New American Standard Bible 2020

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,Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830went up to Jerusalem; Ezra wasthe sonבֶּן־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.

6SothisH1931Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830wentH5927upH5927from 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.RimH7778,and the templeוְהַנְּתִינִ֖יםve.ha.ne.ti.NimH5411servantsH5411wentH5927upH5927to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of Kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783.

8And he 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.ChadH259dayof the firstהָרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223monthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320he beganיְסֻ֔דye.SudH3246to goH4609upH4609from 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'H5830hadfirmlyהֵכִ֣יןhe.KhinH3559resolvedלְבָב֔וֹle.va.VoH3824to studyלִדְר֛וֹשׁlid.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 letterהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ןha.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.

14Sinceקֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ko.Vel diH6903 H1768you are sentשְׁלִ֔יחַshe.Li.achH7972on the partקֳדָ֨םko.DamH6925of the kingמַלְכָּ֜אmal.Ka'H4430and hissevenוְשִׁבְעַ֤תve.shiv.'AtH7655advisersיָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ya.'a.To.hiH3272to inquireלְבַקָּרָ֥אle.va.ka.Ra'H1240aboutעַל־'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 advisersוְיָעֲט֗וֹהִיve.ya.'a.To.hiH3272have voluntarilyH5069givenH5069to 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 entireבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606provinceמְדִינַ֣תme.di.NatH4083of Babylonבָּבֶ֑לba.VelH895,alongH5973withH5973thevoluntaryH5069offeringH5069of 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.NahH6903 H1836,you shall diligentlyאָסְפַּ֨רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629buyתִקְנֵ֜אtik.Ne'H7066bullsתּוֹרִ֤ין׀to.RinH8450,ramsדִּכְרִין֙dikh.RinH1798, andlambsאִמְּרִ֔ין'i.me.RinH563,with their grain offeringsוּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹןu.min.cha.te.HonH4504and their drinkH5261offeringsH5261, andofferוּתְקָרֵ֣בu.te.ka.RevH7127them on the altarמַדְבְּחָ֔הmad.be.Chah'H4056of the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1005of your Godאֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.KhomH426whichH1768is in Jerusalemבִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃vi.ru.she.LemH3390.

18And whateverוּמָ֣הu.MahH4101seemsH3191goodH3191to you and your brothersאֶחָ֜ךְ'e.cha.yikhH252to doלְמֶעְבַּ֑דle.me'.BadH5648with the restבִּשְׁאָ֛רbish.'ArH7606of the silverכַּסְפָּ֥אkas.Pa'H3702and goldוְדַהֲבָ֖הve.da.ha.Vah'H1722,you may doתַּעַבְדֽוּן׃ta.'av.DunH5648according 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,deliverH8000inH8000fullH8000beforeקֳדָ֖םko.DamH6925the Godאֱלָ֥הּ'e.LahH426of Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ye.ru.she.LemH3390.

20And the restוּשְׁאָ֗רu.she.'ArH7606of the needsחַשְׁחוּת֙chash.ChutH2819of the houseH1005of your Godאֱלָהָ֔ךְ'e.la.HakhH426,for whichדִּ֥יdiH1768it may be incumbentיִפֶּל־yi.pel-H5308upon you to provideלְמִנְתַּ֑ןle.min.TanH5415,provideתִּנְתֵּ֕ןtin.TenH5415for themfrom the royalמַלְכָּֽא׃mal.Ka'H4430treasuryגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1596.

21“I myself, Kingמַלְכָּא֙mal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783,issueשִׂ֣יםsimH7761a decreeטְעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942to allלְכֹל֙le.KholH3606the treasurersגִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔אgi.zav.rai.Ya'H1490whoH1768are in the provincesbeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the EuphratesRiverנַהֲרָ֑הna.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,

22up toa hundredH3967talentsכַּכְּרִ֣יןka.ke.RinH3604of silverכְּסַף֮ke.SafH3702,a hundredH3967korsכֹּרִ֣יןko.RinH3734of wheatחִנְטִין֙chin.TinH2591,a hundredH3967bathsבַּתִּ֣יןba.TinH1325of wineחֲמַר֙cha.MarH2562,a hundredH3967bathsבַּתִּ֥יןba.TinH1325of anointingH4887oilמְשַׁ֖חme.ShachH4887,and saltוּמְלַ֖חu.me.LachH4416as neededכְתָֽב׃khe.TavH3792.

