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10 Then their offerings will make the God of heaven happy. They will pray for God to bless the king and his family.

11 Nobody may change what I have commanded in this letter. If anyone does not obey this command, men must remove a beam from the roof of his house. They must push the point of the beam through his body and lift him up on it. Then they must destroy his house so that it becomes a heap of stones. That is what he deserves.

12 No king or nation should try to change my command. They must never destroy God's temple in Jerusalem. That is the place that he has chosen for people to worship him. I pray that he will remove anyone who tries to attack that place.

I, Darius, have made this command. Everyone must obey it completely.’

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10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.(A)

11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled(B) on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.(C) 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,(D) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius(E) have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

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