以斯拉記 5

1 那時，有哈蓋和依多的兒子匝加利亞二位先知，受感動奉以色列天主的名，勸勉在猶大和的猶太人。

Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them.

2 於是沙耳提耳的兒子則魯巴貝耳，和約匝達克的兒子耶叔亞起來，下手修建耶路撒冷的天主殿宇；身邊有天主的二位先知，鼓勵人民。

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build God's house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

3 當時，河西州長塔特乃和舍達波則乃，以及他們的同僚，來到他們那裏，問他們說：「誰給了你們許可，建築這殿，修理城牆呢﹖

At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"

4 負責建築這工程的人，他們叫什麼名字﹖」

Then they asked them, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?

5 於是天主垂顧了人的長老，沒有讓人限令他們停工，直到上書達理阿，有了關於此事的覆文。

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Daryavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

6 以下是河西州長塔特乃和舍達波則乃，以及他們在河西的同僚官員，上呈達理阿王奏文的副本。

The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Daryavesh the king;

7 他們向王所呈的奏文上這樣寫道：「達理阿陛下萬安!

they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Daryavesh the king, all peace.

8 奉奏我大王，我們日前去過猶大省，到了偉大天主的殿宇那裏，見那殿正在用一石塊修建，牆上也在安放木板；這工程在他們手下，進行的非常快，又非常順利。

Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

9 我們詢問了那些長老，這樣問他們說：誰給了你們許可修建這殿，打奠牆基﹖

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?"

10 我們也詢問了他們的名字，為奏知大王；所以我們能給陛下出他們的名字。

We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.

11 他們如此答覆我們說：我們是天地大主的僕人，重修多年以前所修建的殿宇，這殿是一位以色列偉大的君王所建築完成的。

Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

12 但因為我們的祖先冒犯了上天的大主，衪便把他們交在加色丁人巴比倫王拿步高手中，讓他破壞了這座殿宇，將人民擄到巴比倫去。

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 然而，在巴比倫王居魯士元年，居魯士王頒發諭旨，令重建這座天主的殿宇。

But in the first year of Koresh king of Babylon, Koresh the king made a decree to build this house of God.

14 居魯士王且把拿步高從耶路撒冷殿內，帶到巴比倫殿的天主殿宇的金銀器，從巴比倫殿拿出來，交給了一個名叫市巴匝的，並立他為省長，

The gold and silver vessels also of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Koresh the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

15 向他說：你將這些器冊拿去，安放在耶路撒冷的殿內，並將天主的殿宇，重建在原的地方。

and he said to him, 'Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God's house be built in its place.'

16 於是這位舍市巴匝便來，安放了耶路撒冷的天主殿宇的基石；從那時修建至今，沒有竣工。

Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of God's house which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.

17 現在大王若以為好，就派人檢查大王在巴比倫的寶庫，看看是否居魯士王，曾對重建耶路撒冷的天主殿宇，頒發過諭令，並祈大王對此事給我們頒下聖旨。

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."