Bābeles trimdas beigas
(2L 36:22–23)1 Persijas ķēniņa Kīra pirmajā valdīšanas gadā, lai piepildītos Jeremijas teiktais Kunga vārds, Kungs mudināja Persijas ķēniņa Kīra garu, un tas lika izziņot visā savā valstī šādu rīkojumu, rakstiski un mutiski: 2 “Tā saka Persijas ķēniņš Kīrs: Kungs, debesu Dievs, man ir devis visas zemes valstis, un viņš man pavēlēja uzcelt viņam namu Jeruzālemē, Jūdā. 3 Ikviens, kas jūsu vidū ir no viņa tautas, lai dodas uz Jeruzālemi Jūdā, viņa Dievs būs ar viņu – lai ceļ namu Kungam, Israēla Dievam. Viņš ir Dievs, kas mīt Jeruzālemē! 4 Visus atlikušos, no visām vietām, kur tie patlaban dzīvo, lai turienes iemītnieki atbalsta ar sudrabu, zeltu, mantu, lopiem un labprātīgajiem upuriem Dieva namam Jeruzālemē.” 5 Tad cēlās Jūdas un Benjāmina tēvu namu galvenie, priesteri un levīti, ikviens, kura garu Kungs mudināja iet un celt namu Kungam Jeruzālemē. 6 Kaimiņi tos atbalstīja ar sudraba traukiem, zeltu, mantu, lopiem un dārglietām; tas viss tika ziedots.
7 Ķēniņš Kīrs atnesa Kunga nama traukus, kurus Nebūkadnecars bija atvedis no Jeruzālemes un novietojis savu dievu namā. 8 Persijas ķēniņš Kīrs tos nodeva mantzinim Mitredātam, kurš tos atdeva Jūdas augstmanim Šēšbacaram. 9 To skaits bija šāds: trīsdesmit zelta bļodu, tūkstotis sudraba bļodu, divdesmit deviņi naži, 10 trīsdesmit zelta kausu, četri simti desmit sudraba kausu un tūkstotis citu trauku.
11 Kopā bija pieci tūkstoši četri simti zelta un sudraba trauku. Tos visus Šēšbacars veda līdzi, kad viņi no Bābeles gūsta devās uz Jeruzālemi.
Cyrus Lets the Jews Return Home
1 Years ago the Lord sent Jeremiah with a message about a promise for the people of Israel. Then in the first year that Cyrus was king of Persia, the Lord kept his promise by telling Cyrus to send this official message to all parts of his kingdom:
2-3 I am King Cyrus of Persia.
The Lord God of heaven, who is also the God of Israel, has made me the ruler of all nations on earth. And he has chosen me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. The Lord God will watch over and encourage any of his people who want to go back to Jerusalem and help build the temple.
4 Everyone else must provide what is needed. They must give money, supplies, and animals, as well as gifts for rebuilding God's temple.
5 Many people felt that the Lord God wanted them to help rebuild his temple, and they made plans to go to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, and leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. 6 The others helped by giving silver articles, gold, personal possessions, cattle, and other valuable gifts, as well as offerings for the temple.
7 King Cyrus gave back the things that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord's temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his own gods. 8 Cyrus placed Mithredath, his chief treasurer, in charge of these things. Mithredath counted them and gave a list to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah. 9-10 Included among them were: 30 large gold dishes; 1,000 large silver dishes; 29 other dishes; 30 gold bowls; 410 silver bowls; and 1,000 other articles.
11 Altogether, there were 5,400 gold and silver dishes, bowls, and other articles. Sheshbazzar took them with him when he and the others returned to Jerusalem from Babylonia.
