1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Uzayr (Ezra) the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Haron (Aaron) the chief priest’ 6this Uzayr (Ezra) went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Musa, which تتراجراماتون, the Elokim of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of تتراجراماتون his Elokim upon him. 7And 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.

8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For 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 Elokim upon him. 10For Uzayr (Ezra) had set his heart to seek the law of تتراجراماتون, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Uzayr (Ezra) the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of تتراجراماتون, and of his statutes to Israel: 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Uzayr (Ezra) the priest, the scribe of the law of the Elokim of heaven, perfect and so forth. 13I 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. 14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy Elokim which is in thy hand, 15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the Elokim of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16and 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 Elokim which is in Jerusalem; 17therefore 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 Elokim which is in Jerusalem. 18And 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 Elokim. 19And the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of thy Elokim, deliver thou before the Elokim of Jerusalem. 20And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy Elokim, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure-house.

21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the River, that whatsoever Uzayr (Ezra) the priest, the scribe of the law of the Elokim of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 22unto 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. 23Whatsoever is commanded by the Elokim of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the Elokim of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of Elokim, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.

25And thou, Uzayr (Ezra), after the wisdom of thy Elokim 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 Elokim; and teach ye him that knoweth them not. 26And whosoever will not do the law of thy Elokim, 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.

27Blessed be تتراجراماتون, the Elokim of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of تتراجراماتون which is in Jerusalem; 28and 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 تتراجراماتون my Elokim upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.