New American Standard Bible 1995

Ezra 7

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

1Now afterוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697,in the reignבְּמַלְכ֖וּתbe.mal.KhutH4438ofArtaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539, there went upEzraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Seraiahשְׂרָיָ֔הse.ra.YahH8304,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Azariahעֲזַרְיָ֖ה'a.zar.YahH5838,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּֽה׃chil.ki.YahH2518,

2sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shallumשַׁלּ֥וּםsha.LumH7967,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zadokצָד֖וֹקtza.DokH6659,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahitubאֲחִיטֽוּב׃'a.chi.TuvH285,

3sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Amariahאֲמַרְיָ֥ה'a.mar.YahH568,sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Azariahעֲזַרְיָ֖ה'a.zar.YahH5838,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Meraiothמְרָיֽוֹת׃me.ra.YotH4812,

4sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zerahiahזְרַֽחְיָ֥הze.rach.YahH2228,sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Uzziעֻזִּ֖י'u.ZiH5813,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bukkiבֻּקִּֽי׃bu.KiH1231,

5sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Abishuaאֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ'a.vi.Shu.a'H50,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Phinehasפִּֽינְחָס֙pi.ne.ChasH6372,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֔ר'el.'a.ZarH499,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Aaronאַהֲרֹ֥ן'a.ha.RonH175the chiefהָרֹֽאשׁ׃ha.RoshH7218priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548.

6ThisH1931Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830wentעָלָ֣ה'a.LahH5927up from Babylonמִבָּבֶ֔לmi.ba.VelH894, and he was ascribeH5613skilledמָהִיר֙ma.HirH4106in the lawבְּתוֹרַ֣תbe.to.RatH8451of Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478had givenנָתַ֥ןna.TanH5414;and the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414him allכֹּ֖לkolH3605he requestedבַּקָּשָׁתֽוֹ׃ פba.ka.sha.ToH1246because the handH3028of the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068his Godאֱלֹהָיו֙'e.lo.HavH430was upon him.

7SomeH4480of the sonsמִבְּנֵֽי־mi.be.nei-H1121of Israelיִ֠שְׂרָאֵלYis.ra.'elH3478and someH4480of the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֨יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548,the Levitesוְהַלְוִיִּ֜םve.hal.vi.YimH3881,the singersוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧יםve.ham.sho.re.RimH7891,the gatekeepersוְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛יםve.ha.sho.'a.RimH7778and the templeוְהַנְּתִינִ֖יםve.ha.ne.ti.NimH5411servantsH5411wentוַיַּֽעֲל֣וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927up to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of Kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783.

8He cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389in the fifthהַחֲמִישִׁ֑יha.cha.mi.ShiH2549monthבַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320,whichהִ֛יאhi'H1931was in the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יתha.she.vi.'ItH7637yearשְׁנַ֥תshe.NatH8141of the kingלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃la.Me.lekhH4428.

9For on the firstבְּאֶחָד֙be.'e.ChadH259of the firstהָרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223monthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320he beganיְסֻ֔דye.SudH3246to goהַֽמַּעֲלָ֖הha.ma.'a.LahH4609up from Babylonמִבָּבֶ֑לmi.ba.VelH894;and on the firstוּבְאֶחָ֞דu.ve.'e.ChadH259of the fifthהַחֲמִישִׁ֗יha.cha.mi.ShiH2549monthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320he cameבָּ֚אba'H935to Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389,because the goodהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of his Godאֱלֹהָ֖יו'e.lo.HavH430was upon him.

10For Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830had setהֵכִ֣יןhe.KhinH3559his heartלְבָב֔וֹle.va.VoH3824tostudyלִדְר֛וֹשׁlid.Ro.oshH1875the lawתּוֹרַ֥תto.RatH8451of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068and to practiceוְלַעֲשֹׂ֑תve.la.'a.SotH6213it, andto teachוּלְלַמֵּ֥דu.le.la.MedH3925Hisstatutesחֹ֥קchokH2706and ordinancesוּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ סu.mish.PatH4941in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

