Translations
Modern
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?
Traditional
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Literal
…all that is by the decree of the God of the heavens, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of the heavens. For why should there be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons?
Latin
Omne quod ad ritum Dei cæli pertinet, tribuatur diligenter in domo Dei cæli: ne forte irascatur contra regnum regis, et filiorum ejus.
Original
Hebrew
English
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?
Notes
the God of heaven: The Jews used this title for the Lord (Ezra 5:11–12), and Cyrus also used it (1:2). The Persian king likely believed, like others in the ancient Near East, that each country's god or gods controlled their territory. Artaxerxes did not want to risk angering God and disrupting the peace of his empire by failing to provide the worship God of Jerusalem required (Ezra 7:19).
Theme notes and profiles
Glossary
Ancient Letter Writing Aramaic Artaxerxes Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah First Book of Esdras Nethinim Postexilic Period
Topics
Church: House of God Liberality: Artaxerxes Obedience: Enjoined Religious Zeal: General Scriptures Concerning Temple: The Second: Artaxerxes' Favorable Action Toward