Ezra 1-3
New American Standard Bible
2This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
4And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, the people of that place are to support him with silver and gold, with equipment and cattle, together with a voluntary offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’?'
5Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites rose up, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
6And all of those around them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with equipment, cattle, and with valuables, aside from everything that was given as a voluntary offering.
7Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;
8and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah.
9Now this was their number: thirty gold dishes, a thousand silver dishes, twenty nine duplicates;
10thirty gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind, and a thousand other articles.
11All the articles of gold and silver totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. T his is the number of the men of the people of Israel:
3the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
4the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
5the sons of Arah, 775;
6the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;
7the sons of Elam, 1,254;
8the sons of Zattu, 945;
9the sons of Zaccai, 760;
10the sons of Bani, 642;
11the sons of Bebai, 623;
12the sons of Azgad, 1,222;
13the sons of Adonikam, 666;
14the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;
15the sons of Adin, 454;
16the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;
17the sons of Bezai, 323;
18the sons of Jorah, 112;
19the sons of Hashum, 223;
20the sons of Gibbar, 95;
21the men of Bethlehem, 123;
22the men of Netophah, 56;
23the men of Anathoth, 128;
24the sons of Azmaveth, 42;
25the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
26the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621;
27the men of Michmas, 122;
28the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
29the sons of Nebo, 52;
30the sons of Magbish, 156;
31the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
32the sons of Harim, 320;
33the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;
34the men of Jericho, 345;
35the sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;
37the sons of Immer, 1,052;
38the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;
39the sons of Harim, 1,017.
40The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.
41The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
42The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, 139 in all.
43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan,
47the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,
51the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
54the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,
56the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
59Now these were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they were not able to provide evidence of their fathers’ households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel:
60the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.
61Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name.
62These searched among their genealogical registration but they could not be located; so they were considered defiled and excluded from the priesthood.
63The governor said to them that they were not to eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.
64The whole assembly together totaled 42,360,
65besides their male and female slaves who totaled 7,337; and they had two hundred singing men and women.
66Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245;
67their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.
68Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to erect it on its site.
69According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand silver minas, and a hundred priestly garments.
Chapter 3
1Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one person to Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, rose up and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God. 3So they set up the altar on its foundation, because they were terrified of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They also celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the prescribed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required; 5and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the appointed festivals of the Lord that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a voluntary offering to the Lord. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. 7Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites who were twenty years old and upward to oversee the work of the house of the Lord.
9Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.
10Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel.
11And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, 'For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever.' And all the people shouted with a great shout of joy when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,
13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.
King James Version
2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
7Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
8Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
10Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
1Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; 2Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
43The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
47The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
51The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
56The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
61And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
62These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
63And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
64The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
65Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
66Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
69They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
Chapter 3
1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; 5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord. 6From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. 8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. 9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. 10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.Christian Standard Bible
2This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.
3Any of his people among you, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
4Let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem."
5So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had roused —prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.
6All their neighbors supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering.
7King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods.
8King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
61and from the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name.
62These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood.
63The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.
68After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family heads gave freewill offerings for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site.
69Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury for the project.
70The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some of the people settled in their towns, and the rest of Israel settled in their towns.
Chapter 3
1When the seventh month arrived, and the Israelites were in their towns, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem. 2Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel’s God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples. 4They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed, and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day. 5After that, they offered the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the beginning of each month and for all the Lord’s appointed holy occasions, as well as the freewill offerings brought to the Lord.
6On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.
7They gave money to the stonecutters and artisans, and gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so they would bring cedar wood from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, according to the authorization given them by King Cyrus of Persia.
8In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build. They appointed the Levites who were twenty years old or more to supervise the work on the Lord’s house.
9Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah and of Henadad, with their sons and brothers, the Levites, joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.
10When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed.
11They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: "For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever." Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.
12But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully.
13The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.
New Living Translation
2'This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!
4Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.'
5Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.
6And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.
7King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods.
8Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.
9This is a list of the items that were returned: gold basins — 30 silver basins — 1,000 silver incense burners — 29
10gold bowls — 30 silver bowls — 410 other items — 1,000
3The family of Parosh — 2,172
4The family of Shephatiah — 372
5The family of Arah — 775
6The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) — 2,812
7The family of Elam — 1,254
8The family of Zattu — 945
9The family of Zaccai — 760
10The family of Bani — 642
11The family of Bebai — 623
12The family of Azgad — 1,222
13The family of Adonikam — 666
14The family of Bigvai — 2,056
15The family of Adin — 454
16The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) — 98
17The family of Bezai — 323
18The family of Jorah — 112
19The family of Hashum — 223
20The family of Gibbar — 95
21The people of Bethlehem — 123
22The people of Netophah — 56
23The people of Anathoth — 128
24The people of Beth-azmaveth — 42
25The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth — 743
26The people of Ramah and Geba — 621
27The people of Micmash — 122
28The people of Bethel and Ai — 223
29The citizens of Nebo — 52
30The citizens of Magbish — 156
31The citizens of West Elam — 1,254
32The citizens of Harim — 320
33The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono — 725
34The citizens of Jericho — 345
35The citizens of Senaah — 3,630
36These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) — 973
37The family of Immer — 1,052
38The family of Pashhur — 1,247
39The family of Harim — 1,017
40These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) — 74
41The singers of the family of Asaph — 128
42The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai — 139
43The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54Neziah, and Hatipha.
