Original 1611 King James Bible (KJV)

Ezrah 4

1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the Temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it. 7 Their letter to Artaxerxes. 17 The decree of Artaxerxes. 23 The building is hindered.

 4:1 ¶ Now when the aduersaries 6862 of Iudah 3063 and Beniamin, 1144 heard 8085 z8799 that x3588 the children 1121 of the captiuitie 1473 builded 1129 z8802 the Temple 1964 vnto the LORD 3068 God 430 of Israel: 3478

 4:2 Then they came 5066 z8799 to x413 Zerubbabel, 2216 and to x413 the chiefe 7218 of the fathers, 1 and said 559 z8799 vnto them, Let vs build 1129 z8799 with x5973 you, for x3588 wee seeke 1875 z8799 your God, 430 as yee [doe], and we x587 doe sacrifice 2076 z8802 vnto him, since the dayes 3117 x4480 of Esar-Haddon 634 king 4428 of Assur, 804 which brought vs vp x5927 x853 hither. y5927 z8688 x6311

 4:3 But Zerubbabel 2216 and Ieshua, 3442 and the rest 7605 of the chiefe 7218 of the fathers 1 of Israel, 3478 said 559 z8799 vnto them, You haue nothing x3808 to doe with vs, to build 1129 z8800 an house 1004 vnto our God, 430 but x3588 we our selues x587 together 3162 will build 1129 z8799 vnto the LORD 3068 God 430 of Israel, 3478 as x834 king 4428 Cyrus 3566 the King 4428 of Persia 6539 hath commanded 6680 z8765 vs.

 4:4 Then the people 5971 of the land 776 weakened 7503 z8764 the handes 3027 of the people 5971 of Iudah, 3063 and troubled 1089 z8764 y926 z8675 them in building, 1129 z8800

 4:5 And hired 7936 z8802 counsellers 3289 z8802 against x5921 them, to frustrate 6565 z8687 their purpose, 6098 all x3605 the dayes 3117 of Cyrus 3566 king 4428 of Persia, 6539 euen vntill x5704 the reigne 4438 of Darius 1867 king 4428 of Persia. 6539

 4:6 And in the reigne 4438 of Ahasuerus, 325 in the beginning 8462 of his reigne, 4438 wrote 3789 z8804 they vnto him an accusation 7855 against x5921 the inhabitants 3427 z8802 of Iudah 3063 and Ierusalem. 3389

 4:7 ¶ And in the dayes 3117 of Artaxerxes 783 wrote 3789 z8804 Bishlam, 1312 Mithredath, 4990 Tabeel, 2870 and the rest 7605 of their companions, 3674 vnto x5921 Artaxerxes 783 king 4428 of Persia; 6539 and the writing 3791 of the letter 5406 [was] written 3789 z8803 in the Syrian tongue, 762 and interpreted 8638 z8794 in the Syrian tongue. 762

 4:8 Rehum 7348 the Chancellour, 1169 2942 and Shimshai 8124 the Scribe, 5613 wrote 3790 z8754 a 2298 letter 104 against 5922 Ierusalem, 3390 to Artaxerxes 783 the king, 4430 in this sort: 3660

 4:9 Then, 116 [wrote] Rehum 7348 the Chancellour, 1169 2942 and Shimshai 8124 the Scribe, 5613 and the rest 7606 of their companions; 3675 the Dinaites, 1784 the Apharsathkites, 671 the Tarpelites, 2967 the Apharsites, 670 the Archeuites, 756 the Babylonians, 896 the Susanchites, 7801 the Dehauites, 1723 [and] the Elamites, 5962

 4:10 And the rest 7606 of the nations 524 whom 1768 the great 7229 and noble 3358 Asnappar 620 brought ouer, 1541 z8684 and set 3488 z8684 y1994 in the cities 7149 of x1768 Samaria, 8115 and the rest 7606 that [are] on this side 5675 the Riuer, 5103 and at such a time. 3706

 4:11 ¶ This 1836 [is] the copy 6573 of the Letter, 104 that 1768 they sent 7972 z8754 vnto x5922 him, y5922 [euen] vnto x5922 Artaxerxes 783 the king: 4430 Thy seruants 5649 606 on this side 5675 the Riuer, 5103 and at such a time, 3706

 4:12 Be x1934 it y1934 z8748 knowen 3046 z8752 vnto the king, 4430 that the Iewes 3062 which 1768 came vp 5559 z8760 from 4481 x3890 thee y3890 to x5922 vs, y5922 are come 858 z8754 vnto Ierusalem, 3390 building 1124 z8750 the rebellious 4779 and the bad 873 citie, 7149 and haue set vp 3635 z8806 z8675 z8720 the walles 7792 thereof, and ioyned 2338 z8681 the foundations. 787

