Ezra 5:17
New International Version
Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

New Living Translation
“Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”

English Standard Version
Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

King James Bible
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

New King James Version
Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.

New American Standard Bible
And now, if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, as to whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.

NASB 1995
“Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

NASB 1977
“And now, if it pleases the king let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild that house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his will concerning this matter.”

Amplified Bible
So now, if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house [in the royal archives] there in Babylon to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.”

Christian Standard Bible
So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king’s decision regarding this matter be sent to us.

American Standard Version
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore if it is pleasing before the King, we shall search in the books that are in the house of treasure of the King of Babel. If they bring it and it was charged from Kurash the King that this house of God would be built in Jerusalem, he will send to us the pleasure of the King concerning this.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now, if it seem good to the king, lest search be made in the treasure-house of the king at Babylon, that thou mayest know if it be that a decree was made by king Cyrus to build that house of God that was in Jerusalem, and let the king send to us when he has learnt concerning this matter.

Contemporary English Version
Your Majesty, please order someone to look up the old records in Babylonia and find out if King Cyrus really did give orders to rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem. We will do whatever you think we should.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore if it seem good to the king, let him search in the king's library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

English Revised Version
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If it pleases Your Majesty, allow someone to search the king's archives in Babylon to determine whether King Cyrus gave permission for the temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then please send us Your Majesty's decision on this matter.

Good News Translation
"Now, if it please Your Majesty, have a search made in the royal records in Babylon to find whether or not Emperor Cyrus gave orders for this Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt, and then inform us what your will is in this matter."

International Standard Version
Accordingly, with your approval we suggest that a search be conducted within the king's treasury at Babylon to verify whether or not King Cyrus ever issued such a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God in Jerusalem. Then please notify us concerning the king's pleasure in this matter.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house there, which is at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.'

Literal Standard Version
And now, if it is good to the king, let a search be made in the treasure-house of the king, that [is] there in Babylon, whether it be that there was a decree made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and the will of the king concerning this thing he sends to us.”

Majority Standard Bible
Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

New American Bible
Now, if it please the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether a decree really was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And may the king’s decision in this matter be communicated to us.”

NET Bible
"Now if the king is so inclined, let a search be conducted in the royal archives there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter."

New Revised Standard Version
And now, if it seems good to the king, have a search made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.”

New Heart English Bible
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 Kurush the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

World English Bible
Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

Young's Literal Translation
And now, if to the king it be good, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king, that is there in Babylon, whether it be that of Cyrus the king there was made a decree to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and the will of the king concerning this thing he doth send unto us.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Tattenai's Letter to Darius
16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.” 17Now, therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made of the royal archives in Babylon to see if King Cyrus did indeed issue a decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Cross References
Ezra 6:1
Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.

Ezra 6:2
And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, with the following written on it: Memorandum:


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

A.

Ezra 4:15,19
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed…

Ezra 6:1,2
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon…

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

a decree

Ezra 6:3-5
In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, 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; …

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Ezra 5
1. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building
3. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews
6. Their letter to Darius against the Jews














(17) Let there be search made.--All depended on the original decree, which nothing done intermediately by the usurper could cancel. And the request of Tatnai seems to imply that it would be found: although the original was not found in Babylon, as was expected, a copy had been made.

Verse 17. - Let there be search made in the king's treasure house. The Vulgate has "in the king's library;" and this, though not the literal rendering, is probably what was intended by Tatuai. Libraries or record chambers were attached to the royal residences under the old Assyrian and Babylonian kings; and the practice was no doubt continued by the Persians. Some of these record offices have been recently found, and their stores recovered. In the year 1850 Mr. Layard came upon the royal library of Asshur-bani-pal at Koyunjik, and obtained from it several hundreds of documents. More recently, in 1875-6, some Arab explorers happened upon a similar collection near Babylon, which yielded from 3000 to 4000 tablets ('Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology,' vol. 6. pp. 4, 582). It is quite possible that the "decree of Cyrus" may still exist, and be one day recovered.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now, therefore,
וּכְעַ֞ן (ū·ḵə·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3705: Now

if
הֵ֧ן (hên)
Conjunction
Strong's 2006: Lo!, there, less, whether, but, if

it pleases
טָ֗ב (ṭāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2869: Good

the king,
מַלְכָּ֣א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

let a search be made
יִ֠תְבַּקַּר (yiṯ·baq·qar)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1240: To plough, break forth, to inspect, admire, care for, consider

of the royal
דִּי־ (dî-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

archives
בְּבֵ֨ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1005: A house

in Babylon
בְּבָבֶל֒ (bə·ḇā·ḇel)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 895: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

to see if
הֵ֣ן (hên)
Conjunction
Strong's 2006: Lo!, there, less, whether, but, if

King
מַלְכָּא֙ (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

Cyrus
כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ (kō·w·reš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3567: Cyrus -- a person king

did indeed
דִּ֣י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

issue
שִׂ֣ים (śîm)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7761: To set, make

a decree
טְעֵ֔ם (ṭə·‘êm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2942: Flavor, judgment, account

to rebuild
לְמִבְנֵ֛א (lə·miḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1124: To build

the
דֵ֖ךְ (ḏêḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1791: This

house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1005: A house

of God
אֱלָהָ֥א (’ĕ·lā·hā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 426: God

in Jerusalem.
בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (bî·rū·šə·lem)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3390: Jerusalem -- the capital city of all Israel

Then let the king
מַלְכָּ֛א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

send
יִשְׁלַ֥ח (yiš·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7972: To send away, for, out

us
עֲלֶֽינָא׃ (‘ă·le·nā)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

his decision
וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7470: Pleasure, will

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

this [matter].
דְּנָ֖ה (də·nāh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1836: This


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OT History: Ezra 5:17 Now therefore if it seem good (Ezr. Ez)
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