancestral houses, 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. Many also shouted aloud for joy,

⁸ They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

²³ Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. ²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart. ²⁵ When his speech is charming, do not believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

³⁷ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there.

³ Assyria can't save us. We won't ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods.' for in you the fatherless finds mercy."

¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

⁴ This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

⁸ Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; people corrupted in mind, disapproved concerning the faith.

¹ But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. ² Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

²² Now in the first year of Koresh king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Koresh 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 Koresh the king, Koresh 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; its height one hundred three feet and four inches; and its breadth one hundred three feet and four inches; ⁴ with three layers of great stones, and one layer of timber. And 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 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, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in God's house.

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

²⁸ Who says of Koresh, 'He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,' even saying of Jerusalem, 'She will be built;' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

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

¹⁶ "Look, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be cunning as snakes and innocent as doves.

²² You worship that which you do not know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

⁴ who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises; ⁵ of whom are the patriarchs, and from whom is the Christ, as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. ¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the church.

³ In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

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

¹¹ Our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease."

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

³ Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. ⁴ Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look, your God will come with vengeance, God's retribution. He will come and save you.

⁴ Then the officials said to the king, "Please let this man be put to death; because 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 doesn't seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt."

²⁴ Then ceased the work of God's house which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Daryavesh king of Persia.

⁵ But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Daryavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. ⁶ The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Daryavesh the king; ⁷ they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Daryavesh 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 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. ¹¹ Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. ¹² But after 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 Koresh king of Babylon, Koresh the king made a decree to build this house of God. ¹⁴ The gold and silver vessels also of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Koresh 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 God's house be built in its place.' ¹⁶ Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of God's house which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed. ¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

⁵ Also let the gold and silver vessels of God's house, 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, everyone to its place; and 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 what you 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 be not hindered. ⁹ That which they have need of, both young bulls, 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 pleasant aroma 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 Daryavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence. ¹³ Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because Daryavesh the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. 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 Koresh, and Daryavesh, and Artachshasta 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 Daryavesh the king. ¹⁶ The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the people from the exile, 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.

¹ Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? ² The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed:

¹¹ There is one gone forth out of you, who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.

¹ After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. ² When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that by your foresight reforms are coming to this nation, ³ we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ But, that I do not delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. And we would have judged him according to our law, ⁷ but the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, ⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. ¹⁰ When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, "Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹ seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. ¹² In the temple they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the Law, and which are written in the Prophets; ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust. ¹⁶ This being so, I also do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and people. ¹⁷ Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; ¹⁸ amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. ¹⁹ They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, ²¹ unless it is for this one thing that I shouted out standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today.'" ²² But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, "When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case." ²³ He ordered the centurion that he should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him. ²⁴ But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was Jewish, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you." ²⁶ Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him. ²⁷ But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

¹ Now it happened in the days of Achashyerosh (this is Achashyerosh who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

¹ In the first year of Daryavesh the son of Achashyerosh, of Median descent, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—

³⁷ They set up over his head the accusation against him written, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. And we would have judged him according to our law, ⁷ but the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, ⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

¹³ Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

⁷ When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

¹⁰ I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.

²⁶ Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language; for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

⁹ [From] Rehum the commander, 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 of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

⁶ The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Daryavesh the king;

¹¹ Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in the Jews' language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

⁴ Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramaic language, "O king, live forever: tell your 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 Shisha was scribe;

²⁵ and Shisha was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

¹⁸ 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 Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram.

³⁰ 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 children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

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.

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

³ Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Shushan, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;

² A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack. I have stopped all of Media's sighing.

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

³⁴ The word of the 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 around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who are gone down uncircumcised into the lower 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, and when I looked, I was in the citadel of Shushan, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.

⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

²⁴ 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 children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and lived in the cities of it. ²⁵ So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. ²⁶ Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and look, 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 you 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 lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the 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 in which they lived. ³⁰ 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 children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² And they worshiped the LORD, yet they established their abominations in the houses of the high places which they made in Samaria, each nation in the city in which they dwelt. And they worshiped the LORD, yet appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. ³³ And they worshiped the LORD, yet served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. ³⁴ To this day they do what they did before: they do not fear the LORD, neither do they follow their statutes, or their ordinances, or the law or the commandment which the LORD commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel; ³⁵ with whom the LORD had made a covenant, and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them; ³⁶ but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, and you shall bow yourselves to him, and you shall sacrifice to him. ³⁷ The statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forevermore. You shall not fear other gods. ³⁸ You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you; neither shall you fear other gods. ³⁹ But you shall fear the LORD your God; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." ⁴⁰ However they did not listen, but they did what they did before. ⁴¹ So these nations feared the LORD, and served their engraved images. Their children likewise, and their children's children, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

¹ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people from the exile were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel;

¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshasta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River. And now,

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

⁷ Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

²⁰ Do you think that empty words are strategy and power for war? Now on whom do you trust, that you 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 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 the LORD, the God of Israel.

¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you 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 moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.

¹⁹ 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 came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, 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 They said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."

¹ [A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Great is the 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, in the far north, the city of the great King.

²¹ How the faithful city has become a prostitute. She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. ²² Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. ²³ Your rulers are rebellious, companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe, chasing after payoffs. They do not judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

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

¹² "Say now to the rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Tell them, 'Look, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king, and its princes, and brought them to him to Babylon: ¹³ and he took of the royal family, 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 GOD, '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 Neither 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 look, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things; he shall not escape.' ¹⁹ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head. ²⁰ I will spread my net on 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 All the choice men among all his troups will fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it.'

³⁴ "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused.

² They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Christ, a king." ³ Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so." ⁴ Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." ⁵ But they insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place."

⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

²² Abstain from every form of evil.

¹³ Subject yourselves to every human institution for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴ or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people:

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

²⁴ Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.

⁴ There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.

² Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

⁶⁹ The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.

⁹ And as Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

²⁵ He said, "Yes." When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"

⁶ For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing. ⁷ Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

³¹ They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your 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 he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

¹² At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, saying, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." ¹³ When Pilate therefore heard these words, 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 Day of the Passover, at about noon. He said to the Jewish leaders, "Look, here is your King." ¹⁵ They shouted, "Away with him. Away with him. Crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Should I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

²⁰ For through the anger of the LORD, it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. 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 around it); and they went by the way of the Arabah.

¹² be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and wicked 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 ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?"

⁶ in which was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. ⁶ But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Achashyerosh, even Mordecai's people. ⁷ In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Achashyerosh, they cast Pur (that is, the lot) before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ⁸ Haman said to King Achashyerosh, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.

³ For through the anger of the LORD it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. ⁴ It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and camped 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 all around;) 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 on him. ¹⁰ The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he killed also all the officials of Judah in Riblah. ¹¹ 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 until 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 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem: ¹³ and he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire. ¹⁴ All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around. 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 vineyard keepers and farmers. ¹⁷ The Chaldeans broke the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD in pieces, and carried all their bronze to Babylon. ¹⁸ They also took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered. ¹⁹ The captain of the guard took away the cups, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lampstands, the spoons, and the bowls; that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver. ²⁰ They took the two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands which king Solomon had made for the house of the LORD. The bronze of all these vessels was without weight. ²¹ As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eight feet seven inches; and a line of twenty feet eight inches encircled it; and its thickness was almost three inches. It was hollow. ²² A capital of bronze was on it; and the height of the one capital was eight feet seven inches, with network and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze: and the second pillar also had like these, and pomegranates. ²³ There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were one hundred on the network all around. ²⁴ The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold: ²⁵ and out of 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 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. ²⁷ The king of Babylon struck 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 Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand twenty-three Jews; ²⁹ in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty-two persons; ³⁰ in the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty-five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred. ³¹ It happened in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Awil-Marduk 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. Jehoiachin 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 administrators and the satraps sought to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful. Neither was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, "We will not find any charge against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." ⁶ Then these administrators and satraps assembled together to the king, and said this to him, "King Daryavesh, live forever. ⁷ All the administrators 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 decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed." ⁹ Therefore king Daryavesh signed the writing and the decree. ¹⁰ 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 kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. ¹¹ Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and petition before his God. ¹² Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree. "Haven't you signed a decree, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed." ¹³ Then they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't regard you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

⁶ When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ⁷ whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

³ David struck also 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 on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.

⁷ In the days of Artachshasta wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artachshasta king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic, and set forth in the Aramaic language.

⁹ [From] Rehum the commander, 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 Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River. ¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshasta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River. And now,

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

⁵ Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'

²⁶ "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

⁷ to all who are in Rome, loved by God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ They read in the scroll, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

¹⁴ then you shall inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, look, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in the midst of you,

⁷ The 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 through the anger of the LORD, it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh 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 royal family, 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 GOD, '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 Neither 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 look, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things; he shall not escape.' ¹⁹ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head.

¹⁸ On that day God made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Perath:

³ I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Perath, 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, and 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 David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Perath.

⁶ Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

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

¹⁹ When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Arameans help the people 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 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁴ They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

¹¹ 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 male goats.

⁷ God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. ⁸ The Meunites gave tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong.

¹³ Be it known now to the king that if this city is 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 inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.

⁸ He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the farthest parts of the earth.

⁸ Haman said to King Achashyerosh, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain. ⁹ If it pleases 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 are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."

³ Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your 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 bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's loss."

⁸ Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artachshasta the king as follows: ⁹ [From] Rehum the commander, 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. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

¹ Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on 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 on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Daryavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

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

³ I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can't 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, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

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

¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.