Peace Verses
The peace that surpasses all understanding — finding God's calm in life's storms.
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter {was} written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. {Bishlam: or, in peace} {companions: Heb. societies}
Then {wrote} Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, {and} the Elamites, {companions: Chaldee, societies}
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest {that are} on this side the river, and at such a time. {at such...: Chaldee, Cheeneth}
{Then} sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and {to} Shimshai the scribe, and {to} the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and {unto} the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. {companions: Chaldee, societies}
They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. {wherein: Chaldee, in the midst whereof}
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which {is} at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which {is} at Jerusalem, {every one} to his place, and place {them} in the house of God. {brought again: Chaldee, go}
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. {of sweet...: Chaldee, of rest}
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, {the children of the captivity: Chaldee, the sons of the transportation}
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect {peace}, and at such a time. {unto...: or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc}
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave {it} for an inheritance to your children for ever.
And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which {appertained} to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.