1. So King Darius gave an order to search the records. They were kept in the treasury in Babylon.
2. A scroll was found in the capital city, Ecbatana. It is in the area of Media. This is what was written on it:Note:
3. King Cyrus gave an order about the Temple of God in Jerusalem. This was in the first year he was king. This was the order:“Let the Temple be rebuilt. It will be a place to present sacrifices. Let its foundations be laid. The Temple should be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide.
4. It must have three layers of large stones, then one layer of timbers. The costs should be paid from the king’s treasury.
5. The gold and silver things from the Temple of God should be put back in their places. Nebuchadnezzar took those things from the Temple in Jerusalem. And he brought them to Babylon. They are to be put back in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”
6. Now then, I, Darius, give this order to you, Tattenai, governor west of the Euphrates. And I give it to Shethar-Bozenai and all the officers of that area. Stay away from there.
7. Do not bother or interrupt the work on that Temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this Temple. Let them build it where it was before.
8. Also, I order you to do this for those elders of the Jews. They are building this Temple. The cost of the building is to be fully paid from the royal treasury. The money will come from taxes collected west of the Euphrates River. Do this so the work will not stop.
9. Give those people anything they need. Give them young bulls, male sheep or male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven. Give them wheat, salt, wine or olive oil. Give the priests in Jerusalem anything they ask for. Give it every day without fail.
10. Then they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven. And they can pray for the life of the king and his sons.