1Now after310 these things1697, in the reign4438 of Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Persia6539, Ezra5830 the son1121 of Seraiah8304, the son1121 of Azariah5838, the son1121 of Hilkiah2518,
2The son1121 of Shallum7967, the son1121 of Zadok6659, the son1121 of Ahitub285,
3The son1121 of Amariah568, the son1121 of Azariah5838, the son1121 of Meraioth4812,
4The son1121 of Zerahiah2228, the son1121 of Uzzi5813, the son1121 of Bukki1231,
5The son1121 of Abishua50, the son1121 of Phinehas6372, the son1121 of Eleazar499, the son1121 of Aaron175 the chief7218 priest3548:
6This Ezra5830 went up5927 from Babylon894; and he was a ready4106 scribe5608 in the law8451 of Moses4872, which the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478 had given5414: and the king4428 granted5414 him all his request1246, according to the hand3027 of the LORD3068 his God430 upon him.
7And there went up5927 some of the children1121 of Israel3478, and of the priests3548, and the Levites3881, and the singers7891, and the porters7778, and the Nethinims5411, unto Jerusalem3389, in the seventh7651 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 the king4428.
8And he came935 to Jerusalem3389 in the fifth2549 month2320, which was in the seventh7637 year8141 of the king4428.
9For upon the first259 day of the first7223 month2320 began3246 he to go up4609 from Babylon894, and on the first259 day of the fifth2549 month2320 came935 he to Jerusalem3389, according to the good2896 hand3027 of his God430 upon him.
10For Ezra5830 had prepared3559 his heart3824 to seek1875 the law8451 of the LORD3068, and to do6213 it, and to teach3925 in Israel3478 statutes2706 and judgments4941.
11Now this is the copy6572 of the letter5406 that the king4428 Artaxerxes783 gave5414 unto Ezra5830 the priest3548, the scribe5608, even a scribe5608 of the words1697 of the commandments4687 of the LORD3068, and of his statutes2706 to Israel3478.
12Artaxerxes783, king4430 of kings4430, unto Ezra5831 the priest3549, a scribe5613 of the law1882 of the God426 of heaven8065, perfect1585 peace, and at such a time3706.
13I4481 make7761 a decree2942, that all3606 they of4481 the people5972 of Israel3479, and of his priests3549 and Levites3879, in my realm4437, which are minded of their own freewill5069 to go up1946 to Jerusalem3390, go1946 with thee5974.
14Forasmuch1768 6903 as3606 thou art sent7972 of4481 6925 the king4430, and of his seven7655 counsellors3272, to enquire1240 concerning5922 Judah3061 and Jerusalem3390, according to the law1882 of thy God426 which is in thine hand3028;
15And to carry2987 the silver3702 and gold1722, which the king4430 and his counsellors3272 have freely offered5069 unto the God426 of Israel3479, whose1768 habitation4907 is in Jerusalem3390,
16And all3606 the silver3702 and gold1722 that thou canst find7912 in all3606 the province4083 of Babylon895, with5974 the freewill offering5069 of the people5972, and of the priests3549, offering willingly5069 for the house1005 of their God426 which is in Jerusalem3390:
17That3606 6903 thou mayest buy7066 speedily629 with this1836 money3702 bullocks8450, rams1798, lambs563, with their meat offerings4504 and their drink offerings5261, and offer7127 them1994 upon5922 the altar4056 of the house1005 of your God426 which is in Jerusalem3390.
18And whatsoever4101 1768 shall seem good3191 to thee, and to5922 thy brethren252, to do5648 with the rest7606 of the silver3702 and the gold1722, that do5648 after the will7470 of your God426.
19The vessels3984 also that are given3052 thee for the service6402 of the house1005 of thy God426, those deliver8000 thou before6925 the God426 of Jerusalem3390.
20And whatsoever more7606 shall be needful2819 for the house1005 of thy God426, which thou shalt have occasion5308 to bestow5415, bestow5415 it out of4481 the king's4430 treasure1596 house1005.
21And I4481, even I576 Artaxerxes783 the king4430, do make7761 a decree2942 to all3606 the treasurers1490 which are beyond5675 the river5103, that whatsoever Ezra5831 the priest3549, the scribe5613 of the law1882 of the God426 of heaven8065, shall require7593 of you, it be done5648 speedily629,
22Unto5705 an hundred3969 talents3604 of silver3702, and to an hundred3969 measures3734 of wheat2591, and to an hundred3969 baths1325 of wine2562, and to an hundred3969 baths1325 of oil4887, and salt4416 without3809 prescribing3792 how much.
23Whatsoever3606 is commanded by2941 4481 the God426 of heaven8065, let it be diligently149 done5648 for the house1005 of the God426 of heaven8065: for1768 why4101 should there be1934 wrath7109 against5922 the realm4437 of the king4430 and his sons1123?
24Also we certify3046 you, that touching any3606 of the priests3549 and Levites3879, singers2171, porters8652, Nethinims5412, or ministers6399 of this1836 house1005 of God426, it shall not3809 be lawful7990 to impose7412 toll4061, tribute1093, or custom1983, upon5922 them.
25And thou607, Ezra5831, after the wisdom2452 of thy God426, that is in thine hand3028, set4483 magistrates8200 and judges1782, which may judge1934 1778 all3606 the people5972 that are beyond5675 the river5103, all3606 such as know3046 the laws1882 of thy God426; and teach3046 ye them that know3046 them not3809.
26And whosoever3606 will not3809 do1934 5648 the law1882 of thy God426, and the law1882 of the king4430, let judgment1780 be1934 executed5648 speedily629 upon him4481, whether2006 it be unto death4193, or2006 to banishment8332, or2006 to confiscation6065 of goods5232, or to imprisonment613.
27Blessed1288 be the LORD3068 God430 of our fathers1, which hath put5414 such a thing as this in the king's4428 heart3820, to beautify6286 the house1004 of the LORD3068 which is in Jerusalem3389:
28And hath extended5186 mercy2617 unto me before6440 the king4428, and his counsellors3289, and before all the king's4428 mighty1368 princes8269. And I was strengthened2388 as the hand3027 of the LORD3068 my God430 was upon me, and I gathered together6908 out of Israel3478 chief men7218 to go up5927 with me.