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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ezra 4 NLT ESV Parallel</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newp.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezra/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../../topmenuchap/ezra/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/ezra/">Ezra</a> > Ezra 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezra/3.shtml" title="Ezra 3">◄</a> Ezra 4 <a href="../ezra/5.shtml" title="Ezra 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">NLT Parallel ESV <a href="../../bsb/ezra/4.shtml">[BSB</a> <a href="../../csb/ezra/4.shtml">CSB</a> <a href="../../esv/ezra/4.shtml">ESV</a> <a href="../../hcs/ezra/4.shtml">HCS</a> <a href="../../kjv/ezra/4.shtml">KJV</a> <a href="../../isv/ezra/4.shtml">ISV</a> <a href="../../nas/ezra/4.shtml">NAS</a> <a href="../../net/ezra/4.shtml">NET</a> <a href="../../niv/ezra/4.shtml">NIV</a> <a href="../../nlt/ezra/4.shtml">NLT</a> <a href="../../heb/ezra/4.shtml">HEB]</a></div><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td class="version" width="50%">New Living Translation</td><td class="version" width="50%">English Standard Version</td></tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="btext1">The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="btext1">So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="btext2">they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="btext1">But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="btext2">But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext1">They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne. Later Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext2">and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Years later when Xerxes began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter to Artaxerxes in the Aramaic language, and it was translated for the king.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext2">In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext1"> Rehum the governor and Shimshai the court secretary wrote the letter, telling King Artaxerxes about the situation in Jerusalem.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext1">They greeted the king for all their colleagues—the judges and local leaders, the people of Tarpel, the Persians, the Babylonians, and the people of Erech and Susa (that is, Elam).<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext1">They also sent greetings from the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal had deported and relocated in Samaria and throughout the neighboring lands of the province west of the Euphrates River.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext2">and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext1">This is a copy of their letter: “To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal subjects in the province west of the Euphrates River.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext2">(This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) “To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext1">“The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext2">be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext1">And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext1">“Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext1">We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext2">in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext1">We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.”<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext2">We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply: “To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the Euphrates River. Greetings.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext2">The king sent an answer: “To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext1">“The letter you sent has been translated and read to me.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext2">the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there!<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.”<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="btext1">When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. The Rebuilding Resumes<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="btext1">So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ezra/4-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.</span></td></tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td class="copy" width="50%"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.</td><td class="copy" width="50%">ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="//www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. 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