1Then, when the prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah, son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, 2Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, rose up and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God (Haggai, and Zechariah), helping them. 3At the same time Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their cohorts, came to them and said this to them, “Who has authorized you to build this house, and to restore this wall?” 4They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” Then we told them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building. 5But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, so that they (Tatnai and his cohorts) could not force them to cease, until the matter could come to Darius; and then an answer was returned by letter concerning this matter.

6Then Tatnai, governor on the west side of the (Euphrates) river, Shethar-bozenai, and his cohorts, the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the (Euphrates) river, sent a letter to King Darius; 7That letter read as follows: “To King Darius, all peace. 8Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the Temple of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work proceeds rapidly, and prospers under their direction. 9Then we asked the leaders, ‘Who authorized you to build this house, and repair these walls?’ 10We also asked their names, that we might report the names of the leaders for your information. 11And the answer they gave us was, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the Temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this Temple, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus made a decree to build this Temple of God. 14And the vessels, also, of gold and silver of the Temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon - those did Cyrus, the king, remove from the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15And he said to him, “Take these vessels, go, carry them into the Temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the Temple of God be built in its place.” 16Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of the Temple of God which is in Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been under construction, and it is not yet finished. 17Now, therefore, if it seems 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 King Cyrus, to build this Temple of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.’”