Ezra · Catholic Public Domain Version
Ezra 5 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 Now Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesying to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem, prophesied in the name of the God of Israel.
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.
2 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, assisting them.
2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3 Then, at the same time, Tattenai, who was the governor beyond the river, and Shetharbozenai, and their counselors came to them. And they spoke in this way to them: “Who has given you counsel, so that you would build this house and repair its walls?”
3 At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”
4 We responded to this by giving them the names of the men who were the founders of that building.
4 They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.
5 But the eye of their God was set over the elders of the Jews, and so they were unable to hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they would give a reply against that accusation.
5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 A copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the river, and Shetharbozenai, and his counselors, the rulers who were beyond the river, sent to Darius the king.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.
7 The word that they sent him was written in this way: “To Darius, the king of all peace.
7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.
8 Let it be known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which they are building with rough stones, and with timber set into the walls. And this work is being built up diligently, and it increases by their hands.
8 Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
9 Therefore, we questioned those elders, and we spoke to them in this way: ‘Who has given authority to you, so that you would build this house and repair these walls?’
9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
10 But we also required of them their names, so that we might report to you. And we have written down the names of their men, those who are leaders among them.
10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
11 Then they responded a word to us in this manner, saying: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. And we are building the temple that was constructed these many years before, and which a great king of Israel had built and constructed.
11 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 king of Israel built and finished.
12 But afterward, our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, so he delivered them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean. And he destroyed this house, and he transferred its people to Babylon.
12 But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 Then, in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, king Cyrus issued a decree, so that this house of God would be built.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And now the vessels of gold and silver from the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, and which he had carried away to the temple of Babylon, king Cyrus brought out of the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one called Sheshbazzar, whom he also appointed as governor.
14 The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15 And he said to him: “Take these vessels, and go, and set them in the temple that is in Jerusalem. And let the house of God be built in its place.”
15 He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’
16 And so this same Sheshbazzar then came and set the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. And from that time, even until now, it is being built, and it is not yet completed.’
16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now then, if it seems good to the king, let him search in the king’s library, which is in Babylon, to see whether it was ordered by king Cyrus, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built. And may the will of the king be sent to us about this matter.”
17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Darius
King of Persia who searched the archives, found Cyrus’s decree, ordered Tattenai to leave the work alone and funded it; the temple was finished in his sixth year.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:5; Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:1
Haggai
Prophet who, with Zechariah, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem and helped Zerubbabel and Jeshua as the temple was rebuilt. The word of the LORD came through him in the…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Haggai 1:1
Iddo
Named as the father of Berechiah and grandfather of the prophet Zechariah.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Zechariah 1:1
Sheshbazzar
Prince of Judah to whom Cyrus gave the temple articles; he carried them to Jerusalem, was appointed governor, and is said to have laid the foundation of the house of God.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 1:8; Ezra 1:11; Ezra 5:14
Tattenai
Persian governor who questioned the Jews about the rebuilding and wrote to Darius; Darius ordered him to leave the work alone, and he diligently complied.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 5:3; Ezra 5:6; Ezra 6:6
Zechariah
The prophet, son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, to whom the word of the LORD came in the eighth month of Darius's second year. Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 call him 'son of Iddo'; Zechariah…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Zechariah 1:1
Zerubbabel
He led the return from Babylon and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Ezra 3-6; Hag. 2:23; Zech. 4; Matt. 1:12-13
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Zechariah 4:6–10; Haggai 1:1–2:1; Zechariah 1:1–21; Micah 5:4
- 2 Ezra 3:2; Ezra 6:14; Zechariah 3:1–4; Haggai 1:12–15; 2 Corinthians 1:24
- 3 Ezra 6:6; Ezra 1:3; Ezra 5:9; Ezra 6:13; Ezra 5:6
- 5 Psalm 33:18; Ezra 7:6; Ezra 7:28; Psalm 34:15; Psalm 32:8
- 6 Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:23; Ezra 6:6; Ezra 4:11; Ezra 5:3
- 7 Daniel 3:9; Daniel 4:1; Daniel 6:21; John 14:27; 2 Thessalonians 3:16
- 8 Daniel 2:47; Nehemiah 7:6; Ezra 7:23; Ezra 1:2–3; Mark 13:1–2
- 9 Ezra 5:3–4
- 11 Matthew 10:32; Acts 27:23; Jonah 1:9; Galatians 6:14; Luke 12:8
- 12 2 Chronicles 36:16–17; Daniel 9:5; 2 Kings 24:2; Nehemiah 9:26–27; Jeremiah 39:1–14
- 13 Isaiah 44:28–45:1; Ezra 6:3–5; Ezra 1:1–8
- 14 Ezra 6:5; Jeremiah 52:19; Daniel 5:2–3; Ezra 5:16; Haggai 2:21
- 15 Ezra 6:3; Ezra 3:3; Ezra 1:2
- 16 Ezra 3:10; Ezra 6:15; Ezra 3:8; Haggai 1:12–14; Ezra 5:2
- 17 Ezra 4:15; Ezra 4:19; Proverbs 25:2; Ezra 6:1–5
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences