1. Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, Aggaeus and Zacharius the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem; in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, prophesied they to them.
2. Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them.
3. At the same time came to them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said to them,
4. By whose appointment do you⌃ build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the builders that perform these things?
5. Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favor, because the Lord had visited the captivity;
6. and they were not hindered from building, until such time as communication was made to Darius concerning them, and his answer signified.
7. The copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius;
8. To king Darius, greeting: Let all things be known to our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judaea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity
9. building a house to the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, with timber laid in the walls.