11Now thisוְזֶ֣ה׀ve.ZehH2088is the copyפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6572of the decreeהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ןha.nish.te.VanH5406whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783gaveנָתַן֙na.TanH5414to Ezraלְעֶזְרָ֥אle.'ez.Ra'H5830the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548,the scribeH5613,learnedH5613in the wordsדִּבְרֵ֧יdiv.ReiH1697of the commandmentsמִצְוֹת־mitz.vot-H4687of the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068and His statutesוְחֻקָּ֖יוve.chu.KavH2706to Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478:

12“Artaxerxesאַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783,kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4430of kingsמַלְכַיָּ֑אmal.khai.Ya'H4430,to Ezraלְעֶזְרָ֣אle.'ez.Ra'H5831the priestכָ֠הֲנָאKha.ha.na'H3549,the scribeסָפַ֨רsa.FarH5613of the lawדָּתָ֜אda.Ta'H1882of the Godאֱלָ֧הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֛אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,perfectגְּמִ֖ירge.MirH1585peace.And nowוּכְעֶֽנֶת׃u.khe.'E.netH3706

13I have issuedשִׂ֣יםsimH7761a decreeטְעֵם֒te.'EmH2942that anyכָל־khol-H3606of the peopleעַמָּ֨ה'a.Mah'H5972of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElH3479and their priestsוְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִיve.kha.ha.No.hiH3549and the Levitesוְלֵוָיֵ֗אve.le.va.Ye'H3879in my kingdomבְּמַלְכוּתִי֩be.mal.khu.TiH4437whoדִּ֣יdiH1768are willingמִתְנַדַּ֣בmit.na.DavH5069to goH1981to Jerusalemלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛םli.ru.she.LemH3390,may goH1981with you.

14Forasmuchקֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ko.Vel diH3606 H6903 H1768as you are sentשְׁלִ֔יחַshe.Li.achH7972by the kingמַלְכָּ֜אmal.Ka'H4430and hissevenוְשִׁבְעַ֤תve.shiv.'AtH7655counselorsיָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ya.'a.To.hiH3272to inquireלְבַקָּרָ֥אle.va.ka.Ra'H1240concerningעַל־'al-H5922Judahיְה֖וּדye.HudH3061and Jerusalemוְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑םve.li.ru.she.LemH3390according to the lawבְּדָ֥תbe.DatH1882of your Godאֱלָהָ֖ךְ'e.la.HakhH426whichדִּ֥יdiH1768is in your handבִידָֽךְ׃vi.DakhH3028,

15and to bringוּלְהֵיבָלָ֖הu.le.hei.va.LahH2987the silverכְּסַ֣ףke.SafH3702and goldוּדְהַ֑בu.de.HavH1722,whichדִּֽי־di-H1768the kingמַלְכָּ֣אmal.Ka'H4430and his counselorsוְיָעֲט֗וֹהִיve.ya.'a.To.hiH3272have freelyH5069offeredהִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙hit.na.Da.vuH5069to the Godלֶאֱלָ֣הּle.'e.LahH426of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3479,whoseדִּ֥יdiH1768dwellingמִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃mish.ke.NehH4907is in Jerusalemבִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖םvi.ru.she.LemH3390,

16withallוְכֹל֙ve.KholH3606the silverכְּסַ֣ףke.SafH3702and goldוּדְהַ֔בu.de.HavH1722whichדִּ֣יdiH1768you findתְהַשְׁכַּ֔חte.hash.KachH7912in the wholeבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606provinceמְדִינַ֣תme.di.NatH4083of Babylonבָּבֶ֑לba.VelH895,alongH5973with the freewillH5069offeringH5069of the peopleעַמָּ֤א'a.Ma'H5972and of the priestsוְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ve.kha.ha.nai.Ya'H3549, whoofferedH5069willinglyH5069for the houseלְבֵ֥יתle.VeitH1005of their Godאֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.HomH426whichדִּ֥יdiH1768is in Jerusalemבִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃vi.ru.she.LemH3390;

17with thisדְּנָה֩de.NahH1836moneyבְּכַסְפָּ֣אbe.khas.Pa'H3702,thereforeקֳבֵ֣ל דְנָ֗הko.Vel de.NahH3606 H6903 H1836,you shall diligentlyאָסְפַּ֨רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629buyתִקְנֵ֜אtik.Ne'H7066bullsתּוֹרִ֤ין׀to.RinH8450,ramsדִּכְרִין֙dikh.RinH1798and lambsאִמְּרִ֔ין'i.me.RinH563,with their grain offeringsוּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹןu.min.cha.te.HonH4504and their drinkH5261offeringsH5261andofferוּתְקָרֵ֣בu.te.ka.RevH7127them on the altarמַדְבְּחָ֔הmad.be.Chah'H4056of the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1005of your Godאֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.KhomH426whichH1768is in Jerusalemבִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃vi.ru.she.LemH3390.

