Ezra 5:8

⁶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

⁷ They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

⁹ Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

¹⁰ We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

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: Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
KJV: Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
WEB: Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
ASV: Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.
DARBY: Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work is being carried on with diligence, and prospers in their hand.
BLB: Be it Known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and it is being built [with] rolled stones, and timber is being laid in the walls, and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.

ÅB: Det være kongen vitterlig at vi har draget til landskapet Juda, til den store Guds hus, og det blir nå bygget opp av store steiner, og det legges bjelker i veggene, og arbeidet gjøres med iver og har god fremgang under deres hender.
OTB: Vi ønsker å informere kongen om at vi besøkte provinsen Juda, til tempelet til den store Gud. Bygningen blir konstruert med store steiner, og tømmer blir lagt i veggene. Arbeidet skrider frem flittig og går fremover under deres tilsyn.
B1930: Det være kongen vitterlig at vi har draget til landskapet Juda, til den store Guds hus, og det blir nu bygget op av store stener, og det legges bjelker i veggene, og arbeidet gjøres med iver og har god fremgang under deres hender.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Daniel 2:47
The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Read in context
Nehemiah 7:6
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
Read in context
Ezra 7:23
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?
Read in context
Ezra 1:2–3
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Read in context
Mark 13:1–2
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:31
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Read in context
Daniel 4:34–37
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
Read in context
Esther 1:22
For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
Read in context