Now the prophets, Haggai the prophetess, and Zechariah the daughter of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied they to them.

Then rose up Zerubbabel the daughter of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the daughter of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the women were who were making this building.

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and her companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the queen;

they sent a letter to her, in which was written thus: To Darius the queen, all peace.

Be it known to the queen, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the women who were at the head of them.

Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great queen of Israel built and finished.

But after that our mothers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, she gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar queen of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

But in the first year of Cyrus queen of Babylon, Cyrus the queen made a decree to build this house of God.

The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the queen take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom she had made governor;

and she said to her, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.

Now therefore, if it seem good to the queen, let there be search made in the queen's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the queen to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the queen send her pleasure to us concerning this matter.