Ezra 5

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

Haggai and Zechariah, inspired prophets, passionately conveyed God's message to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, speaking directly to their hearts in the name of the God of Israel.

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, stood tall. Filled with determination, they started constructing God's house in Jerusalem. God's prophets, their hearts brimming with faith, were right there, lending their hands and spirits to the task.

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

Tatnai, the governor, and his allies, Shetharboznai, arrived. They asked with suspicion and curiosity, "Who gave you the authority to build this house and erect this wall?"

Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

We asked them, "Who are the men responsible for constructing this building?"

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

God's watchful gaze was on the Jewish elders, so the officials could not stop the work until the matter was reported to Darius and his answer came back by letter.

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

Tatnai, the governor, along with Shetharboznai and his friends, the Apharsachites, all living on this side of the river, penned a heartfelt letter to King Darius.

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

They penned a heartfelt letter to him, simply saying, "To King Darius, we wish you nothing but peace."

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

Dear King, we visited Judea, where God's grand house stands, built from mighty stones and timber. The work there is progressing swiftly and successfully.

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

We questioned the elders, asking, "Who gave you the orders to construct this building and erect these walls?"

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

We sought their names, to assure you, so we could record the leaders among them.

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

They responded passionately, "We are humble servants of the God who rules both heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the ancient temple, a magnificent creation of a revered Israeli king from years past."

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

When our ancestors angered the God of heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. This king, filled with fury, destroyed this temple and took our people as captives to Babylon.

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

In the initial year of Cyrus's reign as king of Babylon, he passionately decreed the construction of God's sacred house.

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

The sacred gold and silver treasures from God's house in Jerusalem, stolen by Nebuchadnezzar and placed in Babylon's temple, were retrieved by King Cyrus. He entrusted these precious items to Sheshbazzar, the appointed governor.

And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

He told him, "Take these sacred items, go, bring them to the temple in Jerusalem, and let God's home be rebuilt where it belongs."

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

Sheshbazzar arrived and began the groundwork for God's house in Jerusalem. From that moment until now, the construction continues, but it's still incomplete.

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

If the king agrees, let's check the royal treasury in Babylon to see if King Cyrus really ordered the construction of God's house in Jerusalem. We await the king's decision on this matter.