1. In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor, the Lord made what he had said through the prophet Jeremiah come true.
2. He prompted Cyrus to issue the following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his empire:
3. “This is the command of Cyrus, emperor of Persia. The Lord of Israel, the Lord Most High, has appointed me ruler over the whole world
4. and has given me the responsibility of building a temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah.
5. May the Lord be with those of you who are his people. You are to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of the Lord of Israel, the Lord who lives in Jerusalem.
6. If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbours must give them this help, and provide them with silver and gold
7. and other gifts, with horses and pack animals, as well as anything else offered for the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem in fulfilment of a vow.”
8. Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, and everyone else whose heart the Lord had moved, got ready to go and rebuild the Lord's Temple in Jerusalem.
9. Their neighbours helped them with everything, giving them silver, gold, horses, and pack animals. Many of their neighbours were also led to give a large number of other things, in fulfilment of vows.
10. Cyrus gave them back the sacred utensils that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his idols.
11. He brought them out and handed them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury,
12. who delivered them to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah.
14. In all there were 5,469 gold and silver bowls and other utensils,