ThenKingDariusissueda decree,and searchwas madein the archives,wherethe treasureswere storedin Babylon.
sothat a searchmay be madein the recordbooksof your fathers.And you will discoverin the recordbooksand learnthat that cityis a rebelliouscityand damagingto kingsand provinces,and that they have incitedrevoltwithinit in pastdays;thereforethat citywas laidwaste.
"A decreehas been issuedby me, and a searchhas been madeand it has been discoveredthat that cityhas risenup againstthe kingsin pastdays,that rebellionand revolthave been perpetratedin it,
"Nowifit pleasesthe king,let a searchbe conductedin the king'streasurehouse,whichis therein Babylon,ifit be that a decreewas issuedby KingCyrusto rebuildthishouseof Godat Jerusalem;and let the kingsendto us his decisionconcerningthis[matter]."
And they observedthe Feastof UnleavenedBreadsevendayswith joy,for the LORDhad caused them to rejoice,and had turnedthe heartof the kingof Assyriatowardthem to encouragethem in the workof the houseof God,the Godof Israel.
I have issueda decreethat anyof the peopleof Israeland their priestsand the Levitesin my kingdomwhoare willingto goto Jerusalem,may gowith you.
"I was a fatherto the needy,And I investigatedthe casewhich I did not know.
ThenI said,"Behold,I come;In the scrollof the bookit is writtenof me.
It is the gloryof Godto conceala matter,But the gloryof kingsis to searchout a matter.
"And concerningJehoiakimkingof Judahyou shall say,'Thussaysthe LORD,"You have burnedthisscroll,saying,Whyhave you writtenon it that the kingof Babylonwill certainlycomeand destroythisland,and will make manand beastto ceasefrom it?'"
Then Jeremiahtookanotherscrolland gaveit to Baruchthe sonof Neriah,the scribe,and he wroteon it at the dictationof Jeremiahallthe wordsof the bookwhichJehoiakimkingof Judahhad burnedin the fire;and manysimilar wordswere addedto them.
Then I looked,and behold,a handwas extendedto me; and lo,a scroll[was] in it.
Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,eatwhatyou find;eatthisscroll,and go,speakto the houseof Israel."
"So you are to knowand discern[that] from the issuingof a decreeto restoreand rebuildJerusalemuntilMessiahthe Prince[there will be] sevenweeksand sixty-twoweeks;it will be builtagain,with plazaand moat,even in timesof distress.
I sawin the right handof Him who saton the thronea bookwritteninsideand on the back,sealedup with sevenseals.
