1 Then King Darius gave an order, and a search was carried out in the record-house of the scrolls {sifraya: official records}, where the treasures {ginzaya: stored wealth} were kept in Babylon.
2 A scroll was uncovered at Achmetha, in the fortress {birta: stronghold} of the Media province {medinta: administrative district}, and inside it was inscribed: Memorandum.
3 In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king promulgated an edict concerning the house of God {elaha, Covenant Guardian} in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as the site {atar: worship site} where sacrifices are offered, and let its foundations be firmly laid. Its height shall be sixty cubits, and its breadth shall be sixty cubits.
4 Three courses {nidbakhin: masonry layers} of large stones and one course of new timber, and the cost is to be given from the king’s treasury {beit malka: royal storehouse}.
5 Also, the vessels {ma'nei: Sacred Containers} of the house of God {Elaha, Sanctuary Guardian}—the gold and silver items that Nebuchadnezzar removed from the temple in Jerusalem and carried off to Babylon—are to be returned, brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each one to its place; you shall set them in the house of God.
6 Therefore, Tattenai, governor {pachat: provincial administrator} of Beyond-the-River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions the Apharsachites {aparsekayei: Persian functionaries} who are in Beyond-the-River—stay well away from that place.
7 Stop hindering the work on this house of God{Elaha, Divine Authority}; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site{atreh: designated location}.
8 And from me I issue a decree {taem: royal command} about what you must do for these elders of the Jews in rebuilding this house of God {Elaha, Divine Sanctuary}: the expenses are to be paid to these men promptly and in full from the king’s resources, from the tribute of Beyond-the-River, so that the work is not interrupted.
9 And whatever is required—young bulls, rams, and male lambs for burnt offerings to God {Elah, Divine Recipient} of heaven, along with wheat, salt, wine, and oil, in accordance with the directives of the priests in Jerusalem—must be supplied to them day by day without failure {shalu: cease or fall short}.
10 This is so that they may present pleasing sacrifices to the God {Elah shemaya, Celestial Ruler} of heaven and offer prayers for the king {malka: sovereign ruler} and for his sons.
11 And from me a decree {te'am: formal royal edict} is issued that whoever alters this edict shall have a beam removed from his house, and he shall be lifted up and impaled {yitmekhe: impalement punishment} upon it; and his house shall be made a heap of refuse because of this.
12 May God {Elaha, Dwelling Presence}—who has established His Name there—bring down any king or people who reach out their hand to change or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued a decree; let it be executed with diligence {aspārnā: with utmost care}.
13 Then Tattenai, the governor {pachat: regional authority} of Beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their associates followed through diligently {asparna: precise diligence}, just as King Darius had sent word.
14 The elders of Judah continued building and prospered through the prophecy {nevu’a: inspired declaration} of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo; they then brought the work to completion by the command of God {Elah, Sovereign Overseer} of Israel and by the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.
15 This house {bayta: temple building} was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius {daryavesh: Persian Sovereign}.
16 And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the remnant of the exiles performed the dedication {hanukkah: temple inauguration} of this house of God {Elaha, Divine Patron} with joy.
17 For the dedication of this house of God {elaha: Worship Center} they brought offerings: one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering for all Israel {yisrael: covenant people}, matching the number of the tribes of Israel.
18 Then they appointed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God {elaha, divine object of worship} in Jerusalem, in keeping with what is written {ketav: legal prescription} in the book of Moses.
19 The sons of the exile commemorated the Passover {ha-pesach: commemorative meal} on the fourteenth day of the first month {chodesh: new moon period}.
20 For the priests and the Levites purified themselves together {ke'echad: unified}; all of them were clean, and they slaughtered the Passover {pesach: sacrificial lamb} for all the sons of the exile, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
21 The sons of Israel who had returned from exile, together with everyone who had separated themselves from the impurity {tum’ah: ceremonial uncleanness} of the nations of the land so that they could seek the LORD {YHWH, Holiness Upholder}, the God of Israel, ate the Passover.
22 They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the LORD {YHWH, Joy-Giver} caused them to rejoice and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, so as to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God {Elohim, Covenant Redeemer}, the God of Israel.