Ezra 7:10-26

10For Ezra had 1firmly resolved to study the Law of the Lord and to practice it, and 2to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

11Now this is the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, 3learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel: 12“4Artaxerxes, 5king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, 6perfect peace. And now 137I 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. 14Since you are sent 8on the part of the king and his 9seven advisers to inquire about 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 advisers have voluntarily given to the God of Israel, 10whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16with 11all the silver and gold which you find in the entire province of Babylon, along 12with the 13voluntary offering of the people and of the priests, who 14offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, 15with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and 16offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18And whatever seems good to you and 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. 20And the rest of the needs of the house of your God, for which it may be incumbent upon you to provide, 17provide for them from the royal treasury.

21“I myself, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, that whatever Ezra the priest, 18the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22up to 19a hundred talents of silver, 20a hundred kors of wheat, 21a hundred baths of wine, 22a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt 23as needed. 23Whatever is 24commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, 25so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24We also inform you that 26it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll 27on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, 28appoint magistrates and judges so that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the Euphrates River, that is, all those who know the laws of your God; and you may 29teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26And 30whoever does not comply with the Law of your God and the law of the king, judgment is to be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment, or for 31confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”