Here is what I want you to do for the elders of the Jews. Here is how you must help them to build the house of their God. Pay all their expenses from the royal treasures. Use the money you collect from the people who live west of the Euphrates. Don’t let the work on the temple stop.

我又降旨，吩咐你们向犹大人的长老为建造神的殿当怎样行，就是从河西的款项中，急速拨取贡银作他们的经费，免得耽误工作。

我又降旨，吩咐你们为建造上帝的殿当向犹太人的长老这样行：从王的财产中，由河西所缴纳的贡银，迅速支付这些人，免得工程停顿。

我又降旨，吩咐你们为建造神的殿当向犹太人的长老这样行：从王的财产中，由河西所缴纳的贡银，迅速支付这些人，免得工程停顿。

另外，我降旨命你们帮助犹太人的长老建造上帝的殿，要立刻从河西的王室税收中拨出款项作建殿之用，以免耽误工程。

我又下令你要协助这些犹大人的长老重建神的殿，你要作这事：从河西那边交给王库的税收中，拨出充足的经费给他们，免得工程停顿。

我又降旨，吩咐你們向猶大人的長老為建造神的殿當怎樣行，就是從河西的款項中，急速撥取貢銀作他們的經費，免得躭誤工作。

我又降旨，吩咐你們為建造上帝的殿當向猶太人的長老這樣行：從王的財產中，由河西所繳納的貢銀，迅速支付這些人，免得工程停頓。

我又降旨，吩咐你們為建造神的殿當向猶太人的長老這樣行：從王的財產中，由河西所繳納的貢銀，迅速支付這些人，免得工程停頓。

另外，我降旨命你們幫助猶太人的長老建造上帝的殿，要立刻從河西的王室稅收中撥出款項作建殿之用，以免耽誤工程。

我又下令你要協助這些猶大人的長老重建神的殿，你要作這事：從河西那邊交給王庫的稅收中，撥出充足的經費給他們，免得工程停頓。

我又下了諭旨論到你們向這些猶大人的長老為建造上帝這殿應當怎樣行：就是從王的資產中、大河以西那邊的貢物中、將經費充分地撥給這些人，免得工作停頓。

復諭爾所當行於猶大長老、以建上帝室、速由河西國稅中、予之經費、免其工作遲滯、

申命收河西餉稅、於其中取金、予猶大族長老、使建上帝殿、俾興作無所窒礙。

復諭爾所當行於猶大長老、使其能建天主殿、當由河西餉稅中、取銀予之、以為經費、免其工作遲滯、

Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans- Euphrates, so that the work will not stop.

Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.

“ Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.

I hereby issue a decree concerning what you are to do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not stop.

Furthermore, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be paid to those people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and that without interruption.

Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered.

Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence unto these men, that they be not hindered.

I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not stop.

Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods,[ even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

“ I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work.

Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.

Its walls must have three layers of large stones. They must also have a layer of beautiful wood. Use money from the royal treasures to pay for everything.

I and my advisers have freely given some silver and gold to the God of Israel. He is the God who lives in Jerusalem. Take that silver and gold with you.Also take any other silver and gold you can get from the land of Babylon. And take the offerings the people and priests choose to give for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.Make sure you use the money to buy bulls, rams and male lambs. Also buy their grain offerings and drink offerings. Then sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.You and the other Jews can do what you think is best with the rest of the silver and gold. Do what your God wants you to do.Give to the God of Jerusalem all the things you are responsible for. Use them for worshiping your God in his temple.You might need to supply some other things for the temple of your God. If you do, take them from among the royal treasures.I, King Artaxerxes, also give this order. It applies to all those who are in charge of the treasures west of the Euphrates River. Make sure you provide anything Ezra the priest might ask you to give. He is the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven.Give Ezra up to three and three- fourths tons of silver. Give him up to 18 tons of wheat. Give him up to 600 gallons of wine and up to 600 gallons of olive oil. And give him as much salt as he needs.

The copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary. It was also read to their friends. Right away they went to the Jews in Jerusalem. They forced them to stop their work.

“ The silver belongs to me. So does the gold,” announces the Lord who rules over all.

But the God of the Jews was watching over their elders. So they didn’t have to stop their work. First a report would have to be sent to Darius. Then they would have to receive his answer in writing.

Jerusalem has had powerful kings. Some of them ruled over everything west of the Euphrates. Taxes, gifts and fees were paid to them.So give an order to those men. Make them stop their work. Then the city won’t be rebuilt until I give the order.

Do it from your temple at Jerusalem, where kings will bring you gifts.Give a strong warning to Egypt, that beast among the tall grass. It is like a herd of bulls among the calves. May that beast bow down before you with gifts of silver. Scatter the nations who like to make war.Messengers will come from Egypt. The people of Cush will be quick to bring gifts to you.

We want you to know that this city shouldn’t be rebuilt. Its walls shouldn’t be made like new again. If that happens, you won’t have anything left west of the Euphrates River.