24 Then the work of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem, was stopped, and this cessation continued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Chapter 5

1 But Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Addah spoke prophetic words in the name of the God of Israel to the Jews who are in Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Then Zerubbabel the son of the Shealtiels, and Joshua the son of Jozadak, arose, and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem, and with them the prophets of God, who strengthened them.

3 And it came to them at that time that Thaphnai, the governor beyond the river, and Shephar-boznai, and their companions, came to them, and thus said unto them, Who hath given you permission to build this house, and to complete these walls?

4 Then we told them the names of the people who were building this building.

5 But the eye of God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not rebuke them, until they had sent the matter to Darius, and until the decision of the matter had come.

6 And this is the content of the letter which was sent by Thaphnai, the governor of the region beyond the river, and by Shephar-boznai, with his companions the Athersechaeans, who were beyond the river, to king Darius.

7 And in the report which they sent unto him, this is what is written: To Darius the king, all peace!

8 Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God; and it is built of great stones, and the wood is put into the walls; and this work is carried out quickly and successfully in their hands.

9 Then we asked the elders, and said to them, 'Who has given you permission to build this house, and to finish these walls?'

10 And besides this, concerning their names, we have asked them, that we may let thee know, and write the names of those men who are chief with them.

11 And they answered us in these words, 'We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a house which was built many years before,' and the great king of Israel built it, and completed it.

12 And when our fathers provoked the anger of the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean; and he destroyed this house, and carried the people to Babylon.