Then the prophets, Haggaithe prophet, and Zechariahthe sonof Iddo, prophesieduntothe Jewsthat were in Judahand Jerusalemin the nameof the Godof Israel, even untothem. Thenrose upZerubbabelthe sonof Shealtiel, and Jeshuathe sonof Jozadak, and beganto buildthe houseof Godwhich is at Jerusalem: and withthem were the prophetsofGodhelpingthem. At the same timecametothem Tatnai, governoron this sidethe river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and saidthusunto them, Whohath commandedyou to buildthishouse, and to make upthiswall? Thensaidwe unto them after this manner, Whatare the namesof the menthatmakethisbuilding? But the eyeof their Godwasuponthe eldersof the Jews, that they could notcause themto cease, tillthe mattercameto Darius: and thenthey returned answerby letterconcerningthis matter . The copyof the letterthatTatnai, governoron this sidethe river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companionsthe Apharsachites, which were on this sidethe river, sentuntoDariusthe king: They senta letteruntohim, whereinwas writtenthus; Unto Dariusthe king, allpeace. Beit knownunto the king, thatwe wentinto the provinceof Judea, to the houseof the greatGod, whichis builtwith greatstones, and timberis laidin the walls, and thisworkgoethfast on, and prosperethin their hands. Thenaskedwe thoseelders, and saidunto them thus, Whocommandedyou to buildthishouse, and to make upthesewalls? We askedtheir namesalso, to certifythee, thatwe might writethe namesof the menthat were the chiefof them. And thusthey returnedus answer, saying, Weare the servantsofthe Godof heavenand earth, and buildthe housethatwasbuiltthesemanyyearsago, which a greatkingof Israelbuiltand set up. Butafterthatour fathershad provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gavetheminto the handof Nebuchadnezzarthe kingof Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyedthishouse, and carried the people awayinto Babylon. Butin the firstyearof Cyrusthe kingofBabylon the same kingCyrusmadea decreeto buildthishouseof God. And the vesselsalsoofgoldand silverofthe houseof God, whichNebuchadnezzartookout ofthe templethat was in Jerusalem, and broughttheminto the templeofBabylon, thosedid Cyrusthe kingtakeout ofthe templeofBabylon, and they were deliveredunto one , whose name was Sheshbazzar, whomhe had madegovernor; And saidunto him, Takethesevessels, go, carrytheminto the templethat is in Jerusalem, and let the houseof Godbe builtinhis place. Thencamethe sameSheshbazzar, and laidthe foundationofthe houseof Godwhich is in Jerusalem: and sincethat timeeven untilnowhath it been in building, and yet it is notfinished. Nowtherefore, if it seem goodtothe king, let there be search madein the king's treasurehouse, which is thereat Babylon, whetherit be so , thata decreewas madeofCyrusthe kingto buildthishouseof Godat Jerusalem, and let the kingsendhis pleasuretous concerningthis matter.