¹ Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

² The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³ The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴ The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵ The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

⁶ This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

⁷ And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

⁸ And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

⁹ For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

¹³ I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

¹⁴ Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

¹⁵ And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

¹⁶ And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

¹⁷ That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

¹⁹ The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

²⁰ And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

²¹ And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

²² Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

²³ Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

²⁴ Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

²⁵ And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

²⁶ And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁷ Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

²⁸ And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

---

¹ Now after ^H310 these things, ^H1697 in the reign ^H4438 of Artaxerxes ^H783 king ^H4428 of Persia, ^H6539 Ezra ^H5830 the son ^H1121 of Seraiah, ^H8304 the son ^H1121 of Azariah, ^H5838 the son ^H1121 of Hilkiah, ^H2518

² The son ^H1121 of Shallum, ^H7967 the son ^H1121 of Zadok, ^H6659 the son ^H1121 of Ahitub, ^H285

³ The son ^H1121 of Amariah, ^H568 the son ^H1121 of Azariah, ^H5838 the son ^H1121 of Meraioth, ^H4812

⁴ The son ^H1121 of Zerahiah, ^H2228 the son ^H1121 of Uzzi, ^H5813 the son ^H1121 of Bukki, ^H1231

⁵ The son ^H1121 of Abishua, ^H50 the son ^H1121 of Phinehas, ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar, ^H499 the son ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 the chief ^H7218 priest: ^H3548

⁶ This Ezra ^H5830 went up ^H5927 from Babylon; ^H894 and he was a ready ^H4106 scribe ^H5608 in the law ^H8451 of Moses, ^H4872 which the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478 had given: ^H5414 and the king ^H4428 granted ^H5414 him all his request, ^H1246 according to the hand ^H3027 of the LORD ^H3068 his God ^H430 upon him.

⁷ And there went up ^H5927 some of the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 and of the priests, ^H3548 and the Levites, ^H3881 and the singers, ^H7891 and the porters, ^H7778 and the Nethinims, ^H5411 unto Jerusalem, ^H3389 in the seventh ^H7651 year ^H8141 of Artaxerxes ^H783 the king. ^H4428

⁸ And he came ^H935 to Jerusalem ^H3389 in the fifth ^H2549 month, ^H2320 which was in the seventh ^H7637 year ^H8141 of the king. ^H4428

⁹ For upon the first ^H259 day of the first ^H7223 month ^H2320 began ^H3246 he to go up ^H4609 from Babylon, ^H894 and on the first ^H259 day of the fifth ^H2549 month ^H2320 came ^H935 he to Jerusalem, ^H3389 according to the good ^H2896 hand ^H3027 of his God ^H430 upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra ^H5830 had prepared ^H3559 his heart ^H3824 to seek ^H1875 the law ^H8451 of the LORD, ^H3068 and to do ^H6213 it, and to teach ^H3925 in Israel ^H3478 statutes ^H2706 and judgments. ^H4941

¹¹ Now this is the copy ^H6572 of the letter ^H5406 that the king ^H4428 Artaxerxes ^H783 gave ^H5414 unto Ezra ^H5830 the priest, ^H3548 the scribe, ^H5608 even a scribe ^H5608 of the words ^H1697 of the commandments ^H4687 of the LORD, ^H3068 and of his statutes ^H2706 to Israel. ^H3478

¹² Artaxerxes, ^H783 king ^H4430 of kings, ^H4430 unto Ezra ^H5831 the priest, ^H3549 a scribe ^H5613 of the law ^H1882 of the God ^H426 of heaven, ^H8065 perfect ^H1585 peace, and at such a time. ^H3706

¹³ I ^H4481 make ^H7761 a decree, ^H2942 that all ^H3606 they of ^H4481 the people ^H5972 of Israel, ^H3479 and of his priests ^H3549 and Levites, ^H3879 in my realm, ^H4437 which are minded of their own freewill ^H5069 to go up ^H1946 to Jerusalem, ^H3390 go ^H1946 with thee. ^H5974

¹⁴ Forasmuch ^{H1768 H6903} as ^H3606 thou art sent ^H7972 of ^{H4481 H6925} the king, ^H4430 and of his seven ^H7655 counsellors, ^H3272 to enquire ^H1240 concerning ^H5922 Judah ^H3061 and Jerusalem, ^H3390 according to the law ^H1882 of thy God ^H426 which is in thine hand; ^H3028

