⁴ And in any locality where survivors^(A) may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold,^(B) with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings^(C) for the temple of God^(D) in Jerusalem.’”^(E)

¹⁶ “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God^(A) in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”

¹⁷ Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives^(B) of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

³ In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid.^(A) It is to be sixty cubits^[a] high and sixty cubits wide,

¹² May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,^(A) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius^(B) have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.