1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel {did they prophesy} to them.2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, who helped them.3 At that time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them: Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?4 And they said to them after this manner: What are the names of the men that build this building?5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease till the matter came to Darius; and then they returned answer by letter concerning it.6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side the river, sent to Darius the king.7 They sent a report 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 being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work is being carried on with diligence, and prospers in their hand.9 Then asked we those elders: thus we said to them, Who gave you orders to build this house and to complete this wall?10 We asked their names also, to inform thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of the heavens and the earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago; and a great king of Israel built and completed it.12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of the heavens to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away unto Babylon.13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, king Cyrus gave orders to build this house of God.14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was at Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did king Cyrus take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one Sheshbazzar by name, whom he had appointed governor.15 And he said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is at Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, {and} laid the foundation of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been in building, and it is not completed.17 And now, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that orders were given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

1 Maar H ggai, die profeet, en Sagar¡a, die seun van Iddo, die profete, het vir die Jode wat in Juda en Jerusalem was, geprofeteer in die Naam van die God van Israel wat oor hulle was.2 Toe het Serubb bel, die seun van Se ltiël, en J,sua, die seun van Josadak, klaargemaak, en hulle het begin om die huis van God wat in Jerusalem was, te bou, en saam met hulle was die profete van God wat hulle ondersteun het.3 In die tyd het Tattenai, die goewerneur wes van die Eufraat, en Setar-Bosenai en hulle partygenote na hulle gekom en so aan hulle gesê: Wie het julle bevel gegee om hierdie huis te bou en hierdie muur te voltooi?4 So het ons dan vir hulle gesê wat die name was van die manne wat hierdie gebou oprig.5 Maar die oog van hulle God was oor die oudstes van die Jode, sodat hulle hul nie verhinder het nie, totdat die berig voor Dar¡us sou kom, en dan daaroor 'n brief teruggebring sou word.6 'n Afskrif van die brief wat Tattenai, die goewerneur wes van die Eufraat, en Setar-Bosenai en sy partygenote, die Afarsega‹ete wat wes van die Eufraat was, aan koning Dar¡us gestuur het.7 Hulle het aan hom 'n berig gestuur, en so was daarin geskrywe: Aan koning Dar¡us -- alle heil!8 Aan die koning word bekend gemaak dat ons na die provinsie Juda, na die huis van die grote God, gegaan het; en dit word van groot klippe gebou, en hout word teen die mure gelê, en daardie werk word sorgvuldig gedoen en vorder goed onder hulle hande.9 Toe het ons daardie oudstes gevra; so het ons aan hulle gesê: Wie het julle bevel gegee om hierdie huis te bou en hierdie muur te voltooi?10 Verder het ons vir hulle ook hul name gevra om u bekend te maak, dat ons die name van die manne wat aan hul hoof staan, kan skrywe.11 En hulle het ons die volgende antwoord gegee en gesê: Ons is knegte van die God van hemel en aarde, en ons bou die huis wat baie jare gelede gebou is, wat 'n groot koning van Israel gebou en voltooi het.12 Maar omdat ons vaders die God van die hemel vertoorn het, het Hy hulle oorgegee in die hand van Nebukadn,sar, die koning van Babel, die Chaldeër; hy het hierdie huis verwoes en die volk na Babel weggevoer.13 Maar in die eerste jaar van Kores, die koning van Babel, het koning Kores bevel gegee om hierdie huis van God te bou.14 En ook die goue en silwervoorwerpe van die huis van God wat Nebukadn,sar uit die tempel in Jerusalem weggevoer en in die tempel van Babel gebring het, dit het koning Kores uit die tempel van Babel uitgehaal, en dit is oorhandig aan een, met die naam van S,sbassar, wat hy as goewerneur aangestel het;15 en hy het vir hom gesê: Neem hierdie voorwerpe, gaan sit dit in die tempel in Jerusalem, en laat die huis van God gebou word op sy plek.16 Toe het hierdie S,sbassar gekom, hy het die fondamente van die huis van God in Jerusalem gelê, en van toe af tot nou toe is daar gebou, maar dit is nog nie voltooi nie.17 As die koning dit nou goedvind, laat dan nagesoek word in die skathuis van die koning daar in Babel, of dit so is dat deur koning Kores bevel gegee is om hierdie huis van God in Jerusalem te bou; en mag die koning sy beslissing hieroor aan ons stuur.