The Decree of Darius

1  בֵּאדַ֛יִן (Then) דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ (Darius) מַלְכָּ֖א (the king) שָׂ֣ם (made) טְעֵ֑ם (a decree), וּבַקַּ֣רוּ׀ (and they searched) בְּבֵ֣ית (in the house) סִפְרַיָּ֗א (of the books) דִּ֧י (of) גִנְזַיָּ֛א (the treasuries) מְהַחֲתִ֥ין (placed) תַּמָּ֖ה (there) בְּבָבֶֽל׃ (in Babylon). 2  וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח (And was found) בְּאַחְמְתָ֗א (at Achmetha) בְּבִֽירְתָ֛א (in a palace) דִּ֛י (that is) בְּמָדַ֥י (of Media) מְדִינְתָּ֖ה (in the province) מְגִלָּ֣ה (scroll) חֲדָ֑ה (one), וְכֵן־ (and thus) כְּתִ֥יב (was written) בְּגַוַּ֖הּ (in it):

דִּכְרוֹנָֽה׃פ (Memorandum):

3  בִּשְׁנַ֨ת (In the year) חֲדָ֜ה (first) לְכ֣וֹרֶשׁ (of Cyrus) מַלְכָּ֗א (the king), כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ (Cyrus) מַלְכָּא֮ (the king) שָׂ֣ם (made) טְעֵם֒ (a decree) בֵּית־ (about the house) אֱלָהָ֤א (of God) בִֽירוּשְׁלֶם֙ (in Jerusalem):

בַּיְתָ֣א (The house) יִתְבְּנֵ֔א (let be rebuilt), אֲתַר֙ (the place) דִּֽי־ (where) דָבְחִ֣ין (they offered) דִּבְחִ֔ין (sacrifices), וְאֻשּׁ֖וֹהִי (and let its foundations) מְסֽוֹבְלִ֑ין (let be firmly laid)— רוּמֵהּ֙ (its height) אַמִּ֣ין (cubits) שִׁתִּ֔ין (sixty), פְּתָיֵ֖הּ (and its width) אַמִּ֥ין (cubits) שִׁתִּֽין׃ (sixty), 4  נִדְבָּכִ֞ין (with rows) דִּי־ (of) אֶ֤בֶן (stones) גְּלָל֙ (rolled) תְּלָתָ֔א (three), וְנִדְבָּ֖ךְ (and a row) דִּי־ (of) אָ֣ע (timber) חֲדַ֑ת (new), וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔א (and the expenses) מִן־ (from) בֵּ֥ית (the house) מַלְכָּ֖א (of the king) תִּתְיְהִֽב׃ (let be paid).

5  וְ֠אַף (And also) מָאנֵ֣י (the vessels) בֵית־ (of the house) אֱלָהָא֮ (of God) דִּ֣י (of) דַהֲבָ֣ה (gold) וְכַסְפָּא֒ (and silver) דִּ֣י (that) נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר (Nebuchadnezzar) הַנְפֵּ֛ק (took) מִן־ (from) הֵיכְלָ֥א (the temple) דִי־ (that is) בִירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם (in Jerusalem) וְהֵיבֵ֣ל (and brought) לְבָבֶ֑ל (to Babylon), יַהֲתִיב֗וּן (let be restored) וִ֠יהָךְ (and taken back) לְהֵיכְלָ֤א (to the temple) דִי־ (that is) בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ (in Jerusalem), לְאַתְרֵ֔הּ (each to its place), וְתַחֵ֖ת (and put them down) בְּבֵ֥ית (in the house) אֱלָהָֽא׃ס (of God).

6  כְּעַ֡ן (Now):

תַּ֠תְּנַי (Tattenai) פַּחַ֨ת (the governor) עֲבַֽר־ (beyond) נַהֲרָ֜ה (the river), שְׁתַ֤ר (Shethar-) בּוֹזְנַי֙ (bozenai), וּכְנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן (and your companions) אֲפַרְסְכָיֵ֔א (the Apharsachites) דִּ֖י (who are) בַּעֲבַ֣ר (beyond) נַהֲרָ֑ה (the River):

רַחִיקִ֥ין (Far away) הֲו֖וֹ (be) מִן־ (from) תַּמָּֽה׃ (there). 7  שְׁבֻ֕קוּ (Leave alone) לַעֲבִידַ֖ת (for the work) בֵּית־ (of house) אֱלָהָ֣א (of God) דֵ֑ךְ (this) פַּחַ֤ת (the governor) יְהוּדָיֵא֙ (of Jews), וּלְשָׂבֵ֣י (and the elders) יְהוּדָיֵ֔א (of Jews); בֵּית־ (the house) אֱלָהָ֥א (of God) דֵ֖ךְ (this) יִבְנ֥וֹן (let build) עַל־ (on) אַתְרֵֽהּ׃ (its site).

