Ezra 4:14-16

Young's Literal Translation

¹⁴ Now, because that the salt of the palace [is] our salt, and the nakedness of the king we have no patience to see, therefore we have sent and made known to the king;

¹⁵ so that he doth seek in the book of the records of thy fathers, and thou dost find in the book of the records, and dost know, that this city [is] a rebellious city, and causing loss [to] kings and provinces, and makers of sedition [are] in its midst from the days of old, therefore hath this city been wasted.

¹⁶ We are making known to the king that, if this city be builded and the walls finished, by this means a portion beyond the river thou hast none.'