Ezra 4:18
◄  Ezra 4:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"The letter you sent has been translated and read to me.

English Standard Version (©2001)
the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
the document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.

NET Bible (©2006)
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The letter you sent me has been read word for word in my presence.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The letter which you sent unto us has been plainly read before me.

American King James Version
The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

American Standard Version
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The accusation, which you have sent to us, hath been plainly read before me,

Darby Bible Translation
The letter that ye sent to us has been read before me distinctly.

English Revised Version
The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

Webster's Bible Translation
The letter which ye sent to us hath been plainly read before me.

World English Bible
The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Young's Literal Translation
The letter that ye sent unto us, explained, hath been read before me,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he sees things as they are.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - The letter hath been plainly read before me. Despatches are read to, not by, Oriental sovereigns, who have often no literary education. (Compare Esther 6:1.)

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The letter which ye sent unto us,.... The plural number is used, being now become courtly for kings thus to speak of themselves:

hath been plainly before me; by such that understood both the Syrian and Persian languages; the letter was written in the Syrian language, and the king being a Persian, it was necessary it should be interpreted and explained to him.

Ezra 4:18 Parallel Commentaries

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The Decree of Artaxerxes
17Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. …

Ezra 4:17 The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.
Ezra 4:19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.
Nehemiah 8:8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.