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Ezra 4:22

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.

See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

23 When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

24 Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
KJV
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
WEB
Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
ASV
And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
DARBY
and take heed that ye fail not to do this: why should harm grow to the damage of the kings?
BLB
And take heed of negligence to do upon this. Why should the damage become great to the harm of the kings?
ÅB
og ta dere i vare for å gjøre dere skyldige i noen forseelse i denne sak, så skaden ikke skal bli verre og kongene lide tap!
OTB
Pass på at dere ikke er skjødesløse i denne saken. Hvorfor skulle skade øke til kongenes skade?"
B1930
og ta eder i vare for å gjøre eder skyldige i nogen forseelse i denne sak, så skaden ikke skal bli verre og kongene lide tap!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Esther 7:3–4

    Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

    Read in context

  • Ezra 4:13

    Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

    Read in context

  • Esther 3:8–9

    Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

    Read in context