建殿之工受阻
犹大和便雅悯的敌人听说被掳归回的人为耶和华－以色列的神建造殿宇，
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
2就去见所罗巴伯和族长，对他们说：“请让我们与你们一同建造，因为我们也与你们一样寻求你们的神。自从亚述王以撒．哈顿带我们上这地的日子以来，我们常向神献祭。”Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3但所罗巴伯、耶书亚和其余以色列的族长对他们说：“我们建造神的殿与你们无关，因为我们要照波斯王居鲁士所吩咐的，自己为耶和华－以色列的神协力建造。”But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4那地的人就在犹大百姓建造的时候，使他们的手发软，扰乱他们。Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5从波斯王居鲁士年间，直到波斯王大流士在位的时候，那些人贿赂谋士，要破坏他们的计划。And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
阻挠重建耶路撒冷
6亚哈随鲁在位，他的国度刚开始的时候，他们上书控告犹大和耶路撒冷的居民。And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7亚达薛西年间，比施兰、米特利达、他别和他们☛“他们”：原文是“他”。的同僚上书奏告波斯王亚达薛西。奏文是用亚兰文写的，以亚兰文呈上。And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8利宏省长、伸帅书记也上奏亚达薛西王，控告耶路撒冷☛从 4．8－6．18，以及7．12－26，原文是亚兰文。如下Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
9（那时，利宏省长、伸帅书记和他们其余的同僚，法官、官员、军官、波斯官员☛“法官、官员、军官、波斯官员”：原文音译“底拿人、亚法萨提迦人、他毗拉人、亚法撒人”。、亚基卫人、巴比伦人，和书珊迦人，就是以拦人☛“就是以拦人”：原文另译“底亥人、以拦人”。，Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10以及被亚斯那巴大人迁移、安置在撒玛利亚城和大河西边一带地方其余的人。现在 ，And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
11这是他们上奏亚达薛西王奏文的抄本）：“河西的臣仆上奏亚达薛西王，现在This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12请王知道，从王那里上到我们这里的犹太人，已经抵达耶路撒冷。他们正在重建这反叛恶劣的城，已经完成了城墙，正要修复根基。Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13如今请王知道，这城若再建造，城墙完工，他们就不再进贡、纳粮、缴税，王的国库必受亏损。Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14如今，我们吃的盐既然全是宫廷的盐，就不忍见王吃亏，因此奏告于王，Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15请王考察先王史籍，必会在史籍上查知这城是反叛的城，对列王和各省有害；自古以来，城中常有悖逆的事，因此这城曾被拆毁。That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
16我们谨奏王知，这城若再建造，城墙完工，河西之地王就无份了。”We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
17那时王谕覆利宏省长、伸帅书记和他们其余的同僚，就是住撒玛利亚和河西一带地方的人，说：“愿你们平安。现在Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
18你们所呈给我们的奏本，已经清楚地在我面前读了。The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19我已下令考查，得知这城自古以来果然背叛列王，其中常有反叛悖逆的事。And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20也曾有强大的君王治理耶路撒冷，统管河西全地，人就给他们进贡、纳粮、缴税。There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21现在你们要下令叫这些人停工，使这城不得建造，等到我再降旨。Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22你们当谨慎办这事，不可迟延，何必让损害加重，使王受亏损呢？”Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23亚达薛西王上谕的抄本在利宏和伸帅书记，以及他们的同僚面前宣读，他们就急忙往耶路撒冷去见犹太人，用势力和强权叫他们停工。Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
恢复重建圣殿工作
24于是，在耶路撒冷神殿的工程就停止了，直停到波斯王大流士第二年。Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.