Ezra 4:13-15

International Standard Version

¹³ May the king be further advised that if this city is rebuilt and its walls erected, its citizens^[a] will refuse to pay tributes, taxes, and tariffs, thereby restricting royal revenues.

¹⁴ Now, because we are royal employees^[b] and are committed to preserving the reputation of the king, we have written to the king and have declared its contents to be true,^{[c] 15} urging^[d] that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors.^[e] You will discover in the registers that^[f] this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed.