Thomson(i)
1 Thereupon Darius the king passed a decree, He hath caused search to be made in the libraries where the royal treasure is kept at Babylon,
2 and there hath been found in the city, in the royal palace, a roll, in which is written this memorandum,
3 In the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the holy house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, and the place where they offer sacrifices. Moreover he hath fixed the dimensions, the length sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits.
4 And there are to be three strong stories of stone and one of wood; and the expence is to be defrayed out of the king's house:
5 And let the vessels of the house of God, both of silver and gold, which Nabuchodonosar took out of the house in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be given, and go back to the temple at Jerusalem, to the place where they were deposited in the house of God.
6 Now therefore you governors beyond the river, Satharbouzani, and you their fellow servants the Apharsachaians, who are beyond the river, keep at a distance from that place.
7 Let the work of the house of God alone. Let the rulers of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews build the house of God in its place.
8 Furthermore, by me a decree is made in regard to what you may do for the elders of the Jews, that the house of God may be built. Out of the king's substance, the tributes beyond the river, let the expence be carefully paid to those men, that they may not be forced to stop;
9 and whatever they may stand in need of, such as young bulls and rams and lambs for whole burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and oil, according to the order of the priests at Jerusalem; let whatever they ask be given them day by day,
10 that they may offer continually to the God of heaven sweet smelling sacrifices, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 Moreover by me a decree is made, that if any man counteract this mandate, a beam be taken from his house, and that he being suspended, be executed thereon, and his house confiscated.
12 And may the God whose name dwelleth there, destroy every king and people who shall stretch forth their hands to alter or destroy the house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have passed the decree. Let it be strictly observed.