1Now when the adversaries of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] and Binyamin [Son of the Right Hand/Strength] heard that the children of the captivity built the temple unto the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]; 2Then they came to Z’rubavel [sown in Babylon], and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], as you^2f [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-Hadon [Ashur has given a brother] king of Ashur [a step], which brought us up here. 3But Z’rubavel [sown in Babylon], and Yeshua [he is saved], and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], said unto them, You^2f have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God], as king Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace] the king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid] has commanded us.

4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised], and troubled them in building, 5And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Koresh (Cyrus) [possess you the furnace] king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid], even until the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid].

6And in the reign of Achashverosh [I will be silent and poor], in the beginning of his reign, wrote they [unto him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] and Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace].

7And in the days of Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] wrote Bishlam [in peace], Mitr’dat [given by Mithra (covenant)], Tav’el [God is good], and the rest of their companions, unto Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid]; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Arami [exalted] tongue, and interpreted in the Arami [exalted] tongue.

8Rechum [compassion] the chancellor and Shimshai (sunny) the scribe wrote a letter against Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] to Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] the king in this sort: 9Then [wrote] Rechum [compassion] the chancellor, and Shimshai (sunny) the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dina’im [judgment], the Afarsat’khim [meaning disputed], the Tarp’lim [they are fallen], the Afarsim [meaning disputed], the Ark’vim [lengthy], the Bavlim [confusion (my mixing)], the Shushan’kayim [lily], the Dehayim [the sickly], [and] the ‘Elma’im [their heaps], 10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar [horned bull] brought over, and set in the cities of Shomron [watch mountain], and the rest [that are] on this side the river, and at such a time. 11This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, [even] unto Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] the king; You1s servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12Be it known unto the king, that the Y’hudim (Judeans) which came up from youⁱ to us are come unto Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations. 13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be built, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] youⁱ shall damage the revenue of the kings. 14Now because we have maintenance from [the king's] palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the book of the records of youⁱ fathers: so shall youⁱ find in the book of the records, and know that this city [is] a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16We certify the king that, if this city be built [again], and the walls thereof set up, by this means youⁱ shall have no portion on this side the river.

17[Then] sent the king an answer unto Rechum [compassion] the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai (sunny) the scribe, and [to] the rest of their companions that dwell in Shomron [watch mountain], and [unto] the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18The letter which you^2f sent unto 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 in it. 20There have been mighty kings also over Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], which have ruled over all [countries] beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. 21Give you^2f now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until [another] commandment shall be given from me. 22Take heed now that you^2f fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23Now when the copy of king Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter]' letter [was] read before Rechum [compassion], and Shimshai (sunny) the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] unto the Y’hudim (Judeans), and made them to cease by force and power.

24Then ceased the work of the house of God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] which [is] at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) [lord] king of Paras (Persia) [pure or splendid].