Ezra 4:14

4:14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, ¹  and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, ²  we are sending the king this information ³ 

Ezra 4:16

4:16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control ⁴  of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”

Ezra 4:21

4:21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. ⁵ 

Ezra 5:5

5:5 But God was watching over ⁶  the elders of Judah, and they were not stopped ⁷  until a report could be dispatched ⁸  to Darius and a letter could be sent back concerning this.

Ezra 5:16

5:16 Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present moment ⁹  it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.’

¹ tn Aram “we eat the salt of the palace.”

² tn Aram “the dishonor of the king is not fitting for us to see.”

³ tn Aram “and we have made known.”

⁴ tn Aram “will not be to you.”

⁷ tn Aram “until a command is issued from me.”

¹⁰ tn Aram “the eye of their God was on.” The idiom describes the attentive care that one exercises in behalf of the object of his concern.

¹¹ tn Aram “they did not stop them.”

¹² tn Aram “[could] go.” On this form see F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 58, §169.

¹³ tn Aram “from then and until now.”