Ezra 1:1-6 ▼

1 And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah, YHWH stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he caused to pass over a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying,

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘All the kingdoms of the earth YHWH, God of the heavens, has given to me, and He has commanded to me to build for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3 Who is among you? of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of YHWH, God of Israel—He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

4 And whoever is left in any place where he is a sojourner, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with livestock, along with the freewill offerings for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem.’”

5 And the heads of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin arose, and the priests, and the Levites, with all whose spirit God had moved to go up and build the house of YHWH, which is in Jerusalem.

6 And all around them strengthened their hands with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, and with livestock, and with precious things, in addition to all that was freely offered.