Darius’s Decree

6 Therefore, you must stay away from that place, Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and your p colleagues, the officials in the region. q 7 Leave the construction of the house of God alone. Let the governor r and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.

8 I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild the house of God:

The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues s from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for * burnt offerings to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them every day without fail, t 10 so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. u

11 I also issue a decree concerning any man who interferes with this directive:

Let a beam be torn from his house and raised up; he will be impaled on it, and his house will be made into a garbage dump because of this offense. v 12 May the God who caused His name to dwell there w overthrow any king or people who dares x to harm or interfere with this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out diligently.