19. After coming here, Sheshbazzar laid the foundations of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction until now, although it isn’t finished."
20. Now, King, if it seems right, please search the royal archives that are in Babylon.
21. If it is discovered that the building of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem was done with King Cyrus’ consent, and if it seems right to our master the king, please direct us concerning these things.
22. Then King Darius commanded a search of the royal archives that were kept in Babylon. In Ecbatana, within the palace of Medea, a scroll was found that recorded the following words:
23. In the first year of Cyrus’ rule, King Cyrus commissioned the rebuilding of the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, where they offer sacrifices with continuous fire.
24. Its height should be ninety feet and its width ninety feet, with three layers of polished stone and one layer of new native wood. The expenses should come out of the treasury of King Cyrus.
25. Also the holy silver and gold equipment from the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar removed from the house in Jerusalem and transported to Babylon, should be restored to the house in Jerusalem, to be kept where it used to be.