Ezra 7

1Now after these thingsH1697, in the reignH4438 of ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539, EzraH5830 the sonH1121 of SeraiahH8304, the sonH1121 of AzariahH5838, the sonH1121 of HilkiahH2518, 2the sonH1121 of ShallumH7967, the sonH1121 of ZadokH6659, the sonH1121 of AhitubH285, 3the sonH1121 of AmariahH568, the sonH1121 of AzariahH5838, the sonH1121 of MeraiothH4812, 4the sonH1121 of ZerahiahH2228, the sonH1121 of UzziH5813, the sonH1121 of BukkiH1231, 5the sonH1121 of AbishuaH50, the sonH1121 of PhinehasH6372, the sonH1121 of EleazarH499, the sonH1121 of AaronH175 the chiefH7218 priestH3548— 6this EzraH5830 wentH5927 up from BabylonH894. And he was a ready scribeH5608 in the lawH8451 of MosesH4872, which Jehovah, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, had givenH5414; and the kingH4428 granted him all his requestH1246, according to the handH3027 of Jehovah his GodH430 upon him. 7And there wentH5927 up some of the children of IsraelH3478, and of the priestsH3548, and the LevitesH3881, and the singersH7891, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto JerusalemH3389, in the seventh yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428. 8And he cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 in the fifthH2549 monthH2320, which was in the seventhH7637 yearH8141 of the kingH4428. 9For upon the firstH7223 day of the firstH7223 monthH2320 began he to goH935 up from BabylonH894; and on the firstH7223 day of the fifthH2549 monthH2320 cameH935 he to JerusalemH3389, according to the goodH2896 handH3027 of his GodH430 upon him. 10For EzraH5830 had set his heartH3824 to seekH1875 the lawH8451 of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teachH3925 in IsraelH3478 statutesH2706 and ordinancesH4941.

11Now this is the copyH6572 of the letterH5406 that the kingH4428 ArtaxerxesH783 gaveH5414 unto EzraH5830 the priestH3548, the scribeH5608, even the scribeH5608 of the wordsH1697 of the commandmentsH4687 of Jehovah, and of his statutesH2706 to IsraelH3478: 12ArtaxerxesH783, kingH4430 of kingsH4430, unto EzraH5831 the priestH3549, the scribeH5613 of the lawH1882 of the GodH426 of heavenH8065, perfect and so forth. 13I makeH7761 a decreeH2942, that all they of the peopleH5972 of IsraelH3479, and their priestsH3549 and the LevitesH3879, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to JerusalemH3390, go with thee. 14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the kingH4430 and his sevenH7655 counsellors, to inquire concerningH5922 JudahH3061 and JerusalemH3390, accordingH4481 to the lawH1882 of thy GodH426 which is in thy handH3028, 15and to carry the silverH3702 and goldH1722, which the kingH4430 and his counsellors have freelyH5069 offeredH5069 unto the GodH426 of IsraelH3479, whose habitation is in JerusalemH3390, 16and all the silverH3702 and goldH1722 that thou shalt findH7912 in all the provinceH4083 of BabylonH895, with the freewill-offering of the peopleH5972, and of the priestsH3549, offeringH5069 willingly for the houseH1005 of their GodH426 which is in JerusalemH3390; 17therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, ramsH1798, lambsH563, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the houseH1005 of your GodH426 which is in JerusalemH3390. 18And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the restH7606 of the silverH3702 and the goldH1722, that do ye after the will of your GodH426. 19And the vesselsH3984 that are given thee for the service of the houseH1005 of thy GodH426, deliver thou before the GodH426 of JerusalemH3390. 20And whatsoever moreH4481 shall be needful for the houseH1005 of thy GodH426, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’sH4430 treasure-house. 21And I, even I ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430, do make a decreeH2942 to all the treasurers that are beyond the RiverH5103, that whatsoever EzraH5831 the priestH3549, the scribeH5613 of the lawH1882 of the GodH426 of heavenH8065, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 22unto a hundredH3969 talents of silverH3702, and to a hundredH3969 measures of wheat, and to a hundredH3969 bathsH1325 of wineH2562, and to a hundredH3969 bathsH1325 of oilH4887, and saltH4416 without prescribing how much. 23Whatsoever is commanded by the GodH426 of heavenH8065, let it be done exactly for the houseH1005 of the GodH426 of heavenH8065; for whyH4101 should there be wrath against the realm of the kingH4430 and his sons? 24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priestsH3549 and LevitesH3879, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this houseH1005 of GodH426, it shall not be lawful to impose tributeH4061, custom, or tollH1983, upon them. 25And thou, EzraH5831, after the wisdomH2452 of thy GodH426 that is in thy handH3028, appointH4483 magistrates and judges, who may judge all the peopleH5972 that are beyond the RiverH5103, all such as knowH3046 the lawsH1882 of thy GodH426; and teach ye him that knoweth them not. 26And whosoever will not do the lawH1882 of thy GodH426, and the lawH1882 of the kingH4430, 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.

27BlessedH1288 be Jehovah, the GodH430 of our fathersH1, who hath putH5414 such a thing as this in the king’sH4428 heartH3820, to beautifyH6286 the houseH1004 of Jehovah which is in JerusalemH3389; 28and hath extendedH5186 lovingkindness unto me before the kingH4428, and his counsellors, and before all the king’sH4428 mightyH1368 princesH8269. And I was strengthenedH2388 according to the handH3027 of Jehovah my GodH430 upon me, and I gatheredH6908 together out of IsraelH3478 chiefH7218 menH1368 to goH5927 up with me.