{It is} the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings {is} to search out a matter.

And the LORD was with him; {and} he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city {is} a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. {moved: Chaldee, made} {within...: Chaldee, in the midst thereof}

Now therefore, if {it seem} good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which {is} there at Babylon, whether it be {so}, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, {if it be} truth, {and} the thing certain, {that} such abomination is wrought among you;

For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land: {taken an...: Heb. brought him to an oath}

{It is} the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings {is} to search out a matter.

Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls {thereof}, and joined the foundations. {set up: or, finished} {joined: Chaldee, sewed together}

Now therefore, if {it seem} good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which {is} there at Babylon, whether it be {so}, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. {rolls: Chaldee, books} {laid up: Chaldee, made to descend}

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?