6Now, therefore, Tatnai, governor of the province west of the (Euphrates) river, and Shethar-bozenai, and your companions, the Apharsachites, who are west of the river, stay far away from there. 7Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8Moreover, I make a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: that the cost of their expenses be given to these men, out of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith, that they are not hindered. 9And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day without fail, 10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11Also, I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be impaled on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12And the God Who has caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, who shall attempt to alter or to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree; let it be done with speed”.

13Then Tatnai, governor on the west side of the (Euphrates) the river, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, did according to that which Darius, the king, had sent speedily. 14And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, the king.

16And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

19And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover lambs for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren, the priests, and for themselves. 21And the children of Israel, who had returned from captivity, and all that had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the pagan nations of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to favor them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.