For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

我们是奴仆，然而在受辖制之中，我们的神仍没有丢弃我们，在波斯王眼前向我们施恩，叫我们复兴，能重建我们神的殿，修其毁坏之处，使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有墙垣。

我们是奴仆，然而在受辖制之中，我们的上帝没有丢弃我们，在波斯诸王面前向我们施恩，叫我们复兴，能重建我们上帝的殿，修补毁坏之处，使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有城墙。

我们是奴仆，然而在受辖制之中，我们的神没有丢弃我们，在波斯诸王面前向我们施恩，叫我们复兴，能重建我们神的殿，修补毁坏之处，使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有城墙。

虽然我们是奴隶，我们的上帝却没有离弃受奴役的我们，祂在波斯众王面前施恩于我们，使我们复兴、得以重建毁坏的上帝的殿，让我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有护墙。

虽然我们是奴隶，但在奴役中，我们的神仍然没有撇弃我们，反而使我们在波斯列王面前得蒙恩惠，使我们复兴，建立我们神的殿，重修毁坏的地方，使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有墙垣。

我們是奴僕，然而在受轄制之中，我們的神仍沒有丟棄我們，在波斯王眼前向我們施恩，叫我們復興，能重建我們神的殿，修其毀壞之處，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有牆垣。

我們是奴僕，然而在受轄制之中，我們的上帝沒有丟棄我們，在波斯諸王面前向我們施恩，叫我們復興，能重建我們上帝的殿，修補毀壞之處，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有城牆。

我們是奴僕，然而在受轄制之中，我們的神沒有丟棄我們，在波斯諸王面前向我們施恩，叫我們復興，能重建我們神的殿，修補毀壞之處，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有城牆。

雖然我們是奴隸，我們的上帝卻沒有離棄受奴役的我們，祂在波斯眾王面前施恩於我們，使我們復興、得以重建毀壞的上帝的殿，讓我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有護牆。

雖然我們是奴隸，但在奴役中，我們的神仍然沒有撇棄我們，反而使我們在波斯列王面前得蒙恩惠，使我們復興，建立我們神的殿，重修毀壞的地方，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有牆垣。

我們是奴隸，然而在受奴轄之中、我們的上帝仍然沒有撇棄我們，反而使我們在波斯王面前受得恩寵，使我們得到復興，能夠建立起我們的上帝的殿，重立起它荒廢之處，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有個藩籬。

我為奴僕、然於服役、上帝不棄、在波斯王前、施恩於我、使復振興、能建我上帝室、修其荒墟、於猶大及耶路撒冷、得有垣墉、

昔我為人服役、蒙上帝不棄、使巴西王矜憫我、賜復振興、能建上帝殿、見其傾圯、重加修葺、築垣於猶大及耶路撒冷。

我雖為人服役、在受轄制之中、我天主仍未棄我、使我在巴西王前蒙矜憐、賜我新生、賜我新生或作全我生命能復建我天主之殿、補其傾圮、又使我在猶大及耶路撒冷得得或作重建城垣、

Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

We are still slaves. But you are our God. You haven’t turned away from us. You haven’t left us in our slavery. You have been kind to us. The kings of Persia have seen it. You have given us new life to repair your temple and rebuild it. You have given us a place of safety in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings, giving us relief, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not abandoned us, but has extended favor to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to erect the house of our God, to restore its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings, giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we[ were] bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude. He has extended kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, in that he has revived us to restore the temple of our God and to raise up its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.

This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.

You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.He even caused their captors to treat them with kindness.

Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”

Then he said to me,“ This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout:‘ May God bless it! May God bless it!’”Then another message came to me from the Lord:“ Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”( The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)

Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler— the Anointed One— comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.

So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia.The Temple was completed on March 12, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign.

Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it.

“ Therefore, tell the exiles,‘ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.

So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said:“ Memorandum:“ In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.“ Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet.Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury.Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”So King Darius sent this message:“ Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River— stay away from there!Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.“ 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.“ Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day.Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.“ Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble.May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.“ I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.”

“ So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land.The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods.Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.This is a list of the items that were returned: gold basins 30 silver basins 1,000 silver incense burners 29gold bowls 30 silver bowls 410 other items 1,000In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.

King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel:“ From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.“ I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand.We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.“ Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.“ But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem.If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.“ I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River:‘ You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you.You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt.Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’“ And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem!And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:“ This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:“ The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year.