Old Testament readings use the Septuagint , the Scripture the apostles quoted. Masoretic numbering shown for reference.Learn why

1 Esdras 2

Septuagint (LXX2012) compared with World English Bible

Listen & follow along

Today's reading with verse-by-verse highlighting

View

Septuagint (LXX2012)

Authoritative text

World English Bible

Masoretic-derived · highlighted where altered

1In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;
1In the first year of King Cyrus of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy might be accomplished,
2The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
2the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of the Persians, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also by writing,
3Saying, Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord, has made me king of the whole world,
3saying, Cyrus king of the Persians says: The Lord of Israel, the Most High Lord, has made me king of the whole world,
4And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.
4and commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem that is in Judea.
5If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwells in Jerusalem.
5If therefore there are any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel. He is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem.
6Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbors, with gold, and with silver,
6Therefore, of those who dwell in various places, let those who are in his own place each help with gold, with silver,
7With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.
7with gifts, with horses, and cattle, beside the other things which have been added by vow for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
8Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,
8Then the chief of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up, with the priests, the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up, to build the house for the Lord which is in Jerusalem.
9And they that lived round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto.
9Those who lived around them helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed by a great number whose minds were so moved.
10King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels , which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.
10King Cyrus also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem and had stored in his temple of idols.
11Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:
11Now when King Cyrus of the Persians had brought them out, he delivered them to Mithradates his treasurer,
12And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
12and by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
13And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver , censers of silver twentynine , vials of gold thirty , and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten , and a thousand other vessels.
13This was the number of them: one thousand gold cups, one thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censers, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred ten silver bowls, and one thousand other vessels.
14So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.
14So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand four hundred seventy-nine,
15These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.
15and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with the returning exiles, from Babylon to Jerusalem.
16But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the PersiansBelemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against them that lived in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;
16In the time of King Artaxerxes of the Persians, Belemus, Mithradates, Tabellius, Rathumus, Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, with their other associates, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the following letter:
17To king Artaxerxes our lord, Your servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.
17To King Artaxerxes our Lord, from your servants, Rathumus the recorder, Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:
18Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple.
18Let it now be known to our lord the king, that the Jews that have come up from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, are building that rebellious and wicked city, and are repairing its marketplaces and walls, and are laying the foundation of a temple.
19Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.
19Now if this city is built and its walls are finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings.
20And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,
20Since the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it appropriate not to neglect such a matter,
21But to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure it may be sought out in the books of your fathers:
21but to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it is your pleasure, search may be made in the books of your ancestors.
22And you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:
22You will find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and will understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities,
23And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate.
23and that the Jews were rebellious, and kept starting wars there in the past. For this cause, this city was laid waste.
24Therefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice.
24Therefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city is built again, and its walls set up again, you will from then on have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
25Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syriaand Phenice, after this manner;
25Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the recorder, Beeltethmus, Samellius the scribe, and to the rest of their associates who lived in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia, as follows:
26I have read the epistle which you have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it has been found that that city was from the beginning practising against kings;
26I have read the letter which you have sent to me. Therefore I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of old time has fought against kings,
27And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
27and the men were given to rebellion and war in it, and that mighty and fierce kings were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
28Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it;
28Now therefore I have commanded to prevent those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be nothing done contrary to this order,
29And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,
29and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings.”
30Then king Artaxerxeshis letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
30Then King Artaxerxes, his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their associates, went in haste to Jerusalem with cavalry and a multitude of people in battle array, and began to hinder the builders. So the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of King Darius of the Persians.