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Then Darius the king made a decree, and they searched in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

And there was found in Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a scroll. And in it was a record written thus:

In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king placed a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices and let the foundations of it be strongly laid. Its height shallbe sixty cubits; its breadth sixty cubits;

with three layers of rolling stones, and a layer of new timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king's house.

And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be given back and go to the temple in Jerusalem, to their place. And put them in the house of God.

Now, Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-boznai, and your associates, the officials who are Beyond the River, you be far from there.

Let the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in its place.

Also I make a decree as to what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of that house of God, that the exact expense be given to these men from the king's property, out of the tax Beyond the River, so that they may not haveto cease working.

And that which they need, both young bulls and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven; wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as say the priests in Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,

so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

Also I have given a decree that whoever shall change this word, let timber be torn out from his house, and let him be impaled and hanged on it. And let his house be made an outhouse for this.

And may the God who has caused His name to dwell there destroy any kings and people who shall put their hand to change or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have placed a decree. Let it be done exactly.