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11 They responded by telling us about Cyrus’ decree:

We are the servants of the True God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding His house—a house that was originally crafted by one of the greatest kings of Israel early in our nation’s history. 12 Our ancestors disobeyed the True God of heaven and provoked His anger. He empowered Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean king of Babylon, to capture our rebellious ancestors, deport them to Babylon, and destroy His temple.

13 We languished in captivity for more than a generation, until King Cyrus, in his first year as king over Persia and Babylon, allowed us to rebuild the True God’s temple.

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11 This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple(A) that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our ancestors angered(B) the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.(C)

13 “However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree(D) to rebuild this house of God.

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