18Whateverוּמָ֣הu.MahH4101seemsH3190goodיִיטַ֗בyi.TavH3191to you and to your brothersאֶחָ֜ךְ'e.cha.yikhH252to do with the restבִּשְׁאָ֛רbish.'ArH7606of the silverכַּסְפָּ֥אkas.Pa'H3702and goldוְדַהֲבָ֖הve.da.ha.Vah'H1722,you may doH5648according to the willH7466of your Godאֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.KhomH426.

19Also the utensilsוּמָֽאנַיָּא֙u.ma.nai.Ya'H3984whichדִּֽי־di-H1768are givenמִתְיַהֲבִ֣יןmit.ya.ha.VinH3052to you for the serviceלְפָלְחָ֖ןle.fa.le.ChanH6402of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1005of your Godאֱלָהָ֑ךְ'e.la.HakhH426,deliverH8000in fullH8000beforeקֳדָ֖םko.DamH6925the Godאֱלָ֥הּ'e.LahH426of Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ye.ru.she.LemH3390.

20The restוּשְׁאָ֗רu.she.'ArH7606of the needsחַשְׁחוּת֙chash.ChutH2819for the houseH1005of your Godאֱלָהָ֔ךְ'e.la.HakhH426,for whichדִּ֥יdiH1768you may haveH5308occasionH5308to provideלְמִנְתַּ֑ןle.min.TanH5415,provideתִּנְתֵּ֕ןtin.TenH5415for itfrom the royalמַלְכָּֽא׃mal.Ka'H4430treasuryגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1596.

21“I, even I, Kingמַלְכָּא֙mal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783,issueשִׂ֣יםsimH7761a decreeטְעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942to allלְכֹל֙le.KholH3606the treasurersגִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔אgi.zav.rai.Ya'H1490whoH1768are in the provincesbeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675theRiverנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103,that whateverכָל־khol-H3606 H1768Ezraעֶזְרָ֨א'ez.Ra'H5831the priestכָהֲנָ֜הkha.ha.Nah'H3549,the scribeסָפַ֤רsa.FarH5613of the lawדָּתָא֙da.Ta'H1882of the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,may requireיִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹןYish.'a.len.khonH7593of you, it shall be doneיִתְעֲבִֽד׃yit.'a.VidH5648diligentlyאָסְפַּ֖רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629,

22evenup to 100H3967talentsכַּכְּרִ֣יןka.ke.RinH3604of silverכְּסַף֮ke.SafH3702,100H3967korsכֹּרִ֣יןko.RinH3734of wheatחִנְטִין֙chin.TinH2591,100H3967bathsבַּתִּ֣יןba.TinH1325of wineחֲמַר֙cha.MarH2562,100H3967bathsבַּתִּ֥יןba.TinH1325of oilמְשַׁ֖חme.ShachH4887,and saltוּמְלַ֖חu.me.LachH4416as neededכְתָֽב׃khe.TavH3792.

23Whateverכָּל־ דִּ֗יkol- DiH3606 H1768iscommandedמִן־ טַ֙עַם֙min- ta.'amH4481 H2942by the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,let it be doneיִתְעֲבֵד֙yit.'a.VedH5648with zealאַדְרַזְדָּ֔א'ad.raz.Da'H149for the houseלְבֵ֖יתle.VeitH1005of the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֑אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,soדִּֽי־di-H1768that there will not be wrathקְצַ֔ףke.TzafH7109againstעַל־'al-H5922the kingdomמַלְכ֥וּתmal.KhutH4437of the kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430and his sonsH1123.