¹⁵ And to carry ^H2987 the silver ^H3702 and gold, ^H1722 which the king ^H4430 and his counsellors ^H3272 have freely offered ^H5069 unto the God ^H426 of Israel, ^H3479 whose ^H1768 habitation ^H4907 is in Jerusalem, ^H3390

¹⁶ And all ^H3606 the silver ^H3702 and gold ^H1722 that thou canst find ^H7912 in all ^H3606 the province ^H4083 of Babylon, ^H895 with ^H5974 the freewill offering ^H5069 of the people, ^H5972 and of the priests, ^H3549 offering willingly ^H5069 for the house ^H1005 of their God ^H426 which is in Jerusalem: ^H3390

¹⁷ That ^{H3606 H6903} thou mayest buy ^H7066 speedily ^H629 with this ^H1836 money ^H3702 bullocks, ^H8450 rams, ^H1798 lambs, ^H563 with their meat offerings ^H4504 and their drink offerings, ^H5261 and offer ^H7127 them ^H1994 upon ^H5922 the altar ^H4056 of the house ^H1005 of your God ^H426 which is in Jerusalem. ^H3390

¹⁸ And whatsoever ^{H4101 H1768} shall seem good ^H3191 to thee, and to ^H5922 thy brethren, ^H252 to do ^H5648 with the rest ^H7606 of the silver ^H3702 and the gold, ^H1722 that do ^H5648 after the will ^H7470 of your God. ^H426

¹⁹ The vessels ^H3984 also that are given ^H3052 thee for the service ^H6402 of the house ^H1005 of thy God, ^H426 those deliver ^H8000 thou before ^H6925 the God ^H426 of Jerusalem. ^H3390

²⁰ And whatsoever more ^H7606 shall be needful ^H2819 for the house ^H1005 of thy God, ^H426 which thou shalt have occasion ^H5308 to bestow, ^H5415 bestow ^H5415 it out of ^H4481 the king's ^H4430 treasure ^H1596 house. ^H1005

²¹ And I, ^H4481 even I ^H576 Artaxerxes ^H783 the king, ^H4430 do make ^H7761 a decree ^H2942 to all ^H3606 the treasurers ^H1490 which are beyond ^H5675 the river, ^H5103 that whatsoever Ezra ^H5831 the priest, ^H3549 the scribe ^H5613 of the law ^H1882 of the God ^H426 of heaven, ^H8065 shall require ^H7593 of you, it be done ^H5648 speedily, ^H629

²² Unto ^H5705 an hundred ^H3969 talents ^H3604 of silver, ^H3702 and to an hundred ^H3969 measures ^H3734 of wheat, ^H2591 and to an hundred ^H3969 baths ^H1325 of wine, ^H2562 and to an hundred ^H3969 baths ^H1325 of oil, ^H4887 and salt ^H4416 without ^H3809 prescribing ^H3792 how much.

²³ Whatsoever ^H3606 is commanded by ^{H2941 H4481} the God ^H426 of heaven, ^H8065 let it be diligently ^H149 done ^H5648 for the house ^H1005 of the God ^H426 of heaven: ^H8065 for ^H1768 why ^H4101 should there be ^H1934 wrath ^H7109 against ^H5922 the realm ^H4437 of the king ^H4430 and his sons? ^H1123

²⁴ Also we certify ^H3046 you, that touching any ^H3606 of the priests ^H3549 and Levites, ^H3879 singers, ^H2171 porters, ^H8652 Nethinims, ^H5412 or ministers ^H6399 of this ^H1836 house ^H1005 of God, ^H426 it shall not ^H3809 be lawful ^H7990 to impose ^H7412 toll, ^H4061 tribute, ^H1093 or custom, ^H1983 upon ^H5922 them.

