Ezra 4

1Nang mabalitaan nga ng mga kaaway ng Juda at Benjamin na ang mga anak sa pagkabihag ay nangagtatayo ng templo na ukol sa Panginoon, sa Dios ng Israel; 2Nagsilapit nga sila kay Zorobabel, at sa mga pangulo ng mga sangbahayan ng mga magulang, at nangagsabi sa kanila, Papagtayuin ninyo kami na kasama ninyo: sapagka't aming hinahanap ang inyong Dios, na gaya ng inyong ginagawa; at kami ay nangaghahain sa kaniya mula ng mga kaarawan ni Esar-haddon na hari sa Asiria, na nagahon sa amin dito. 3Nguni't si Zorobabel, at si Jesua, at ang nalabi sa mga pangulo ng mga sangbahayan ng mga magulang ng Israel, ay nangagsabi sa kanila, Kayo'y walang ipakikialam sa amin sa pagtatayo ng isang bahay na ukol sa aming Dios; kundi kami rin na magkakasama ay aming ipagtatayo ang Panginoon, ang Dios ng Israel, gaya ng iniutos sa amin ni Ciro na hari sa Persia, 4Nang magkagayo'y pinahina ng bayan ng lupain ang mga kamay ng bayan ng Juda, at binagabag sila sa pagtatayo. 5At umupa ng mga tagapayo laban sa kanila, upang iurong ang kanilang akala, sa lahat ng kaarawan ni Ciro na hari sa Persia, hanggang sa paghahari ni Dario na hari sa Persia. 6At sa paghahari ni Assuero, sa pasimula ng kaniyang paghahari, nagsisulat sila ng isang sakdal laban sa mga taga Juda at Jerusalem. 7At sa mga kaarawan ni Artajerjes, nagsisulat si Bislam, si Mitridates, si Tabeel at ang nalabi sa kaniyang mga kasama kay Artajerjes na hari sa Persia; at ang pagkasulat ng sulat ay nasusulat ng sulat Siria, at ang laman niyaon ay wikang Siria. 8Si Rehum na kasangguni at si Simsai na kalihim, sumulat ng isang sulat laban sa Jerusalem kay Artajerjes na hari ng ganitong paraan: 9Nang magkagayo'y nagsisulat si Rehum na tagapayo at si Simsai na kalihim, at ang nalabi sa kanilang mga kasama; ang mga Dinaita, at ang mga Apharsacita, ang mga Tharphelita, ang mga Apharsita, ang mga Archevita, ang mga Babilonio, ang mga Susanchita, ang mga Dehaita, ang mga Elamita. 10At ang nalabi sa mga bansa na itinawid ng dakila at marangal na si Asnappar, at inilagay sa bayan ng Samaria, at sa nalabi sa lupain, na nasa dako roon ng Ilog, at sa iba pa. 11Ito ang salin ng sulat na kanilang ipinadala kay Artajerjes na hari: Ang iyong mga lingkod na mga lalake sa dako roon ng Ilog, at iba pa. 12Talastasin ng hari, na ang mga Judio na nagsiahong galing sa iyo ay nagsiparoon sa amin sa Jerusalem; kanilang itinatayo ang mapanghimagsik at masamang bayan, at nayari ang mga kuta, at isinauli ang mga tatagang-baon. 13Talastasin ngayon ng hari, na, kung ang bayang ito ay matayo, at ang mga kuta ay mayari, sila'y hindi mangagbabayad ng buwis, kabayaran, o upa, at sa wakas ay ikapapahamak ng mga hari. 14Sapagka't aming kinakain nga ang asin ng bahay-hari, at hindi marapat sa amin na aming makita ang ikasisirang puri ng hari, kaya't kami ay nangagsugo at nangagpatotoo sa hari; 15Upang ang pagsaliksik ay maisagawa sa aklat ng mga alaala ng iyong mga magulang: sa gayo'y iyong masusumpungan sa aklat ng mga alaala, at malalaman na ang bayang ito ay mapanghimagsik na bayan, at mapangpahamak sa mga hari at mga lalawigan, at sila'y nagsipanghimagsik doon nang unang panahon: na siyang ikinagiba ng bayang ito. 16Aming pinatototohanan sa hari, na, kung ang bayang ito ay matayo, at ang mga kuta ay mayari, ay hindi ka magkakaroon ng bahagi sa dako roon ng Ilog sa kadahilanang ito. 17Nang magkagayo'y nagpadala ang hari ng kasagutan kay Rehum na kasangguni, at kay Simsai na kalihim, at sa mga nalabi sa kanilang mga kasama na nagsisitahan sa Samaria, at sa nalabi sa lupain sa dako roon ng Ilog: Kapayapaan, at iba pa. 18Ang sulat na inyong ipinadala sa amin, ay nabasa na maliwanag sa harap ko. 19At ako'y nagpasiya, at ang pagsaliksik ay naisagawa at nasumpungan na ang bayang ito nang una ay gumawa ng panghihimagsik laban sa mga hari, at ang panghihimagsik at pagbabanta ay nagawa roon. 20Nagkaroon naman doon ng mga may kayang hari sa Jerusalem, na nagpuno sa buong lupain sa dako roon ng Ilog; at buwis, kabayaran, at upa, ay nabayad sa kanila. 21Magpasiya kayo ngayon na inyong patigilin ang mga taong ito, at upang ang bayang ito ay huwag matayo, hanggang sa ang pasiya ay magawa ko. 22At kayo'y mangagingat na huwag kayong magpabaya dito: bakit ang pagkapahamak ay mangyayari sa ikapapahamak ng mga hari? 23Nang mabasa nga ang salin ng sulat ng haring Artajerjes sa harap ni Rehum, at ni Simsai na kalihim, at ng kanilang mga kasama, sila'y nangagmadaling nagsiparoon sa Jerusalem sa mga Judio, at pinatigil nila sa pamamagitan ng lakas at kapangyarihan. 24Nang magkagayo'y natigil ang gawa sa bahay ng Dios na nasa Jerusalem; at natigil hanggang sa ikalawang taon ng paghahari ni Dario, na hari sa Persia.