23Whateverכָּל־kol-H3606 H1768iscommandedמִן־ טַ֙עַם֙min- ta.'amH4481 H2942by the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,it shall be doneיִתְעֲבֵד֙yit.'a.VedH5648with zealאַדְרַזְדָּ֔א'ad.raz.Da'H149for the houseלְבֵ֖יתle.VeitH1005of the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֑אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,soH1768thatH1768there will not be wrathקְצַ֔ףke.TzafH7109againstעַל־'al-H5922the kingdomמַלְכ֥וּתmal.KhutH4437of the kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430and his sonsH1123.

24We also informמְהוֹדְעִ֗יןme.hod.'InH3046you thatit is not allowedשַׁלִּ֖יטsha.LitH7990to imposeלְמִרְמֵ֥אle.mir.Me'H7412taxבְלוֹ֙ve.LoH1093,tributeמִנְדָּ֤הmin.DahH4061,or 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,templeH5412servantsH5412, or otherservantsוּפָ֣לְחֵ֔יu.Fa.le.CheiH6399of thisדְנָ֑הde.NahH1836houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1005of Godאֱלָהָ֣א'e.la.Ha'H426.

25“And 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.NinH1782soH1768thatH1768they may judgeלֶהֱוֹ֤ן דָּאיְנִין֙le.he.Von da.'a.ninH1934 H1778allלְכָל־le.kholH3606the peopleעַמָּה֙'a.Mah'H5972whoH1768are in the provincebeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the EuphratesRiverנַהֲרָ֔הna.ha.Rah'H5103,that is, allלְכָל־le.kholH3606those who knowH3046the lawsדָּתֵ֣יda.TeiH1882of your Godאֱלָהָ֑ךְ'e.la.HakhH426; and you mayteachH3046anyone whoH1768isH3046ignorantלָ֦אla'H3809 H3046of them.

26AndwhoeverH3605does not complyH5648withH5648the Lawדָּתָ֣אda.Ta'H1882of your Godאֱלָהָ֗ךְ'e.la.HakhH426and the lawוְדָתָא֙ve.da.Ta'H1882of the kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430,judgmentדִּינָ֕הdi.Nah'H1780is to be executedH5648upon him strictlyאָסְפַּ֕רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629,whetherהֵ֤ןhenH2006for deathלְמוֹת֙le.mOtH4193orהֵ֣ןhenH2006for banishmentלִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔יlish.ro.shuH8332,orהֵן־hen-H2006forconfiscationלַעֲנָ֥שׁla.'a.NashH6065of propertyנִכְסִ֖יןnikh.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 glorifyלְפָאֵ֕רle.fa.'ErH6286the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389,

28andhas extendedהִטָּה־hi.tah-H5186favorחֶ֗סֶדChe.sedH2617to me beforeH6440the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428and his counselorsוְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יוve.yo.'a.TzavH3289and beforeH6440allוּלְכָל־u.le.khol-H3605the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428mightyהַגִּבֹּרִ֑יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368officialsשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269.So I was strengthenedהִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּיhit.cha.Zak.tiH2388according tothe handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430that wasupon me, and I gatheredוָאֶקְבְּצָ֧הva.'ek.be.TzahH6908leadingH7218menH7218from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478to goלַעֲל֥וֹתla.'a.LotH5927upH5927with me.

Ezra Journeys from Babylon to Jerusalem

King’s Decree on Behalf of Ezra

The King’s Kindness

Commentaries on Ezra 7