VERSE STUDY • KJV

Ezra 4:17-22

¹⁷ [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 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ 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 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 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 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁷ [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 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ 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 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 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 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁷ Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings. ¹⁸ The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence. ¹⁹ I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition. ²⁰ And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them. ²¹ Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. ²² See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

WEB World English Bible

¹⁷ Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. ¹⁸ The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. ²⁰ There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. ²¹ Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. ²² Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁷ 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 in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. ¹⁸ The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. ¹⁹ And I decreed, 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 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them. ²¹ Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me. ²² And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁷ An answer hath the king sent unto Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe, and the rest of their companions who are dwelling in Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, ‘Peace, and at such a time: ¹⁸ The letter that ye sent unto us, explained, hath been read before me, ¹⁹ and by me a decree hath been made, and they sought, and have found that this city from the days of old against kings is lifting up itself, and rebellion and sedition is made in it, ²⁰ and mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers over all beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom is given to them. ²¹ ‘Now, make ye a decree to cause these men to cease, and this city is not builded, till by me a decree is made. ²² And beware ye of negligence in doing this; why doth the hurt become great to the loss of the kings?’

Surrounding context — Ezra 4

14 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 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 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 [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 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 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 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 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 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 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.

24 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.

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