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. 14Since you are sent 2on the part of the king and his 3seven 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, 4whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16with 5all the silver and gold which you find in the entire province of Babylon, along 6with the 7voluntary offering of the people and of the priests, who 8offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, 9with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and 10offer 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, 11provide 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, 12the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently, 22up to 13a hundred talents of silver, 14a hundred kors of wheat, 15a hundred baths of wine, 16a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt 17as needed. 23Whatever is 18commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, 19so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24We also inform you that 20it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll 21on 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, 22appoint 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 23teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26And 24whoever 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 25confiscation of property or for imprisonment.”