55The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
57Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.
59Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.
60This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda — a total of 652 people.
61Three families of priests — Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai — also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.)
62They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.
63The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim — the sacred lots.
64So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,
65in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 singers, both men and women.
66They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules,
67435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
68When they arrived at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site,
69and each leader gave as much as he could. The total of their gifts came to 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.
Chapter 3
1In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose. 2Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. 3Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening.
4They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed in the Law, sacrificing the number of burnt offerings specified for each day of the festival.
5They also offered the regular burnt offerings and the offerings required for the new moon celebrations and the annual festivals as prescribed by the Lord. The people also gave voluntary offerings to the Lord.
6Fifteen days before the Festival of Shelters began, the priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. This was even before they had started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple.
8The construction of the Temple of God began in midspring, during the second year after they arrived in Jerusalem. The work force was made up of everyone who had returned from exile, including Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests, and all the Levites. The Levites who were twenty years old or older were put in charge of rebuilding the Lord’s Temple.
9The workers at the Temple of God were supervised by Jeshua with his sons and relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, all descendants of Hodaviah. They were helped in this task by the Levites of the family of Henadad.
English Standard Version
2"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel — he is the God who is in Jerusalem.
4And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."
5Then rose up the heads of the fathers ' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.
6And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.
7Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
8Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers,
1030 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels;
11all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
1Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3the sons of Parosh, 2,172.
4The sons of Shephatiah, 372.
5The sons of Arah, 775.
6The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812.
7The sons of Elam, 1,254.
8The sons of Zattu, 945.
9The sons of Zaccai, 760.
10The sons of Bani, 642.
11The sons of Bebai, 623.
12The sons of Azgad, 1,222.
13The sons of Adonikam, 666.
14The sons of Bigvai, 2,056.
15The sons of Adin, 454.
16The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.
17The sons of Bezai, 323.
18The sons of Jorah, 112.
19The sons of Hashum, 223.
20The sons of Gibbar, 95.
21The sons of Bethlehem, 123.
22The men of Netophah, 56.
23The men of Anathoth, 128.
24The sons of Azmaveth, 42.
25The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
26The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621.
27The men of Michmas, 122.
28The men of Bethel and Ai, 223.
29The sons of Nebo, 52.
30The sons of Magbish, 156.
31The sons of the other Elam, 1,254.
32The sons of Harim, 320.
33The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725.
34The sons of Jericho, 345.
35The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.
37The sons of Immer, 1,052.
38The sons of Pashhur, 1,247.
39The sons of Harim, 1,017.
40The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.
41The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
42The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
43The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan,
47the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,
51the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
54the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55The sons of Solomon 's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,
56the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
59The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers ' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:
60the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.
61Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
62These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
63The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
64The whole assembly together was 42,360,
65besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers.
66Their horses were 736, their mules were 245,
67their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.
69According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests ' garments.
Chapter 3
1When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord.
9And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.
10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
11And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers ' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,
13so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people 's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
New International Version
2"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
3Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
4And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ "
5Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
6All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.
8Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
62These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
63The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
64The whole company numbered 42,360,
65besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.
66They had 736 horses, 245 mules,
67435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.
69According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.
Chapter 3
1When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. 4Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. 5After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. 6On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.
8In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord.
9Joshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah ) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.
11With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.
13No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
New King James Version
2Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
3Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
4And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
5Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
6And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
7King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods;
8and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9This is the number of them: thirty gold platters, one thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives,
10thirty gold basins, four hundred and ten silver basins of a similar kind, and one thousand other articles.
11All the articles of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar took with the captives who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3the people of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;
4the people of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two;
5the people of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five;
6the people of Pahath-Moab, of the people of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;
7the people of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
8the people of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five;
9the people of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;
10the people of Bani, six hundred and forty-two;
11the people of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three;
12the people of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two;
13the people of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six;
14the people of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six;
15the people of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four;
16the people of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;
17the people of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three;
18the people of Jorah, one hundred and twelve;
19the people of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three;
20the people of Gibbar, ninety-five;
21the people of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three;
22the men of Netophah, fifty-six;
23the men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;
24the people of Azmaveth, forty-two;
25the people of Kirjath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three;
26the people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;
27the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two;
28the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three;
29the people of Nebo, fifty-two;
30the people of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six;
31the people of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
32the people of Harim, three hundred and twenty;
33the people of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five;
34the people of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five;
35the people of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.
36The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;
37the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two;
38the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven;
39the sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
43The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan,
47the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephusim,
51the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,
54the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Peruda,
56the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.
59And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not identify their father’s house or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel:
60the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two;
61and of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
62These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.
63And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
64The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,
65besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred men and women singers.
66Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five,
67their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and their donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place:
69According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.
Chapter 3
1And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. 5Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. 7They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the Lord.
9Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,
13so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.