8  וּמִנִּי֮ (And by me) שִׂ֣ים (is made) טְעֵם֒ (a decree) לְמָ֣א (for what it is) דִֽי־ (that) תַֽעַבְד֗וּן (you⁺ shall do) עִם־ (for) שָׂבֵ֤י (the elders) יְהוּדָיֵא֙ (of Jews) אִלֵּ֔ךְ (these) לְמִבְנֵ֖א (for the building) בֵּית־ (of house) אֱלָהָ֣א (of God) דֵ֑ךְ (this):

וּמִנִּכְסֵ֣י (And of the riches) מַלְכָּ֗א (of the king) דִּ֚י (that) מִדַּת֙ (are of the tribute) עֲבַ֣ר (beyond) נַהֲרָ֔ה (the river) אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא (diligently) נִפְקְתָ֛א (the expense) תֶּהֱוֵ֧א (let be paid), מִֽתְיַהֲבָ֛א (given) לְגֻבְרַיָּ֥א (to men) אִלֵּ֖ךְ (these), דִּי־ (so that) לָ֥א (not) לְבַטָּלָֽא׃ (they are hindered). 9  וּמָ֣ה (And what) חַשְׁחָ֡ן (they need), וּבְנֵ֣י (whether sons) תוֹרִ֣ין (of bulls), וְדִכְרִ֣ין (or rams), וְאִמְּרִ֣ין׀ (or lambs), לַעֲלָוָ֣ן׀ (for burnt offerings) לֶאֱלָ֪הּ (to the God) שְׁמַיָּ֟א (of the heavens), חִנְטִ֞ין (wheat), מְלַ֣ח׀ (salt), חֲמַ֣ר (wine), וּמְשַׁ֗ח (or oil), כְּמֵאמַ֨ר (according to the word) כָּהֲנַיָּ֤א (of the priests) דִי־ (who are) בִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ (in Jerusalem), לֶהֱוֵ֨א (let it be) מִתְיְהֵ֥ב (given) לְהֹ֛ם (to them) י֥וֹם׀ (day) בְּי֖וֹם (by day), דִּי־ (that is) לָ֥א (without) שָׁלֽוּ׃ (neglect), 10  דִּֽי־ (that) לֶהֱוֺ֧ן (they may) מְהַקְרְבִ֛ין (offer sacrifice) נִיחוֹחִ֖ין (of sweet aroma) לֶאֱלָ֣הּ (to the God) שְׁמַיָּ֑א (of the heavens) וּמְצַלַּ֕יִן (and pray) לְחַיֵּ֥י (for the life) מַלְכָּ֖א (of the king) וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ (and his sons).

11  וּמִנִּי֮ (And from me) שִׂ֣ים (is set) טְעֵם֒ (a decree) דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (any) אֱנָ֗שׁ (man) דִּ֤י (who) יְהַשְׁנֵא֙ (changes) פִּתְגָמָ֣א (command) דְנָ֔ה (this), יִתְנְסַ֥ח (let be pulled) אָע֙ (a timber) מִן־ (from) בַּיְתֵ֔הּ (his house) וּזְקִ֖יף (and raised up), יִתְמְחֵ֣א (and let him be hanged) עֲלֹ֑הִי (on it), וּבַיְתֵ֛הּ (and his house) נְוָל֥וּ (a dunghill) יִתְעֲבֵ֖ד (let be made) עַל־ (because) דְּנָֽה׃ (of this). 12  וֵֽאלָהָ֞א (And God the) דִּ֣י (who) שַׁכִּ֧ן (caused to dwell) שְׁמֵ֣הּ (His name) תַּמָּ֗ה (there) יְמַגַּ֞ר (may destroy) כָּל־ (any) מֶ֤לֶךְ (king) וְעַם֙ (or people) דִּ֣י׀ (who) יִשְׁלַ֣ח (put) יְדֵ֗הּ (their hand) לְהַשְׁנָיָ֛ה (to alter it) לְחַבָּלָ֛ה (or to destroy) בֵּית־ (house) אֱלָהָ֥א (of God) דֵ֖ךְ (this) דִּ֣י (that is) בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (in Jerusalem).

אֲנָ֤ה (I) דָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ (Darius) שָׂ֣מֶת (have set) טְעֵ֔ם (a decree); אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא (diligently) יִתְעֲבִֽד׃פ (let it be done).

The Temple Completed

13  אֱ֠דַיִן (Then) תַּתְּנַ֞י (Tattenai), פַּחַ֧ת (the governor) עֲבַֽר־ (beyond) נַהֲרָ֛ה (the River), שְׁתַ֥ר (Shethar-) בּוֹזְנַ֖י (bozenai), וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן (and their companions), לָקֳבֵ֗ל (according to) דִּֽי־ (that which) שְׁלַ֞ח (had sent) דָּרְיָ֧וֶשׁ (Darius) מַלְכָּ֛א (the king), כְּנֵ֖מָא (thus) אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא (diligently) עֲבַֽדוּ׃ (did). 14  וְשָׂבֵ֤י (And the elders) יְהוּדָיֵא֙ (of Jews) בָּנַ֣יִן (built), וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין (and they prospered) בִּנְבוּאַת֙ (through the prophesying) חַגַּ֣י (of Haggai) נְבִיאָה (the prophet) וּזְכַרְיָ֖ה (and Zechariah) בַּר־ (son) עִדּ֑וֹא (of Iddo).

