Ezra Chapter 5
So the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were like, "Ayo, God’s got a message for the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem."
Then 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.
Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua came through and kicked off the construction of God’s crib in Jerusalem, with the prophets vibing alongside them.
Then 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.
Outta nowhere, Tatnai, the governor, and his squad showed up, asking, "Who greenlit the building of this house and wall?"
At 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?
We hit them with, "What’s the scoop on the names of the peeps constructing this spot?"
Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? {make: Chaldee, build}
But God had the elders' backs, so they couldn’t halt the hustle until it reached Darius, who got the word about it.
But 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}.
Here’s the letter that Tatnai and his crew shot over to King Darius:
The 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:
They wrote, "Yo Darius, hope you’re living your best life."
They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. {wherein: Chaldee, in the midst whereof}
Just so you know, we peeped Judea, where God’s house is being built with some solid stones and timber, and it’s hitting hard.
Be 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. {great...: Chaldee, stones of rolling}
So we asked the elders, "Who gave you the green light to build this house and these walls?"
Then asked we those elders, {and} said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
We also wanted their names to keep it real for you, so we could jot down the main players.
We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that {were} the chief of them.
They hit us back, saying, "We’re the servants of the God of heaven and earth, crafting the house that was made ages ago by a legit king of Israel."
And 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.
But then our ancestors made God mad, so He allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylon king, to wreck the house and take the people to Babylon.
But 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.
But in Cyrus' first year, he was like, "Let’s get this house of God built!"
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon {the same} king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
And all the gold and silver swag from God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar took, Cyrus returned to Sheshbazzar, who he appointed as governor.
And 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; {governor: or, deputy}
Cyrus told him, "Take these items, go, and get them into the temple in Jerusalem, and let’s build God’s crib properly."
And 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.
Then Sheshbazzar rolled up and laid the foundation of God’s house in Jerusalem, and it's still under construction, not finished yet.
Then 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.
So if it’s all chill with the king, let’s check the treasure house in Babylon to see if Cyrus really said to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and let the king fill us in about it.
Now 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.