⁸ Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished stones, and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is carried on diligently, and advanceth in their hands.

⁹ And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given you authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?

¹⁰ We asked also of them their names, that we might give thee notice: and we have written the names of the men that are the chief among them.