12 let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding (A)the rebellious and evil city and (B)are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, (C)they will not pay tribute, custom tax, or toll, and it will [a]be detrimental to the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we [b]are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s shame, for this reason we have sent word and informed the king, 15 so that a search may be conducted in the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn that that city is a rebellious city and detrimental to kings and provinces, and that they have revolted within it in past days; for this reason that city was laid waste. 16 We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls finished, then as a result of this you will have no possession in the province beyond the Euphrates River.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 4:13 Or certainly be...to the kings
  2. Ezra 4:14 Lit eat the salt of

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; (A)their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not [a]comply with the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. If it is pleasing to the king, let it be [b]decreed that they be eliminated, and I will pay [c]ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:8 Lit do the
  2. Esther 3:9 Lit written
  3. Esther 3:9 About 375 tons or 340 metric tons

12 Then they approached and (A)spoke before the king about the king’s injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the (B)law of the Medes and Persians, which [a]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they responded and spoke before the king, “(C)Daniel, who is one of the [b]exiles from Judah, pays (D)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 6:12 Lit does not go away
  2. Daniel 6:13 Lit sons of the exile

Bible Gateway Recommends