וּבְנ֣וֹ (And they built) וְשַׁכְלִ֗לוּ (and finished it) מִן־ (by) טַ֙עַם֙ (the decree) אֱלָ֣הּ (of the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וּמִטְּעֵם֙ (and by the decree) כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ (of Cyrus) וְדָרְיָ֔וֶשׁ (and Darius) וְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא (and Artaxerxes) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) פָּרָֽס׃ (of Persia). 15  וְשֵׁיצִיא֙ (And was finished) בַּיְתָ֣ה (temple) דְנָ֔ה (this) עַ֛ד (on) י֥וֹם (day) תְּלָתָ֖ה (the third) לִירַ֣ח (of the month) אֲדָ֑ר (of Adar), דִּי־ (which) הִ֣יא (was) שְׁנַת־ (in the year) שֵׁ֔ת (sixth) לְמַלְכ֖וּת (of the reign) דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ (of Darius) מַלְכָּֽא׃פ (the king).

Dedication of the Temple

16  וַעֲבַ֣דוּ (And made) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל (of Israel), כָּהֲנַיָּ֨א (priests) וְלֵוָיֵ֜א (and Levites) וּשְׁאָ֣ר (and the rest) בְּנֵי־ (of the sons) גָלוּתָ֗א (of the captivity), חֲנֻכַּ֛ת (the dedication) בֵּית־ (of house) אֱלָהָ֥א (of God) דְנָ֖ה (this) בְּחֶדְוָֽה׃ (with joy).

17  וְהַקְרִ֗בוּ (And they offered sacrifices) לַחֲנֻכַּת֮ (for the dedication) בֵּית־ (of house) אֱלָהָ֣א (of God) דְנָה֒ (this), תּוֹרִ֣ין (bulls) מְאָ֔ה (a hundred), דִּכְרִ֣ין (rams) מָאתַ֔יִן (two hundred), אִמְּרִ֖ין (lambs) אַרְבַּ֣ע (four) מְאָ֑ה (hundred), וּצְפִירֵ֨י (and) עִזִּ֜ין (male goats), לְחַטָּיָא (as a sin offering) עַל־ (for) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), תְּרֵֽי־ (two) עֲשַׂ֔ר (and ten) לְמִנְיָ֖ן (by the number) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

18  וַהֲקִ֨ימוּ (And they assigned) כָהֲנַיָּ֜א (the priests) בִּפְלֻגָּתְה֗וֹן (in their divisions), וְלֵוָיֵא֙ (and Levites) בְּמַחְלְקָ֣תְה֔וֹן (in their groups), עַל־ (over) עֲבִידַ֥ת (the service) אֱלָהָ֖א (of God) דִּ֣י (that is) בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (in Jerusalem), כִּכְתָ֖ב (as it is written) סְפַ֥ר (in the Book) מֹשֶֽׁה׃פ (of Moses).

The Returned Exiles Keep the Passover

19  וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ (And kept) בְנֵי־ (the sons) הַגּוֹלָ֖ה (of the captivity) אֶת־ (-) הַפָּ֑סַח (the Passover) בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה (on the four) עָשָׂ֖ר (and tenth) לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ (first). 20  כִּ֣י (For) הִֽטַּהֲר֞וּ (had purified themselves) הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים (the priests) וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם (and the Levites) כְּאֶחָ֖ד (as one), כֻּלָּ֣ם (all of them) טְהוֹרִ֑ים (were pure).

וַיִּשְׁחֲט֤וּ (And they slaughtered) הַפֶּ֙סַח֙ (the Passover) לְכָל־ (for all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) הַגּוֹלָ֔ה (of the captivity), וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֥ם (and for their brothers) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests), וְלָהֶֽם׃ (and for themselves). 21  וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ (And ate together) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) הַשָּׁבִים֙ (who had returned) מֵֽהַגּוֹלָ֔ה (from the captivity), וְכֹ֗ל (and with all) הַנִּבְדָּ֛ל (who had separated themselves) מִטֻּמְאַ֥ת (from the filth) גּוֹיֵֽ־ (of the peoples) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land), אֲלֵהֶ֑ם (to them) לִדְרֹ֕שׁ (to seek) לַֽיהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel), 22  וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ (and they kept) חַג־ (the Feast) מַצּ֛וֹת (of the Unleavened) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) יָמִ֖ים (days) בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה (with joy), כִּ֣י׀ (for) שִׂמְּחָ֣ם (had made them joyful) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), וְֽהֵסֵ֞ב (and had turned) לֵ֤ב (the heart) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) אַשּׁוּר֙ (of Assyria) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (toward them) לְחַזֵּ֣ק (to strengthen) יְדֵיהֶ֔ם (their hands) בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת (in the work) בֵּית־ (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God), אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).