²⁵ And thou, ^H607 Ezra, ^H5831 after the wisdom ^H2452 of thy God, ^H426 that is in thine hand, ^H3028 set ^H4483 magistrates ^H8200 and judges, ^H1782 which may judge ^{H1934 H1778} all ^H3606 the people ^H5972 that are beyond ^H5675 the river, ^H5103 all ^H3606 such as know ^H3046 the laws ^H1882 of thy God; ^H426 and teach ^H3046 ye them that know ^H3046 them not. ^H3809

²⁶ And whosoever ^H3606 will not ^H3809 do ^{H1934 H5648} the law ^H1882 of thy God, ^H426 and the law ^H1882 of the king, ^H4430 let judgment ^H1780 be ^H1934 executed ^H5648 speedily ^H629 upon him, ^H4481 whether ^H2006 it be unto death, ^H4193 or ^H2006 to banishment, ^H8332 or ^H2006 to confiscation ^H6065 of goods, ^H5232 or to imprisonment. ^H613

²⁷ Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of our fathers, ^H1 which hath put ^H5414 such a thing as this in the king's ^H4428 heart, ^H3820 to beautify ^H6286 the house ^H1004 of the LORD ^H3068 which is in Jerusalem: ^H3389

²⁸ And hath extended ^H5186 mercy ^H2617 unto me before ^H6440 the king, ^H4428 and his counsellors, ^H3289 and before all the king's ^H4428 mighty ^H1368 princes. ^H8269 And I was strengthened ^H2388 as the hand ^H3027 of the LORD ^H3068 my God ^H430 was upon me, and I gathered together ^H6908 out of Israel ^H3478 chief men ^H7218 to go up ^H5927 with me.

---

¹ Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.

⁷ And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

⁸ And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

⁹ For upon the first `day' of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first `day' of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

¹³ I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

¹⁴ Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,

¹⁵ and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

¹⁶ and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;

¹⁷ therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do ye after the will of your God.

¹⁹ And the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

²⁰ And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house.

²¹ And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the River, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,

²² unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

²³ Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

²⁴ Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.

²⁵ And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye him that knoweth them not.

²⁶ And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁷ Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem;

²⁸ and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

---

¹ And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,

³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,

⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,

⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head priest;

⁶ Ezra himself hath come up from Babylon, and he `is' a scribe ready in the law of Moses, that Jehovah God of Israel gave, and the king giveth to him -- according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him -- all his request.

⁷ And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

⁸ And he cometh in to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that `is in' the seventh year of the king,

⁹ for on the first of the month he hath founded the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he hath come in unto Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him,

¹⁰ for Ezra hath prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.

¹¹ And this `is' a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commands of Jehovah, and of His statutes on Israel:

¹² `Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and at such a time:

¹³ By me hath been made a decree that every one who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with thee, doth go;

¹⁴ because that from the king and his seven counsellors thou art sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the law of God that `is' in thy hand,

¹⁵ and to carry silver and gold that the king and his counsellors willingly offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle `is' in Jerusalem,

¹⁶ and all the silver and gold that thou findest in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will offerings of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly, for the house of their God that `is' in Jerusalem,

¹⁷ therefore thou dost speedily buy with this money, bullocks, rams, lambs, and their presents, and their libations, and dost bring them near to the altar of the house of your God that `is' in Jerusalem,

¹⁸ and that which to thee and to thy brethren is good to do with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God ye do.'

¹⁹ `And the vessels that are given to thee, for the service of the house of thy God, make perfect before the God of Jerusalem;

²⁰ and the rest of the needful things of the house of thy God, that it falleth to thee to give, thou dost give from the treasure-house of the king.

²¹ `And by me -- I Artaxerxes the king -- is made a decree to all treasurers who `are' beyond the river, that all that Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, doth ask of you, be done speedily:

²² Unto silver a hundred talents, and unto wheat a hundred cors, and unto wine a hundred baths, and unto oil a hundred baths, and salt without reckoning;

²³ all that `is' by the decree of the God of heaven, let be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven; for why is there wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons?

²⁴ `And to you we are making known, that upon any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.

²⁵ `And thou, Ezra, according to the wisdom of thy God, that `is' in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may be judges to all the people who are beyond the river, to all knowing the law of thy God, and he who hath not known ye cause to know;

²⁶ and any who doth not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, speedily is judgment done upon him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.'

²⁷ Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of our fathers, who hath given such a thing as this in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of Jehovah that `is' in Jerusalem,

²⁸ and unto me hath stretched out kindness before the king and his counsellors, and before all the mighty heads of the king: and I have strengthened myself as the hand of Jehovah my God `is' upon me, and I gather out of Israel heads to go up with me.

---

¹ And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkijah,

² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest,

⁶ -- this Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah the God of Israel had given. And the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.

