"Let it be knownto the kingthat we have goneto the provinceof Judah,to the houseof the greatGod,whichis being builtwith hugestones,and beamsare being laidin the walls;and thisworkis goingon with greatcareand is succeedingin their hands.
Now theseare the peopleof the provincewho cameup out of the captivityof the exileswhomNebuchadnezzarthe kingof Babylonhad carriedawayto Babylon,and returnedto Jerusalemand Judah,eachto his city.
They senta reportto him in which it was writtenthus:"To Dariusthe king,allpeace.
"Thenwe askedthoseeldersand saidto them thus,'Whoissuedyou a decreeto rebuildthistempleand to finishthisstructure?'
that they may offeracceptablesacrificesto the Godof heavenand prayfor the lifeof the kingand his sons.
with threelayersof hugestonesand one layerof timbers.And let the costbe paidfrom the royaltreasury.
"Whateveris commandedby the Godof heaven,let it be donewith zealfor the houseof the Godof heaven,sothat there will not be wrathagainstthe kingdomof the kingand his sons.
Now theseare the headsof the provinceswholivedin Jerusalem,but in the citiesof Judaheachlivedon his own propertyin their cities--the Israelites,the priests,the Levites,the templeservantsand the descendantsof Solomon'sservants.
Theseare the peopleof the provincewho cameup from the captivityof the exileswhomNebuchadnezzarthe kingof Babylonhad carriedaway,and who returnedto Jerusalemand Judah,eachto his city,
Now it tookplacein the daysof Ahasuerus,the Ahasueruswho reignedfrom Indiato Ethiopiaover 127provinces,
So he sentlettersto allthe king'sprovinces,to eachprovinceaccording to its scriptand to everypeopleaccording to their language,that everymanshould be the masterin his own houseand the one who speaksin the languageof his own people.
Greatis the LORD,and highlyto be praised,And His greatnessis unsearchable.
The kingansweredDanieland said,"Surelyyour Godis a Godof godsand a Lordof kingsand a revealerof mysteries,sinceyou have beenableto revealthismystery."
ThenNebuchadnezzarcamenearto the doorof the furnaceof blazingfire;he respondedand said,"Shadrach,Meshachand Abed-nego,comeout, you servantsof the MostHighGod,and comehere!"ThenShadrach,Meshachand Abed-negocameout of the midstof the fire.
"It has seemedgoodto me to declarethe signsand wonderswhichthe MostHighGodhas donefor me.
"I makea decreethat in allthe dominionof my kingdommen are to fearand tremblebeforethe Godof Daniel;For He is the livingGodand enduringforever,And His kingdomis one whichwill not be destroyed,And His dominion[will be] forever.
"For the LORDyour Godis the Godof godsand the Lordof lords,the great,the mighty,and the awesomeGodwhodoes not showpartialitynortakea bribe.
"Indeedtheir rockis not like our Rock,Even our enemiesthemselves judgethis.
