8 And Cyrus the king of Persia proceeded to bring them forth under the control of Mithʹre·dath the treasurer and to number them out to Shesh·bazʹzar*+ the chieftain* of Judah.+

2 It was then that Ze·rubʹba·bel+ the son of She·alʹti·el*+ and Jeshʹu·a+ the son of Je·hozʹa·dak got up and started to rebuild the house of God, which was in Jerusalem; and with them there were God’s prophets+ giving them aid.

2 “Say, please, to Ze·rubʹba·bel+ the son of She·alʹti·el,+ the governor of Judah,+ and to Joshua+ the son of Je·hozʹa·dak+ the high priest, and to the remaining ones of the people, saying,

4 “‘But now be strong, O Ze·rubʹba·bel,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and be strong,+ O Joshua the son of Je·hozʹa·dak the high priest.’

“‘And be strong, all YOU people of the land,’* is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and work.’+

“‘For I am with YOU people,’+ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.

6 Accordingly he answered and said to me: “This is the word of Jehovah to Ze·rubʹba·bel, saying, ‘“Not by a military force,*+ nor by power,*+ but by my spirit,”*+ Jehovah of armies has said.