1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
1再次重建聖殿之工那時，哈該先知和易多的兒子撒迦利亞先知奉以色列 神的名，向在猶大地和耶路撒冷的猶大人傳講信息。
2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
2於是，撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯和約薩達的兒子耶書亞都起來，開始重建在耶路撒冷的 神的殿， 神的先知們和他們在一起，幫助他們。
3At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
3當時，河西那邊的總督達乃和示他．波斯乃，以及他們的同僚來到他們那裡，這樣問他們說：“誰下令叫你們重建這殿，完成這工程呢？”
4Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
4他們又這樣問：“負責這建築工程的人叫甚麼名字？”
5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
5但是 神的眼目看顧猶大人的長老，以致總督等人沒有阻止他們建造；直到這事奏告大利烏王，得著有關這事的回諭為止。
6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
6上奏大利烏王這就是河西那邊的省長達乃和示他．波斯乃，以及他們的同僚，就是在河西那邊的亞法薩迦人，呈給大利烏王的奏文副本。
7They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
7他們在呈給王的奏文中這樣寫：“願大利烏王萬事平安。
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
8奏知大王：我們去過這猶大省，到了偉大 神的殿，見殿正用光滑石塊修建，梁木插入牆內；這工程進行審慎而迅速。
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
9於是，我們就這樣問那些長老，對他們說：‘誰下令叫你們重建這殿，完成這工程呢？’
10We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
10為了奏知大王，就問他們的名字，記錄他們首領的名。
11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
11他們這樣答覆我們，說：‘我們是天地之 神的僕人，正在重建這多年以前已經建好的殿，就是一位以色列偉大的君王所建成的。
12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
12但因為我們的祖先激怒了天上的 神， 神就把他們交在迦勒底人巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的手中；尼布甲尼撒就拆毀這殿，把人民擄到巴比倫去。
13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
13然而在巴比倫王古列元年，古列王下令重建這 神的殿。
14And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
14至於從前尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷的殿裡掠奪，帶到巴比倫廟裡的 神殿中的金銀器皿，古列王也從巴比倫的廟中拿出來，把它們交給一位名叫設巴薩的人，委任他為總督。
15And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
15又吩咐他說：把這些器皿帶去，存放在耶路撒冷的殿中；使 神的殿在原來的地方重建起來。
16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
16於是，這設巴薩回來，奠立了在耶路撒冷 神的殿的根基；從那時起，到現在一直在建造，還沒有完成。’
17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
17現在王若是以為好，就請查考王在巴比倫的庫房，看看那裡有沒有古列王下令，重建這在耶路撒冷 神的殿的諭旨，並請指示我們王對這事的旨意。”