4:1 Now when the adversaries 6862 of Judah 3063 and Benjamin 1144 heard 8085 8799 that the children 1121 of the captivity 1473 builded 1129 8802 the temple 1964 unto the LORD 3068 God 430 of Israel 3478;(the children…: Heb. the sons of the transportation)

4:2 Then they came 5066 8799 to Zerubbabel 2216, and to the chief 7218 of the fathers 1, and said 559 8799 unto them, Let us build 1129 8799 with you: for we seek 1875 8799 your God 430, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice 2076 8802 unto him since the days 3117 of Esarhaddon 634 king 4428 of Assur 804, which brought us up hither 5927 8688.

4:3 But Zerubbabel 2216, and Jeshua 3442, and the rest 7605 of the chief 7218 of the fathers 1 of Israel 3478, said 559 8799 unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build 1129 8800 an house 1004 unto our God 430; but we ourselves together 3162 will build 1129 8799 unto the LORD 3068 God 430 of Israel 3478, as king 4428 Cyrus 3566 the king 4428 of Persia 6539 hath commanded 6680 8765 us.

4:4 Then the people 5971 of the land 776 weakened 7503 8764 the hands 3027 of the people 5971 of Judah 3063, and troubled 926 8764 8675 1089 8764 them in building 1129 8800,

4:5 And hired 7936 8802 counsellors 3289 8802 against them, to frustrate 6565 8687 their purpose 6098, all the days 3117 of Cyrus 3566 king 4428 of Persia 6539, even until the reign 4438 of Darius 1867 king 4428 of Persia 6539.

4:6 And in the reign 4438 of Ahasuerus 325, in the beginning 8462 of his reign 4438, wrote 3789 8804 they [unto him] an accusation 7855 against the inhabitants 3427 8802 of Judah 3063 and Jerusalem 3389.(Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh)

4:7 And in the days 3117 of Artaxerxes 783 wrote 3789 8804 Bishlam 1312, Mithredath 4990, Tabeel 2870, and the rest 7605 of their companions 3674, unto Artaxerxes 783 king 4428 of Persia 6539; and the writing 3791 of the letter 5406 [was] written 3789 8803 in the Syrian tongue 762, and interpreted 8638 8794 in the Syrian tongue 762.(Bishlam: or, in peace)(companions: Heb. societies)

4:8 Rehum 7348 the chancellor 1169 2942 and Shimshai 8124 the scribe 5613 wrote 3790 8754 a 2298 letter 104 against 5922 Jerusalem 3390 to Artaxerxes 783 the king 4430 in this sort 3660:(scribe: or, secretary)

4:9 Then 116 [wrote] Rehum 7348 the chancellor 1169 2942, and Shimshai 8124 the scribe 5613, and the rest 7606 of their companions 3675; the Dinaites 1784, the Apharsathchites 671, the Tarpelites 2967, the Apharsites 670, the Archevites 756, the Babylonians 896, the Susanchites 7801, the Dehavites 1723, [and] the Elamites 5962,(companions: Chald. societies)

4:10 And the rest 7606 of the nations 524 whom 1768 the great 7229 and noble 3358 Asnappar 620 brought over 1541 8684, and set 3488 8684 1994 in the cities 7149 of Samaria 8115, and the rest 7606 [that are] on this side 5675 the river 5103, and at such a time 3706.(at such…: Chaldee, Cheeneth)

4:11 This 1836 [is] the copy 6573 of the letter 104 that 1768 they sent 7972 8754 unto him 5922, [even] unto Artaxerxes 783 the king 4430; Thy servants 5649 the men 606 on this side 5675 the river 5103, and at such a time 3706.

