Revised Literal Translation

Ezra 7

1Now afterוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697,in the reignבְּמַלְכ֖וּתbe.mal.KhutH4438of Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539,Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Seraiahשְׂרָיָ֔הse.ra.YahH8304,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Azariahעֲזַרְיָ֖ה'a.zar.YahH5838,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּֽה׃chil.ki.YahH2518,

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

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

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

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

6This Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830went upעָלָ֣ה'a.LahH5927from Babylonמִבָּבֶ֔לmi.ba.VelH894; and he wasa readyמָהִיר֙ma.HirH4106scribeסֹפֵ֤רso.FerH5608in the lawבְּתוֹרַ֣תbe.to.RatH8451of Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,which Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478had givenנָתַ֥ןna.TanH5414:and the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414him all his requestבַּקָּשָׁתֽוֹ׃ פba.ka.sha.ToH1246,according to the handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068his Godאֱלֹהָיו֙'e.lo.HavH430upon him.

7And there went upוַיַּֽעֲל֣וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927someof the childrenמִבְּנֵֽי־mi.be.nei-H1121of Israelיִ֠שְׂרָאֵלYis.ra.'elH3478,and of the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֨יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548,and the Levitesוְהַלְוִיִּ֜םve.hal.vi.YimH3881,and the singersוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧יםve.ham.sho.re.RimH7891,and the portersוְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛יםve.ha.sho.'a.RimH7778,and the Nethinimsוְהַנְּתִינִ֖יםve.ha.ne.ti.NimH5411,unto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,in the seventhשֶׁ֖בַעShe.va'H7651yearבִּשְׁנַת־bish.nat-H8141of Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

8And he cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389in the fifthהַחֲמִישִׁ֑יha.cha.mi.ShiH2549monthבַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320, which wasin the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יתha.she.vi.'ItH7637yearשְׁנַ֥תshe.NatH8141of the kingלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃la.Me.lekhH4428.

9For upon the firstבְּאֶחָד֙be.'e.ChadH259dayof the firstהָרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223monthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320beganיְסֻ֔דye.SudH3246he to go upהַֽמַּעֲלָ֖הha.ma.'a.LahH4609from Babylonמִבָּבֶ֑לmi.ba.VelH894,and on the firstוּבְאֶחָ֞דu.ve.'e.ChadH259dayof the fifthהַחֲמִישִׁ֗יha.cha.mi.ShiH2549monthלַחֹ֣דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320cameבָּ֚אba'H935he to Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389,according to the goodהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of his Godאֱלֹהָ֖יו'e.lo.HavH430upon him.

10For Ezraעֶזְרָא֙'ez.Ra'H5830had preparedהֵכִ֣יןhe.KhinH3559his heartלְבָב֔וֹle.va.VoH3824to seekלִדְר֛וֹשׁlid.Ro.oshH1875the lawתּוֹרַ֥תto.RatH8451of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,and to doוְלַעֲשֹׂ֑תve.la.'a.SotH6213it,and to teachוּלְלַמֵּ֥דu.le.la.MedH3925in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478statutesחֹ֥קchokH2706and judgmentsוּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ סu.mish.PatH4941.

11Now this isthe copyפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6572of the letterהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ןha.nish.te.VanH5406that the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783gaveנָתַן֙na.TanH5414unto Ezraלְעֶזְרָ֥אle.'ez.Ra'H5830the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548,the scribeהַסֹּפֵ֑רha.so.FerH5608, evena scribeסֹפֵ֞רso.FerH5608of the wordsדִּבְרֵ֧יdiv.ReiH1697of the commandmentsמִצְוֹת־mitz.vot-H4687of Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068,and of his statutesוְחֻקָּ֖יוve.chu.KavH2706to Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.

