1 Then Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Bavel (to jumble, or a confused medley of sounds; confusion; gate of the deity) (Babylon) [confusion].

2 And there was found at Achm’ta (Ecbatana) [meaning unknown], in the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes [middle land], a roll, and in it [was] a record thus written:

3 In the first year of Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace] the king [the same] Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace] the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

4 [With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], which N’vukhadnetzar [May Nebo protect the crown] took forth out of the temple which [is] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], and brought unto Bavel (to jumble, or a confused medley of sounds; confusion; gate of the deity) (Babylon) [confusion], be restored, and brought again unto the temple which [is] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], [every one] to his place, and place [them] in the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].

6 Now [therefore], Tatnai [gift], governor beyond the river, Sh’tar-Boznai [star of splendour], and your companions the Afar’s’khi [as causers of division], which [are] beyond the river, be you2f far from there:

7 Let the work of this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] alone; let the governor of the Y’hudim (Judeans) and the elders of the Y’hudim (Judeans) build this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] in his place.

8 Moreover I make a decree what you2f shall do to the elders of these Y’hudim (Judeans) for the building of this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]: that of the king’s goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which [are] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], let it be given them day by day without fail:

10 That they may offer sacrifices of soothing aromas unto the God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

12 And the God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] which [is] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]. I Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

13 Then Tatnai [gift], governor on this side the river, Sh’tar-Boznai [star of splendour], and their companions, according to that which Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] the king had sent, so they did speedily.

14 And the elders of the Y’hudim (Judeans) built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Hagai [festive] the prophet and Z’kharyah [Yehovah remembers] the son of ‘Iddo [His witness]. And they built, and finished [it], according to the commandment of the God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], and according to the commandment of Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace], and Daryavesh (Darius) [lord], and Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid].

15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] the king.

16 And the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], the priests, and the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to], and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] with joy,

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God].

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to] in their courses, for the service of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], which [is] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]; as it is written in the book of Moshe [He Who Draws Out Of The Waters].

19 And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

20 For the priests and the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to] were purified together, all of them [were] pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

21 And the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], did eat,

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Ashur [the level plain] (the land of the sons of Shem (name, renown (great reputation; being well-known))) unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], the God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God].