Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return^(A)

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,^(B) the Lord moved the heart^(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

⁷ The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand^(A) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,^(B) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[a](C) When the power of the holy people^(D) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.^(E)”