那时，哈该先知和易多的孙子撒迦利亚，两个先知奉以色列神的名向犹大和耶路撒冷的犹太人说预言。
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2于是撒拉铁的儿子所罗巴伯和约萨达的儿子耶书亚起来，开始建造耶路撒冷神的殿，有神的先知在那里帮助他们。Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3当时河西的达乃总督和示他．波斯乃，以及他们的同僚来对犹太人这样说：“谁降旨让你们建造这殿，完成这建筑呢？”At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4于是我们告诉他们建造这建筑物的人叫什么名字。Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5但神的眼目看顾犹太人的长老，以致没有人叫他们停工，直到奏文上告大流士，得着他对这事的回谕。But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
6这是河西的达乃总督和示他．波斯乃，以及他们的同僚，就是住河西的官员☛“官员”：原文音译“亚法萨迦人”；6．6同。，上书奏告大流士王的抄本，The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7他们上书给王的奏文，其中写着：“愿大流士王诸事平安。They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8请王知道，我们往犹大省去，到了至大神的殿。这殿是用凿成的石头建造的，梁木插入墙内。这项工程进行迅速，在他们手中顺利。Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9于是我们问那些长老，对他们这样说：‘谁降旨让你们建造这殿，完成这建筑呢？’Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10我们又问他们的名字，要记下他们领袖的名字，奏告于王。We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11他们这样回答我们说：‘我们是天和地之神的仆人，重建多年前所建造的殿，就是以色列一位伟大的君王建造完成的。And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
12但因我们祖先惹天上的神发怒，神把他们交在迦勒底人巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的手中，他就拆毁这殿，又把百姓掳到巴比伦。But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13然而巴比伦王居鲁士元年，他降旨允准建造神的这殿。But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14神殿中的金银器皿，就是尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷殿中掠取带到巴比伦庙里的，居鲁士王从巴比伦庙里取出来，交给派为省长，名叫设巴萨的，And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15对他说：可以将这些器皿带去，放在耶路撒冷的殿中，在原处建造神的殿。And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16于是那位设巴萨来建立耶路撒冷神殿的根基。但从那时直到如今，这殿尚未修建完毕。’Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17现在，王若以为好，请查阅巴比伦王的档案库，看居鲁士王有没有降旨允准在耶路撒冷建造神的殿。请降旨指示我们王对这件事的心意。”Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.