1. Then king Darius gave orders, and they searched in the library of the books that were laid up in Babylon,
2. And there was found in Ecbatana, which is a castle in the province of Media, a book in which this record was written.
3. In the first year of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Jerusalem, in the place where they may offer sacrifices, and that they lay the foundations that may support the height of threescore cubits, and the breadth of threescore cubits,
4. Three rows of unpolished stones, and so rows of new timber: and the charges shall be given out of the king's house.
5. And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of Cod, which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple of Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem to their place, which also were placed in the temple of God.
6. Now therefore Thathanai, governor of the country beyond the river, Stharbuzanai, and your counsellors the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, depart far from them,