Ezra 7

1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, N47Ezra the son of Serayah, the son of Azaryah, the son of Chilqiyah,

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

3 The son of Amaryah, the son of Azaryah, the son of Meraioth,

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

5 The son of Avishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron (Aharon) the chief priest (kohen):

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon (Bavel); and he was a skilled scribe in the Torah which יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) had given to Moses (Mosheh); and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of יהוה his God (Elohim) upon him.

7 And there went up some of the children of Yisrael, and of the priests (kohanim), and the Levites (Lewiyim), and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) 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 (Bavel), and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), according to the good hand of his God (Elohim) upon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Torah of יהוה, and to do it, and to teach in Yisrael statutes and judgments.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest (kohen), the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of יהוה, and of his statutes to Yisrael.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest (kohen), a scribe of the decree of the God (Elah) of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Yisrael, and of his priests (kohanim) and Levites (Lewiyim), in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), go with you.

14 Forasmuch as you are sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah (Yehudah) and Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), according to the decree of your God (Elah) which is in your hand;

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

16 And all the silver and gold that you canst find in all the province of Babylon (Bavel), with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests (kohanim), offering willingly for the house of their God (Elah) which is in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim),

17 That you 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 (Elah) which is in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to you, and to your brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God (Elah).

19 The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your God (Elah), those deliver you before the God (Elah) of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of your God (Elah), which you 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 (kohen), the scribe of the decree of the God (Elah) of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

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 (Elah) of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God (Elah) 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 (kohanim) and Levites (Lewiyim), singers, porters, Nethinims, or servants of this house of God (Elah), it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

25 And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God (Elah), that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the decrees of your God (Elah); and teach you them that know them not.

26 And whosoever will not do the decree of your God (Elah), and the decree 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 יהוה God (Elohim) of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of יהוה which is in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim),

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 יהוה my God (Elohim) was upon me, and I gathered together out of Yisrael chief men to go up with me.