1
Now in the firstyear of Cyrusking of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORDstirred up the spirit of Cyrusking of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2
"ThussaysCyrusking of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3
'Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalemwhich is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the Godwho is in Jerusalem.
4
'Everysurvivor, at whatever*place he may live, let the men of that placesupport him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewilloffering for the house of Godwhich is in Jerusalem.' "
5
Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levitesarose, even everyone whose spiritGod had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORDwhich is in Jerusalem.
6
All those about them encouraged* them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewilloffering.
7
Also KingCyrusbrought out the articles of the house of the LORD, whichNebuchadnezzar had carriedaway from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;
8
and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.