Ezra 7:12-26

12“1Artaxerxes, 2king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, 3perfect peace. And now 134I 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 5on the part of the king and his 6seven 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, 7whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16with 8all the silver and gold which you find in the entire province of Babylon, along 9with the 10voluntary offering of the people and of the priests, who 11offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, 12with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and 13offer 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, 14provide 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, 15the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22up to 16a hundred talents of silver, 17a hundred kors of wheat, 18a hundred baths of wine, 19a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt 20as needed. 23Whatever is 21commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, 22so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24We also inform you that 23it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll 24on 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, 25appoint 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 26teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26And 27whoever 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 28confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”