Ezra 4:12-16 — Legacy Standard Bible

¹²let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding ^athe rebellious and evil city and ^bare completing the walls and repairing the foundations. ¹³“Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are completed, ^athey will not give tribute, custom, or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings. ¹⁴“Now because we ¹are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s ²dishonor, therefore we have sent and made known to the king, ¹⁵that a search be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will find in the record books and come to know that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it in past days; therefore that city was laid waste. ¹⁶“We make known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls completed, as a result you will have no portion in the province beyond the River.”