1 Esdras 6:8-10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁸ Let it be fully known to our lord the king that, when we went to the region of Judea and entered the city of Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in exile, building in the city of Jerusalem a great new house for the Lord, of hewn stone, with costly timber laid in the walls.^{(A) 9} These operations are going on rapidly, and the work is prospering in their hands and being completed with all splendor and care. ¹⁰ Then we asked these elders, ‘At whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations of this structure?’^(B)