Ezra 7:13-26

131I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14Forasmuch as you are sent 2by the king and his 3seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, 4whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16with 5all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along 6with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who 7offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams and lambs, 8with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and 9offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. 19Also the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20The rest of the needs for the house of your God, for which you may have occasion to provide, 10provide for it from the royal treasury.

21“I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the 11River, that whatever Ezra the priest, 12the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 13kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt 14as needed. 23Whatever is 15commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, 16so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24We also inform you that 17it is not allowed to 18impose tax, tribute or toll 19on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.

25“You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, 20appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may 21teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 2622Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for 23banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”