⁷ (And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the doorkeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.)

⁸ And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

⁹ For upon the first of the first month the project of going up from Babylon was determined on, and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had directed his heart to seek the law of Jehovah and to do it, and to teach in Israel the statutes and the ordinances.

¹¹ And this is the copy of the letter that king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an accomplished scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, and so forth.

¹³ I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.

¹⁴ Because thou art sent by the king, and by his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand;

¹⁵ and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is at Jerusalem,

¹⁶ and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, besides the voluntary offering of the people, and of the priests, who offer willingly for the house of their God which is at Jerusalem.

¹⁷ Therefore thou shalt buy diligently with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their oblations and their drink-offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is at Jerusalem.

¹⁸ And whatever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do according to the will of your God.

¹⁹ And the vessels that have been given thee for the service of the house of thy God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

²⁰ And whatever more shall be needful for the house of thy God which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

²¹ And I, I Artaxerxes the king, do give orders to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of the God of the heavens shall require of you, it be done diligently,

²² unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing [how much].

²³ Whatever is commanded by the God of the heavens, let it be carefully done for the house of the God of the heavens; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

²⁴ Also we inform you, as regards all the priests and Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, and ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, tax, and toll upon them.

²⁵ And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, which is in thy hand, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye him that knows [them] not.

²⁶ And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed diligently upon him, whether unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁷ Blessed be Jehovah the God of our fathers, who has put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem;

²⁸ and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened, as the hand of Jehovah my God was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

---

¹ Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;

⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.

⁷ There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

⁸ He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

⁹ For on the first [day] of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first [day] of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

¹¹ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

¹³ I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.

¹⁴ Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

¹⁵ and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

¹⁶ and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;

¹⁷ therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do you after the will of your God.

¹⁹ The vessels that are given you for the service of the house of your God, deliver you before the God of Jerusalem.

²⁰ Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house.

²¹ I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,

²² to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

²³ Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

²⁴ Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.

²⁵ You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach you him who doesn't know them.

²⁶ Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁷ Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;

²⁸ and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

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¹ Now after these things, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

² The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³ The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴ The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵ The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

⁶ This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a scribe, expert in the law of Moses which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given: and the king, moved by the Lord his God, gave him whatever he made request for.

⁷ And some of the children of Israel went up, with some of the priests and the Levites and the music-makers and the door-keepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

⁸ And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king's rule.

⁹ For, starting his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, he came to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, by the good help of his God.

¹⁰ For Ezra had given his mind to learning the law of the Lord and doing it, and to teaching his rules and decisions in Israel.

¹¹ Now this is a copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and the scribe, who put into writing the words of the orders of the Lord, and of his rules for Israel:

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;

¹³ And now it is my order that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and Levites in my kingdom, who are ready and have a desire to go to Jerusalem, are to go with you.

¹⁴ Because you are sent by the king and his seven wise men, to get knowledge about Judah and Jerusalem, as you are ordered by the law of your God which is in your hand;

¹⁵ And to take with you the silver and gold freely offered by the king and his wise men to the God of Israel, whose Temple is in Jerusalem,

¹⁶ As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem:

¹⁷ So with this money get with care oxen, sheep, and lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, to be offered on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ And whatever seems right to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, that do, as may be pleasing to your God.

¹⁹ And the vessels which have been given to you for the uses of the house of your God, you are to give to the God of Jerusalem.

²⁰ And whatever more is needed for the house of your God, and which you may have to give, take it from the king's store-house.

²¹ And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, now give orders to all keepers of the king's money across the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may have need of from you, is to be done with all care,

²² Up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred measures of grain, a hundred measures of wine, and a hundred measures of oil, and salt without measure.

²³ Whatever is ordered by the God of heaven, let it be done completely for the house of the God of heaven; so that there may not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.

²⁴ In addition, we make it clear to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, door-keepers, Nethinim, or any servants of this house of God.

²⁵ And you, Ezra, by the wisdom of your God which is in you, are to put rulers and judges to have authority over all the people across the river who have knowledge of the laws of your God; and you are to give teaching to him who has no knowledge of them.

²⁶ And if anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him, by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.

²⁷ Praise be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the heart of the king, to make fair the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem;

²⁸ And has given mercy to me before the king and his government and before all the king's great captains. And I was made strong by the hand of the Lord my God which was on me, and I got together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.