1When the haters of Judah and Benjamin heard that the captives were building the temple for the Lord God of Israel, they were totally sus.

2So they pulled up on Zerubbabel and the main peeps, like, "Let’s build with you; we vibe with your God too and have been sacrificing since the days of Esar-haddon."

3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the squad were like, "Nah, you can’t roll with us on this; we’re building for the Lord God of Israel, just like King Cyrus told us to."

4Then the locals were tryna throw shade, making it hard for Judah to build.

5They got some haters to mess with their plans all the way through Cyrus’ reign, even until Darius took over.

6In Ahasuerus’ reign, they wrote him some drama about the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7During Artaxerxes’ time, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their crew sent a letter to Artaxerxes king of Persia, written in Syrian slang.

8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe sent a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes, and it was wild.

9Then Rehum, Shimshai, and their squad, like the Dinaites and Babylonians, all got together to spill the tea.

10And the other nations that Asnappar brought over were chilling in Samaria and on this side of the river.

11Here’s the tea from the letter they sent to Artaxerxes: "Your servants over here at this time."

12Just so you know, the Jews who came up from you are in Jerusalem building the rebellious city and fixing the walls.

13Just a heads up, if they finish building this city and its walls, they won't pay taxes, and that’ll mess up your coins.

14We’ve got support from the king’s palace, and we can’t let the king look sus, so we had to let him know.

15They should check the records of your ancestors; they'll see this city is known for being rebellious and a pain for kings.

16We’re telling the king that if this city gets built again, you won’t get any slice of the pie on this side of the river.

17The king sent a reply to Rehum, Shimshai, and their crew in Samaria, saying "Peace, and at this time."

18The letter you sent was read loud and clear.

19I ordered a search, and yep, this city has been a rebel against kings, causing all sorts of drama.

20There were some big bosses ruling over Jerusalem who had control over lands beyond the river, and they collected taxes.

21Now, tell them to chill and stop building the city until I say otherwise.

22Make sure you handle this, or it’ll only cause more problems for the kings.

23When Rehum and Shimshai heard the king’s letter, they rushed to Jerusalem and forced the Jews to stop building.

24So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped until the second year of Darius’ reign.

1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;

2Then 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 Esar–haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3But 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.

4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5And 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.

6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7And 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.

8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9Then 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,

10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

11This 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.

12Be 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.

13Be 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.

14Now 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;

15That 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.

16We 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.

17Then 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.

18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19And 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.

20There 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.

21Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

22Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23Now 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.

24Then 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.