Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

1And after these words in the kingdom of Arthasatha king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2Son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3Son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4Son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5Son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head priest: 6This Ezra went up from Babel; and he a scribe skilled in the law of Moses which Jehovah God of Israel gave: and the king will give to him according to the hand of Jehovah upon him all his seeking. 7And there will go up from the sons of Israel, and from the priests and the Levites, and those singing, and they watching the gates, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year to Arthasatha the king.

8And he will come to Jerusalem in the fifth month, this the seventh year to the king. 9For in one to the first month he laid the foundation of going up from Babel, and in one to the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10For Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel the law and judgment.

Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

11And this the copy of the epistle which king Arthasatha gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, the scribe of the words of the commands of Jehovah and of his laws upon Israel. 12Arthasatha, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, being perfected, and thus. 13A decree was set from me that all being willing in my kingdom, from the people of Israel and his priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, shall go with thee. 14For the cause that being sent from before the king and the seven counselors to seek concerning Judah and for Jerusalem, by the law of thy God that is in thy hand; 15And to bring the silver and the gold that the king and his counselors gave willingly to the God of Israel, whom his dwelling in Jerusalem. 16And all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babel, with the voluntary gifts of the people and the priests giving willingly to the house of their God that is in Jerusalem: 17For this cause speedily shalt thou buy with this silver, oxen, rams, lambs, with their gifts and their libations, and thou shalt bring them near upon the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18And whatever to thee and to thy brethren shall be good to do with the rest of the silver and gold; according to the will of your God ye shall do. 19And the vessels that are given to thee for the service of the house of thy God, restore before the God of Jerusalem. 20And the rest being necessary for the house of thy God, that shall fall to thee to give thou shalt give from the house of the king's treasure.

21And from me, I Arthasatha the king, a decree was set up to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that all which Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of the heavens, shall ask of you, shall be done speedily, 22Even to a hundred talents of silver, and even to a hundred cors of wheat, and even to a hundred baths of wine, and even to a hundred baths of oil, and salt that was not written. 23All that from the decree of the God of the heavens shall be done diligently for the house of the God of the heavens: for why to be wrath upon the kingdom of the king and his sons? 24And making known to you that all the priests and Levites, the players, the porters, the Nethinims, and those serving this house of God, tribute, excise and toll, not being permitted to be lifted up upon them.

25And thou Ezra, according to the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand, appoint judges and tribunals to be judging for all the people that are beyond the river, to all knowing the laws of thy God; and those not knowing ye shall cause to know. 26And all not to be doing the laws of thy God, and the laws of the king, judgment to be done speedily upon him, if whether to death or to rooting him out, or to impose fines and for bonds.

Ezra Blesses God

27Praised be Jehovah the God of our fathers who gave according to this in the king's heart, to adorn the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem: 28And extended mercy upon me before the king and his counselors, and to all the kings mighty chiefs. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I shall gather together from Israel the heads to go up with me.