1 Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews {yehudayea: returned exiles} living in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of God {elah, Divine Authority} of Israel, who was over them.
2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak arose and began {veshariyuh: got started} building the house of God {Eloaha, Covenant Restorer} in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, assisting them.
3 At that time, Tattenai, the governor of Beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai and their companions came to them and said, “Who has given you authority {te'em: official decree} to build this house {bayta: sacred site} and to complete it?”
4 Then, in this way {kenema: manner indicator}, we said to them, “What are the names {shemahat guvrayya: list of responsible individuals} of the men who are building this building?”
5 But the eye of their God {elahahom, Divine Protector} was upon the elders of the Jews, and the officials did not stop them until the report {ta'ama: official message} could go to Darius; then a written answer was returned concerning this matter.
6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai {tattenai: Persian official}, governor of the region beyond the River {avar-nahara: administrative district west of the Euphrates}, and Shethar-Bozenai with his companions, the Apharsachites who were in the province beyond the River, sent to King Darius.
7 The message they sent to him was written as follows: To King Darius, complete peace {shelma: official blessing} in every part {kolla: totality}.
8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God {Elaha Rabba, Supreme Majesty}. It is being built with large stones {even gelal: massive masonry}, and timber is being set in the walls; the work is advancing diligently and is prospering in their hands.
9 Then we asked these elders {savayya: senior leaders}, saying to them, “Who issued a decree {ta’am: official command} for you to build this house and to complete this structure?”
10 And also their names we asked of them for your information {hoda'utakh: notification}, so that we might write the name of the men who are at their head {rosh: leadership position}.
11 And this is what they answered us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth {elah shemaya ve-ara: Sovereign Preserver}, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago {shenin sagian: extended generational span}; a great king of Israel built it and completed it.”
12 Because our fathers angered the God of heaven {Elah Shemaya, Supreme Ruler}, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house {bayta: temple sanctuary} and exiled the people to Babylon.
13 However, in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree {te'em: royal edict} that this house of God {elah’a, Covenant Ruler} be built.
14 Also, the vessels of the house of God {Elaha: Sanctuary Sovereign}, both gold and silver, which Nebuchadnezzar {Nevukhadnetsar: Babylonian Conqueror} had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and transferred to the temple in Babylon—King Cyrus then removed them from the Babylonian temple and handed them over to Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15 And he said to him, “Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God {Elaha, Worship Center} be rebuilt upon its place {atreh: original site}.”
16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God {elaha: divine presence} that is in Jerusalem; from that time until now it has continued being built, but it has not been completed {shelim: made whole}.
17 And now, if the king finds it acceptable, let a search be made in the royal archives {ginzaya: royal storage} in Babylon to determine whether King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God {Eloah: Object of Decree} in Jerusalem; then let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.