4:12 Be it 1934 8748 known 3046 8752 unto the king 4430, that the Jews 3062 which 1768 came up 5559 8760 from 4481 thee 3890 to us 5922 are come 858 8754 unto Jerusalem 3390, building 1124 8750 the rebellious 4779 and the bad 873 city 7149, and have set up 3635 8806 8675 3635 8720 the walls 7792 [thereof], and joined 2338 8681 the foundations 787.(set up: or, finished)(joined: Chal. sewed together)

4:13 Be it known 3046 8752 1934 8748 now 3705 unto the king 4430, that, if 2006 this 1791 city 7149 be builded 1124 8731, and the walls 7792 set up 3635 8720 [again, then] will they not 3809 pay 5415 8748 toll 4061, tribute 1093, and custom 1983, and [so] thou shalt endamage 5142 8681 the revenue 674 of the kings 4430.(pay: Chal. give)(revenue: or, strength)

4:14 Now 3705 because 6903 3606 we have 1768 maintenance 4415 8754 4416 from [the king's] palace 1965, and it was not 3809 meet 749 8750 for us to see 2370 8749 the king's 4430 dishonour 6173, therefore 5922 1836 have we sent 7972 8754 and certified 3046 8684 the king 4430;(we have…: Chal. we are salted with the salt of the palace)

4:15 That search 1240 8741 may be made in the book 5609 of the records 1799 of thy fathers 2: so shalt thou find 7912 8681 in the book 5609 of the records 1799, and know 3046 8748 that this 1791 city 7149 [is] a rebellious 4779 city 7149, and hurtful 5142 8683 unto kings 4430 and provinces 4083, and that they have moved 5648 8751 sedition 849 within the same 1459 of 4481 old 5957 time 3118: for 5922 which 1836 cause was this 1791 city 7149 destroyed 2718 8717.(moved: Cald. made)(within…: Chald. in the midst thereof)

4:16 We 586 certify 3046 8683 the king 4430 that, if 2006 this 1791 city 7149 be builded 1124 8731 [again], and the walls 7792 thereof set up 3635 8720, by this 1836 means 6903 thou shalt have 383 no 3809 portion 2508 on this side 5675 the river 5103.

4:17 [Then] sent 7972 8754 the king 4430 an answer 6600 unto 5922 Rehum 7348 the chancellor 1169 2942, and [to] Shimshai 8124 the scribe 5613, and [to] the rest 7606 of their companions 3675 that dwell 3488 8750 in Samaria 8115, and [unto] the rest 7606 beyond 5675 the river 5103, Peace 8001, and at such a time 3706.(companions: Chal. societies)

4:18 The letter 5407 which ye sent 7972 8754 unto us 5922 hath been plainly 6568 8744 read 7123 8752 before 6925 me.

4:19 And I 4481 commanded 7761 8752 2942, and search 1240 8745 hath been made, and it is found 7912 8684 that this 1791 city 7149 of 4481 old 5957 time 3118 hath made insurrection 5376 8723 against 5922 kings 4430, and [that] rebellion 4776 and sedition 849 have been made 5648 8727 therein.(I commanded: Chald. by me a decree is set)(made insurrection: Chald. lifted up itself)

4:20 There have been 1934 8754 mighty 8624 kings 4430 also over 5922 Jerusalem 3390, which have ruled 7990 over all 3606 [countries] beyond 5675 the river 5103; and toll 4061, tribute 1093, and custom 1983, was paid 3052 8727 unto them.

4:21 Give 7761 8747 ye now 3705 commandment 2942 to cause 989 0 these 479 men 1400 to cease 989 8749, and that this 1791 city 7149 be not 3809 builded 1124 8731, until 5705 [another] commandment 2941 shall be given 7761 8725 from me 4481.(Give…: Chaldee, Make a decree)

4:22 Take heed 1934 8747 2095 8750 now that ye fail 7960 not to do 5922 5648 8749 this 1836: why 4101 should damage 2257 grow 7680 8748 to the hurt 5142 8682 of the kings 4430?

4:23 Now 116 when 4481 1768 the copy 6573 of king 4430 Artaxerxes' 783 letter 5407 [was] read 7123 8752 before 6925 Rehum 7348, and Shimshai 8124 the scribe 5613, and their companions 3675, they went up 236 8754 in haste 924 to Jerusalem 3390 unto 5922 the Jews 3062, and made them 1994 to cease 989 8754 by force 153 and power 2429.(by force…: Chaldee, by arm and power)