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

13Iמִנִּי֮mi.NiH4481makeשִׂ֣יםsimH7761a decreeטְעֵם֒te.'EmH2942,that allכָל־khol-H3606they ofמִן־min-H4481the peopleעַמָּ֨ה'a.Mah'H5972of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElH3479, and ofhis priestsוְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִיve.kha.ha.No.hiH3549and Levitesוְלֵוָיֵ֗אve.le.va.Ye'H3879,in my realmבְּמַלְכוּתִי֩be.mal.khu.TiH4437,which are minded of their own freewillמִתְנַדַּ֣בmit.na.DavH5069to go upלִמְהָ֧ךְlim.HakhH1946to Jerusalemלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛םli.ru.she.LemH3390,goיְהָֽךְ׃ye.HakhH1946with theeעִמָּ֖ךְ'i.MakhH5974.

14Forasmuchקֳבֵ֗לko.VelH6903 H1768asH3606thou art sentשְׁלִ֔יחַshe.Li.achH7972ofמִן־ קֳדָ֨םmin- ko.DamH6925 H4481the kingמַלְכָּ֜אmal.Ka'H4430,and of his sevenוְשִׁבְעַ֤תve.shiv.'AtH7655counsellorsיָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ya.'a.To.hiH3272,to enquireלְבַקָּרָ֥אle.va.ka.Ra'H1240concerningעַל־'al-H5922Judahיְה֖וּדye.HudH3061and Jerusalemוְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑םve.li.ru.she.LemH3390,according to the lawבְּדָ֥תbe.DatH1882of thy Godאֱלָהָ֖ךְ'e.la.HakhH426which isin thine handבִידָֽךְ׃vi.DakhH3028;

15And to carryוּלְהֵיבָלָ֖הu.le.hei.va.LahH2987the silverכְּסַ֣ףke.SafH3702and goldוּדְהַ֑בu.de.HavH1722,which the kingמַלְכָּ֣אmal.Ka'H4430and his counsellorsוְיָעֲט֗וֹהִיve.ya.'a.To.hiH3272have freely offeredהִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙hit.na.Da.vuH5069unto the Godלֶאֱלָ֣הּle.'e.LahH426of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3479,whoseH1768habitationמִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃mish.ke.NehH4907isin Jerusalemבִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖םvi.ru.she.LemH3390,

16And allוְכֹל֙ve.KholH3606the silverכְּסַ֣ףke.SafH3702and goldוּדְהַ֔בu.de.HavH1722that thou canst findתְהַשְׁכַּ֔חte.hash.KachH7912in allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606the provinceמְדִינַ֣תme.di.NatH4083of Babylonבָּבֶ֑לba.VelH895,withעִם֩'imH5974the freewill offeringהִתְנַדָּב֨וּתhit.na.da.VutH5069of the peopleעַמָּ֤א'a.Ma'H5972,and of the priestsוְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ve.kha.ha.nai.Ya'H3549,offering willinglyמִֽתְנַדְּבִ֔יןmit.na.de.VinH5069for the houseלְבֵ֥יתle.VeitH1005of their Godאֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.HomH426which isin Jerusalemבִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃vi.ru.she.LemH3390:

17Thatקֳבֵ֣לko.VelH6903 H3606thou mayest buyתִקְנֵ֜אtik.Ne'H7066speedilyאָסְפַּ֨רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629with thisH1836moneyבְּכַסְפָּ֣אbe.khas.Pa'H3702bullocksתּוֹרִ֤ין׀to.RinH8450,ramsדִּכְרִין֙dikh.RinH1798,lambsאִמְּרִ֔ין'i.me.RinH563,with their grain offeringsוּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹןu.min.cha.te.HonH4504and their drink offeringsוְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹןve.nis.kei.HonH5261,and offerוּתְקָרֵ֣בu.te.ka.RevH7127themהִמּ֔וֹhi.MoH1994uponעַֽל־'al-H5922the altarמַדְבְּחָ֔הmad.be.Chah'H4056of the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1005of your Godאֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.KhomH426which isin Jerusalemבִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃vi.ru.she.LemH3390.

