1
Now afterH310 theseH428 things,H1697 in the reignH4438 of ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of Persia,H6539 EzraH5830 the sonH1121 of Seraiah,H8304 the sonH1121 of Azariah,H5838 the sonH1121 of Hilkiah,H2518
2
The sonH1121 of Shallum,H7967 the sonH1121 of Zadok,H6659 the sonH1121 of Ahitub,H285
3
The sonH1121 of Amariah,H568 the sonH1121 of Azariah,H5838 the sonH1121 of Meraioth,H4812
4
The sonH1121 of Zerahiah,H2228 the sonH1121 of Uzzi,H5813 the sonH1121 of Bukki,H1231
5
The sonH1121 of Abishua,H50 the sonH1121 of Phinehas,H6372 the sonH1121 of Eleazar,H499 the sonH1121 of AaronH175 the chiefH7218 priest:H3548
6
ThisH1931 EzraH5830 wentH5927 up from Babylon;H894 and he was a readyH4106 scribeH5608 in the lawH8451 of Moses,H4872 whichH834 the LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 had given:H5414 and the kingH4428 grantedH5414 him allH3605 his request,H1246 according to the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 his GodH430 on him.
7
And there wentH5927 up some of the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 and of the priests,H3548 and the Levites,H3881 and the singers,H7891 and the porters,H7778 and the Nethinims,H5411 to Jerusalem,H3389 in the seventhH7651 yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the king.H4428
8
And he cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 in the fifthH2549 month,H2320 whichH1958 was in the seventhH7637 yearH8141 of the king.H4428
9
For on the firstH259 day of the firstH7223 monthH2320 beganH3246 he to goH4609 up from Babylon,H894 and on the firstH259 day of the fifthH2549 monthH2320 cameH935 he to Jerusalem,H3389 according to the goodH2896 handH3027 of his GodH430 on him.
10
For EzraH5830 had preparedH3559 his heartH3824 to seekH1875 the lawH8451 of the LORD,H3068 and to doH6213 it, and to teachH3925 in IsraelH3478 statutesH2706 and judgments.H4941
11
Now thisH2088 is the copyH6573 of the letterH5406 that the kingH4428 ArtaxerxesH783 gaveH5414 to EzraH5830 the priest,H3548 the scribe,H5608 even a scribeH5608 of the wordsH1697 of the commandmentsH4687 of the LORD,H3068 and of his statutesH2706 to Israel.H3478
12
Artaxerxes,H783 kingH4430 of kings,H4428 to EzraH5830 the priest,H3549 a scribeH5613 of the lawH1882 of the GodH426 of heaven,H8065 perfectH1585 peace, and at suchH3706 a time.
13
I makeH7761 a decree,H2942 that allH3606 they of the peopleH5972 of Israel,H3479 and of his priestsH3549 and Levites,H3879 in my realm,H4437 whichH1768 are minded of their own freewillH5069 to goH1946 up to Jerusalem,H3390 goH1946 with you.
14
For as muchH3606 as you are sentH7972 of the king,H4430 and of his sevenH7655 counsellors,H3272 to inquireH1240 concerningH5922 JudahH3061 and Jerusalem,H3390 according to the lawH1882 of your GodH426 whichH1768 is in your hand;H3028
15
And to carryH2987 the silverH3702 and gold,H1722 whichH1768 the kingH4430 and his counsellorsH3272 have freely offeredH5069 to the GodH426 of Israel,H3479 whoseH1768 habitationH4907 is in Jerusalem,H3390
16
And allH3606 the silverH3702 and goldH1722 that you can findH7912 in allH3606 the provinceH4082 of Babylon,H895 with the freewillH5069 offering of the people,H5972 and of the priests,H3549 offering willinglyH5068 for the houseH1005 of their GodH426 whichH1768 is in Jerusalem:H3390
17
That you may buyH7066 speedilyH629 with thisH1836 moneyH3702 bullocks,H8450 rams,H1798 lambs,H563 with their meat offeringsH4503 and their drinkH5261 offerings, and offerH7127 them on the altarH4056 of the houseH1005 of your GodH426 whichH1768 is in Jerusalem.H3390
18
And whateverH1401 H1768 shall seemH3191 goodH3191 to you, and to your brothers,H252 to doH5648 with the restH7606 of the silverH3702 and the gold,H1722 that doH5648 after the willH7470 of your God.H426
19
The vesselsH3984 also that are givenH3052 you for the serviceH6402 of the houseH1005 of your God,H426 those deliverH8000 you beforeH6925 the GodH426 of Jerusalem.H3390
20
And whatever moreH7606 shall be needfulH2819 for the houseH1005 of your God,H426 whichH1768 you shall have occasionH5308 to bestow,H5415 bestowH5415 it out of the king'sH4430 treasureH1596 house.H1005
21
And I, even I ArtaxerxesH783 the king,H4430 do makeH7761 a decreeH2942 to allH3606 the treasurersH1490 whichH1768 are beyondH5675 the river,H5103 that whateverH3605 H3627 EzraH5830 the priest,H3548 the scribeH5613 of the lawH1882 of the GodH426 of heaven,H8065 shall requireH7593 of you, it be doneH5648 speedily,H629
22
To an hundredH3969 talentsH3604 of silver,H3702 and to an hundredH3969 measuresH3734 of wheat,H2591 and to an hundredH3969 bathsH1325 of wine,H2562 and to an hundredH3969 bathsH1324 of oil,H4887 and saltH4416 withoutH3809 prescribingH3792 how much.
23
WhateverH3605 H3627 is commandedH4480 H2941 by the GodH426 of heaven,H8065 let it be diligentlyH149 doneH5648 for the houseH1005 of the GodH426 of heaven:H8065 for whyH4101 should there be wrathH7109 againstH5922 the realmH4437 of the kingH4430 and his sons?H1123
24
Also we certifyH3046 you, that touching anyH3606 of the priestsH3549 and Levites,H3879 singers,H2171 porters,H8652 Nethinims,H5412 or ministersH6399 of thisH1836 houseH1005 of God,H426 it shall not be lawfulH7990 to imposeH7412 toll,H4061 tribute,H1093 or custom,H1983 on them.
25
And you, Ezra,H5830 after the wisdomH2452 of your God,H426 that is in your hand,H3028 setH4483 magistratesH8200 and judges,H1782 whichH1768 may judgeH1934 H1778 allH3606 the peopleH5972 that are beyondH5675 the river,H5103 allH3606 such as knowH3046 the lawsH1882 of your God;H426 and teachH3046 you them that knowH3046 them not.
26
And whoeverH3605 will not doH5648 the lawH1882 of your God,H426 and the lawH1882 of the king,H4430 let judgmentH1780 be executedH5648 speedilyH629 on him, whetherH2006 it be to death,H4193 orH2006 to banishment,H8332 orH2006 to confiscationH6065 of goods,H5232 or to imprisonment.H613
27
BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068 GodH430 of our fathers,H1 whichH834 has putH5414 such a thing as thisH2063 in the king'sH4428 heart,H3820 to beautifyH6286 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 whichH834 is in Jerusalem:H3389
28
And has extendedH5186 mercyH2617 to me beforeH6440 the king,H4428 and his counsellors,H3289 and beforeH6440 allH3605 the king'sH4428 mightyH1368 princes.H8269 And I was strengthenedH2388 as the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 my GodH430 was on me, and I gatheredH6908 together out of IsraelH3478 chiefH7218 men to goH5927 up with me.