September 26, 2003, Tuesday of the 25th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the Book of Ezra.

King Darius issued an order to the officials of West of Euphrates.

Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that House of God. They are to rebuild it on its former site.

I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews

in the rebuilding of that House of God.

From the royal revenue, the taxes of West of Euphrates,

let these men be repaid for their expenses in full and without delay.

I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carefully executed. The elders of the Jews continue

to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Hagai and Zechariah,

the son of ito. They finished the building, according to the command of the God, Hagai and Zechariah, the son of Ito.

They finished the building, according to the command of the God of Israel, and the decrees of

Cyrus and Darius and of Artaxerxes, King of Persia.

They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign

of King Darius, the children of Israel, priests, Levites, and the other

returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this House of God with joy. For the dedication of

this House of God, they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs, together with 12 he goats

as a sin offering for all Israel, in

keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.

Finally, they set up the priests in their classes and the Levites in their divisions

for the service of God in Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the Book of Moses.

The exiles kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month.

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