 4:13 Be x1934 it knowen 3046 z8752 y1934 z8748 now 3705 vnto the king, 4430 that x1768 if 2006 this 1791 city 7149 be builded, 1124 z8731 and the wals 7792 set vp 3635 z8720 againe, then will they not 3809 pay 5415 z8748 tolle, 4061 tribute, 1093 and custome, 1983 and so thou shalt endammage 5142 z8681 the reuenue 674 of the kings. 4430

 4:14 Now 3705 because 6903 3606 x1768 we haue y1768 maintenance 4415 4416 z8754 [from the Kings] palace, 1965 and it was not 3809 meete 749 z8750 for vs to see 2370 z8749 the kings 4430 dishonour: 6173 therefore 5922 1836 haue we sent, 7972 z8754 and certified 3046 z8684 the king, 4430

 4:15 That x1768 search y1240 z8741 may be made x1240 in the booke 5609 of the Records 1799 of x1768 thy fathers: 2 so shalt thou finde 7912 z8681 in the booke 5609 of the Records, 1799 and know, 3046 z8748 that x1768 this 1791 City 7149 [is] a rebellious 4779 city, 7149 and hurtfull 5142 z8683 vnto Kings 4430 and prouinces, 4083 and that they haue moued 5648 z8751 sedition 849 within the same 1459 of 4481 olde 5957 time: 3118 for 5922 which y1836 cause x1836 was this 1791 citie 7149 destroyed. 2718 z8717

 4:16 We 586 certifie 3046 z8683 the king, 4430 that x1768 if 2006 this 1791 citie 7149 be builded 1124 z8731 [againe], & the walles 7792 thereof set vp: 3635 z8720 by this 1836 meanes, 6903 thou shalt haue 383 no 3809 portion 2508 on this side 5675 the Riuer. 5103

 4:17 ¶ [Then] sent 7972 z8754 the king 4430 an answere 6600 vnto 5922 Rehum 7348 the Chancellour, 1169 2942 and to Shimshai 8124 the scribe, 5613 and to the rest 7606 of their companions, 3675 that x1768 dwell 3488 z8750 in Samaria, 8115 and vnto the rest 7606 beyond 5675 the Riuer, 5103 Peace, 8001 and at such a time. 3706

 4:18 The letter, 5407 which x1768 ye sent 7972 z8754 vnto x5922 vs, y5922 hath bene plainly 6568 z8744 read 7123 z8752 before 6925 me.

 4:19 And I y4481 commaunded, 7761 2942 z8752 and search y1240 z8745 hath bene made, x1240 and it is found, 7912 z8684 that x1768 this 1791 citie 7149 of 4481 old 5957 time 3118 hath made insurrection 5376 z8723 against 5922 Kings, 4430 and that rebellion 4776 & sedition 849 haue bene made 5648 z8727 therein.

 4:20 There haue bene 1934 z8754 mighty 8624 Kings 4430 also ouer 5922 Ierusalem, 3390 which haue ruled 7990 ouer all 3606 [countreys] beyond 5675 the Riuer, 5103 and tolle, 4061 tribute, 1093 and custome, 1983 was payd 3052 z8727 vnto them.

 4:21 Giue 7761 z8747 ye now 3705 commandement, 2942 to cause y989 z0 these 479 men 1400 to cease, 989 z8749 and that this 1791 citie 7149 be not 3809 builded, 1124 z8731 vntill 5705 [another] commandement 2941 shall be giuen 7761 z8725 from x4481 me. y4481

 4:22 Take heed 1934 2095 z8747 z8750 now that ye faile y7960 not x7960 to doe 5648 y5922 z8749 this: 1836 x5922 why 4101 should damage 2257 grow 7680 z8748 to the hurt 5142 z8682 of the kings? 4430

 4:23 ¶ Now 116 when 4481 1768 the copy 6573 of King 4430 Artaxerxes 783 letter 5407 was read 7123 z8752 before 6925 Rehum 7348 and Shimshai 8124 the scribe, 5613 and their companions, 3675 they went vp 236 z8754 in haste 924 to Ierusalem, 3390 vnto 5922 the Iewes, 3062 and made them 1994 to cease, 989 z8754 by force 153 and power. 2429

 4:24 Then 116 ceased 989 z8754 the woorke 5673 of the house 1005 of the God, 426 which x1768 [is] at Ierusalem. 3390 So x1934 it ceased, 989 y1934 z8754 z8750 vnto 5705 the second 8648 yeere 8140 of the reigne 4437 of Darius 1868 king 4430 of Persia. 6540