24We also informמְהוֹדְעִ֗יןme.hod.'InH3046you thatit is not allowedשַׁלִּ֖יטsha.LitH7990toimposeלְמִרְמֵ֥אle.mir.Me'H7412taxH4061,tributeמִנְדָּ֤הmin.DahH4061or tollוַהֲלָ֔ךְva.ha.LakhH1983onanyכָל־khol-H3606of the priestsכָּהֲנַיָּ֣אka.ha.nai.Ya'H3549,Levitesוְ֠לֵוָיֵאVe.le.va.ye'H3879,singersזַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤אza.Ma.rai.Ya'H2171,doorkeepersתָרָֽעַיָּא֙ta.ra.'ai.Ya'H8652,Nethinimנְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔אne.Ti.nai.Ya'H5412or servantsוּפָ֣לְחֵ֔יu.Fa.le.CheiH6399of thisדְנָ֑הde.NahH1836houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1005of Godאֱלָהָ֣א'e.la.Ha'H426.

25“You, Ezraעֶזְרָ֗א'ez.Ra'H5831,according to the wisdomכְּחָכְמַ֨תke.cha.khe.MatH2452of your Godאֱלָהָ֤ךְ'e.la.HakhH426whichH1768is in your handבִידָךְ֙vi.doKhH3028,appointמֶ֣נִּיMe.niH4483magistratesשָׁפְטִ֞יןsha.fe.TinH8200and judgesוְדַיָּנִ֗יןve.dai.ya.NinH1782that they may judgeלֶהֱוֹ֤ן דָּאיְנִין֙le.he.Von da.'a.ninH1934 H1778allלְכָל־le.kholH3606the peopleעַמָּה֙'a.Mah'H5972whoH1768are in the provincebeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the Riverנַהֲרָ֔הna.ha.Rah'H5103, evenallלְכָל־le.kholH3606those who knowיָדְעֵ֖יya.de.'EiH3046the lawsדָּתֵ֣יda.TeiH1882of your Godאֱלָהָ֑ךְ'e.la.HakhH426; and you mayteachיָדַ֖עya.Da'H3046anyone whoH1768is ignorantלָ֦א תְּהוֹדְעֽוּן׃la' te.hod.'UnH3809 H3046of them.

26WhoeverH3605will not observeעָבֵ֜ד'a.VedH5648the lawדָּתָ֣אda.Ta'H1882of your Godאֱלָהָ֗ךְ'e.la.HakhH426and the lawוְדָתָא֙ve.da.Ta'H1882of the kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430,let judgmentדִּינָ֕הdi.Nah'H1780be executedמִתְעֲבֵ֖דmit.'a.VedH5648upon him strictlyאָסְפַּ֕רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629,whetherהֵ֤ןhenH2006for deathלְמוֹת֙le.mOtH4193orהֵ֣ןhenH2006forbanishmentלִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔יlish.ro.shuH8332orהֵן־hen-H2006for confiscationלַעֲנָ֥שׁla.'a.NashH6065of goodsנִכְסִ֖יןnikh.SinH5232or for imprisonmentוְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ פve.le.'e.su.RinH613.”

The King’s Kindness

27Blessedבָּר֥וּךְba.RukhH1288be the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of our fathersאֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ'a.vo.Tei.nuH1,whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834has putנָתַ֤ןna.TanH5414such a thingas thisH2088in the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heartבְּלֵ֣בbe.LevH3820,to adornלְפָאֵ֕רle.fa.'ErH6286the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389,

28andhas extendedהִטָּה־hi.tah-H5186lovingkindnessחֶ֗סֶדChe.sedH2617to me beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428and his counselorsוְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יוve.yo.'a.TzavH3289and before allוּלְכָל־u.le.khol-H3605the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428mightyהַגִּבֹּרִ֑יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368princesשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269.Thus I was strengthenedהִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּיhit.cha.Zak.tiH2388according tothe handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430upon me, and I gatheredוָאֶקְבְּצָ֧הva.'ek.be.TzahH6908leadingH7218menH7218from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478to goלַעֲל֥וֹתla.'a.LotH5927up with me.

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

The King’s Kindness

Commentaries on Ezra 7