Cyrus Permits Return

22 (A)Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the Lord (B)by the mouth of Jeremiah—the Lord (C)stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him; [a]go up then!’”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:23 Lit and he is to go up; i.e., go to Jerusalem

Cyrus Proclaims Liberty for the Exiles

22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also in writing, saying:(A) 23 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Let any of those among you who are of his people—may the Lord their God be with them!—go up.”(B)

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