1 Then Darius, the king, gave a commandment, and a search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found in the coffer of the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus, the king, the same Cyrus, the king, gave a commandment concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, that the house be built as a place for sacrifices to be offered, and let the walls thereof be covered; the height thereof sixty cubits, and the breadth thereof sixty cubits; 4 the orders, three of stones of marble and one order of new timber and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which was at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon, be restored and go again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, to his place, and let them be placed in the house of God.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai, captain of the other side of the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions, the Apharsachites, who are on the other side of the river, remove yourselves from there. 7 Leave the work of this house of God unto the captain of the Jews and to their elders that they may build this house of God in his place. 8 And by me is given the commandment regarding what ye shall do with the elders of these Jews, to build this house of God: that of the king’s goods, of the tribute from the other side of the river, the expenses be given unto these men, that they not cease. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks and rams and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day that they not cease: 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 It is also given by my commandment that whoever shall alter this word, let a timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged upon it, and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter or to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made the decree; let it be done with speed.