Page 381 - 1599 Geneva Bible

Ezra 3:10 376 Ezra 4:23

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10 And when the builders layed the foundation Artahshashte the King, in this sort. Then wrote
of the Temple of the Lord, they appoynted the Rehum the chauncelour, and Shimshai the scribe,
Priestes in their apparel with trumpets, and the and their companions Dinaie, and Apharsath-
Leuites the sonnes of Asaph with cymbales, to caie, Tarpelaie, Apharsaie, Archeuaie, Bablaie,
prayse the Lord, after the ordinance of Dauid Shushanchaie, Dehaue, Elmaie, 10 And the rest of
King of Israel. 11 Thus they sang when they gaue the people whom the great and noble Asnappar
prayse, and when they gaue thankes vnto the brought ouer, and set in the cities of Samaria, and
Lord, For he is good, for his mercie endureth for other that are beyonde the Riuer and Cheeneth.
euer toward Israel. And all the people shouted 11 This is the copie of the letter that they sent
with a great shoute, when they praysed the Lord, vnto King Artahshashte, THY SERVANTS the men
because the foundation of the house of the Lord beyond the Riuer and Cheeneth, salute thee. 12 Be
was layed. 12 Many also of the Priests and the it knowen vnto the King that ye Iewes, which
Leuites and the chiefe of the fathers, ancient came vp from thee to vs, are come vnto Ierusalem
men which had seene the first house, (when the (a citie rebellious and wicked) and buylde, and lay
foundation of this house was layed before their the foundations of the walles, and haue ioyned
eyes) wept with a loud voyce, and many shouted the foundations. 13 Be it knowen nowe vnto the
aloud for ioy, 13 So that the people coulde not King, that if this citie be built, and the founda-
discerne the sound of the shoute for ioy, from tions of the walles layed, they will not giue tolle,
the noyse of the weeping of the people: for the tribute, nor custome: so shalt thou hinder the
people shouted with a loude crie, and the noyse Kings tribute. 14 Nowe therefore because wee
was heard farre off. haue bene brought vp in the Kings palace, it was
not meete for vs to see the Kings dishonour: for
4 this cause haue we sent and certified the King,
That one may searche in the booke of the
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1 Bvt the aduersaries of Iudah and Beniamin Chronicles of thy fathers, and thou shalt finde in
heard, that the children of the captiuitie builded the booke of the Chronicles, and perceiue that
theTemplevntotheLordGodofIsrael. Andthey this citie is rebellious and noysome vnto Kings
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came to Zerubbabel, and to the chiefe fathers, and prouinces, and that they haue moued sedi-
and sayd vnto them, We wil builde with you: for
we seeke the Lord your God as ye do, and we haue tion of olde time, for the which cause this citie
was destroyed.
Wee certifie the King therefore,
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sacrificed vnto him since the time of Esar Haddon that if this citie be buylded, and the foundation
king of Asshur, which brought vs vp hither.
3 Then Zerubbabel, and Ieshua, and the rest of of the walles layd, by this meanes the portion
the chiefe fathers of Israel, sayde vnto them, It beyonde the Riuer shall not be thine. 17 The King
is not for you, but for vs to buyld the house vnto sent an answere vnto Rehum the Chauncelour,
our God: for we our selues together wil buylde and Shimshai the Scribe, and so the rest of their
companions that dwelt in Samaria, and vnto
it vnto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the the other beyond the Riuer, Shelam and Cheeth.
king of Persia hath commanded vs. Wherefore 18 The letter which yee sent vnto vs, hath bene
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the people of the land discouraged the people of openly read before me, 19 And I haue commanded
Iudah, and troubled them in buylding, And they and they haue searched, and founde, that this
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hired counsellers against them, to hinder their citie of olde time hath made insurrection against
deuise, all the dayes of Cyrus King of Persia, euen kings, and hath rebelled, and rebellion hath bene
vntill the reigne of Darius King of Persia. And in committed therein. 20 There haue bene mightie
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the reigne of Ahashuerosh (in the beginning of kings also ouer Ierusalem, which haue ruled ouer
his reigne) wrote they an accusation against the all beyonde the Riuer, and tolle, tribute, and
inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem. And in the custome was giuen vnto them. 21 Make ye now
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daies of Artahshashte, Mithredath, Tabeel, and
the rest of their companions wrote when it was a decree, that those men may cease, and that
peace, vnto Artahshashte king of Persia, and the the citie be not buylt, till I haue giuen another
writing of the letter was the Aramites writing, commandement. 22 Take heede nowe that ye
and the thing declared was in the language of the fayle not to doe this: why should domage grow
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Aramites. Rehum the chancelour, and Shimshai to hurt the King? 23 When the copie of king
the scribe wrote a letter against Ierusalem to Artahshashtes letter was read before Rehum and