1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel; 2then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and delivered in the Syrian language. 8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9then Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote. 11This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. 12Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. 13Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. 14Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; 15that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. 16We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River. 17Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. 21Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. 22Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24Then ceased the work of God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

1Toen nu de wederpartijders van Juda en Benjamin hoorden, dat de kinderen der gevangenis den HEERE, den God Israels, den tempel bouwden; 2Zo kwamen zij aan tot Zerubbabel, en tot de hoofden der vaderen, en zeiden tot hen: Laat ons met ulieden bouwen, want wij zullen uw God zoeken, gelijk gijlieden ook hebben wij Hem geofferd sinds de dagen van Esar-Haddon, den koning van Assur, die ons herwaarts heeft doen optrekken. 3Maar Zerubbabel, en Jesua, en de overige hoofden der vaderen van Israel zeiden tot hen: Het betaamt niet, dat gijlieden en wij onzen God een huis bouwen; maar wij alleen zullen het den HEERE, den God Israels, bouwen, gelijk als de koning Kores, koning van Perzie, ons geboden heeft. 4Evenwel maakte het volk des lands de handen des volks van Juda slap, en verstoorde hen in het bouwen; 5En zij huurden tegen hen raadslieden, om hun raad te vernietigen, al de dagen van Kores, koning van Perzie, tot aan het koninkrijk van Darius, den koning van Perzie. 6En onder het koninkrijk van Ahasveros, in het begin zijns koninkrijks, schreven zij een aanklacht tegen de inwoners van Juda en Jeruzalem. 7En in de dagen van Arthahsasta schreef Bislam, Mithredath, Tabeel, en de overigen van zijn gezelschap, aan Arthahsasta, koning van Perzie; en de schrift des briefs was in het Syrisch geschreven, en in het Syrisch uitgelegd. 8Rehum, de kanselier, en Simsai, de schrijver, schreven een brief tegen Jeruzalem, aan den koning Arthahsasta, op deze manier: 9Toen Rehum, de kanselier, en Simsai, de schrijver, en de overigen van hun gezelschap, de Dinaieten, de Afarsathchieten, de Tarpelieten, de Afarsieten, de Archevieten, de Babyloniers, de Susanchieten, de Dehavieten, de Elamieten, 10En de overige volkeren, die de grote en vermaarde Asnappar heeft vervoerd, en doen wonen in de stad van Samaria, ook de overigen, aan deze zijde der rivier, en op zulken tijd. 11Dit is een afschrift des briefs, dien zij aan hem, aan den koning Arthahsasta, zonden: Uw knechten, de mannen aan deze zijde der rivier, en op zulken tijd. 12Den koning zij bekend, dat de Joden, die van u zijn opgetogen, tot ons gekomen zijn te Jeruzalem, bouwende die rebelle en die boze stad, waarvan zij de muren voltrekken, en de fondamenten samenvoegen. 13Zo zij nu den koning bekend, indien dezelve stad zal worden opgebouwd, en de muren voltrokken, dat zij den cijns, ouden impost, en tol niet zullen geven, en gij zult aan de inkomsten der koningen schade aanbrengen. 14Nu, omdat wij salaris uit het paleis trekken, en het ons niet betaamt des konings oneer te zien, daarom hebben wij gezonden, en dit den koning bekend gemaakt; 15Opdat men zoeke in het boek der kronieken uwer vaderen, zo zult gij vinden in het boek der kronieken, en weten, dat dezelve stad een rebelle stad geweest is, en den koningen en landschappen schade aanbrengende, en dat zij daarbinnen afval gesticht hebben, van oude tijden af; daarom is dezelve stad verwoest. 16Wij maken dan de koning bekend, dat, zo dezelve stad zal worden opgebouwd, en haar muren voltrokken, gij daardoor geen deel zult hebben aan deze zijde der rivier. 17De koning zond antwoord aan Rehum, den kanselier, en Simsai, den schrijver, en de overigen van hun gezelschappen, die te Samaria woonden; mitsgaders aan de overigen van deze zijde der rivier aldus: Vrede, en op zulken tijd. 18De brief, dien gij aan ons geschikt hebt, is duidelijk voor mij gelezen. 19En als van mij bevel gegeven was, hebben zij gezocht en gevonden, dat dezelve stad zich van oude tijden af tegen de koningen heeft verheven, en rebellie en afval daarin gesticht is. 20Ook zijn er machtige koningen geweest over Jeruzalem, die geheerst hebben overal aan gene zijde der rivier; en hun is cijns, oude impost en tol gegeven. 21Geeft dan nu bevel, om diezelve mannen te beletten, dat diezelve stad niet opgebouwd worde, totdat van mij bevel zal worden gegeven. 22Weest gewaarschuwd, van feil in dezen te begaan; waarom zou het verderf tot schade der koningen aanwassen? 23Toen, van dat het afschrift des briefs van den koning Arthahsasta voor Rehum, en Simsai, den schrijver, en hun gezelschappen gelezen was, togen zij in haast naar Jeruzalem tot de Joden, en beletten hen met arm en geweld. 24Toen hield het werk op van het huis Gods, Die te Jeruzalem woont, ja, het hield op tot in het tweede jaar van het koninkrijk van Darius, den koning van Perzie.