18And whatsoeverוּמָ֣ה דִי֩u.Mah diH1768 H4101shall seem goodיִיטַ֗בyi.TavH3191to thee, and toH5922thy brethrenאֶחָ֜ךְ'e.cha.yikhH252,to doלְמֶעְבַּ֑דle.me'.BadH5648with the restבִּשְׁאָ֛רbish.'ArH7606of the silverכַּסְפָּ֥אkas.Pa'H3702and the goldוְדַהֲבָ֖הve.da.ha.Vah'H1722,that doתַּעַבְדֽוּן׃ta.'av.DunH5648after the willכִּרְע֥וּתkir.'UtH7470of your Godאֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם'e.la.ha.KhomH426.

19The vesselsוּמָֽאנַיָּא֙u.ma.nai.Ya'H3984also that are givenמִתְיַהֲבִ֣יןmit.ya.ha.VinH3052thee for the serviceלְפָלְחָ֖ןle.fa.le.ChanH6402of the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1005of thy Godאֱלָהָ֑ךְ'e.la.HakhH426, thosedeliverהַשְׁלֵ֕םhash.LemH8000thou beforeקֳדָ֖םko.DamH6925the Godאֱלָ֥הּ'e.LahH426of Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ye.ru.she.LemH3390.

20And whatsoever moreוּשְׁאָ֗רu.she.'ArH7606shall be needfulחַשְׁחוּת֙chash.ChutH2819for the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1005of thy Godאֱלָהָ֔ךְ'e.la.HakhH426,which thou shalt have occasionיִפֶּל־yi.pel-H5308to bestowלְמִנְתַּ֑ןle.min.TanH5415,bestowתִּנְתֵּ֕ןtin.TenH5415itout ofמִן־min-H4481the king’sמַלְכָּֽא׃mal.Ka'H4430treasureגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1596houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1005.

21And Iוּ֠מִנִּיU.mi.niH4481, evenIאֲנָ֞ה'a.NahH576Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא'ar.tach.Shast'H783the kingמַלְכָּא֙mal.Ka'H4430,do makeשִׂ֣יםsimH7761a decreeטְעֵ֔םte.'EmH2942to allH3606the treasurersגִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔אgi.zav.rai.Ya'H1490which arebeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the riverנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103,that whatsoever Ezraעֶזְרָ֨א'ez.Ra'H5831the priestכָהֲנָ֜הkha.ha.Nah'H3549,the scribeסָפַ֤רsa.FarH5613of the lawדָּתָא֙da.Ta'H1882of the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,shall requireיִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹןYish.'a.len.khonH7593of you, it be doneיִתְעֲבִֽד׃yit.'a.VidH5648speedilyאָסְפַּ֖רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629,

22UntoH5705an hundredמְאָה֒me.'AhH3969talentsכַּכְּרִ֣יןka.ke.RinH3604of silverכְּסַף֮ke.SafH3702,and to an hundredמְאָ֔הme.'AhH3969measuresכֹּרִ֣יןko.RinH3734of wheatחִנְטִין֙chin.TinH2591,and to an hundredמְאָ֔הme.'AhH3969bathsבַּתִּ֣יןba.TinH1325of wineחֲמַר֙cha.MarH2562,and to an hundredמְאָ֑הme.'AhH3969bathsבַּתִּ֥יןba.TinH1325of oilמְשַׁ֖חme.ShachH4887,and saltוּמְלַ֖חu.me.LachH4416withoutלָ֥אla'H3809prescribingכְתָֽב׃khe.TavH3792how much.

23Whatsoeverכָּל־kol-H3606is commanded byמִן־min-H4481 H2941the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֔אshe.mai.Ya'H8065,let it be diligentlyאַדְרַזְדָּ֔א'ad.raz.Da'H149doneיִתְעֲבֵד֙yit.'a.VedH5648for the houseלְבֵ֖יתle.VeitH1005of the Godאֱלָ֣הּ'e.LahH426of heavenשְׁמַיָּ֑אshe.mai.Ya'H8065:forH1768whyלְמָ֤הle.MahH4101should there beלֶֽהֱוֵא֙le.he.Ve'H1934wrathקְצַ֔ףke.TzafH7109againstעַל־'al-H5922the realmמַלְכ֥וּתmal.KhutH4437of the kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430and his sonsH1123?

24Also we certifyמְהוֹדְעִ֗יןme.hod.'InH3046you, that touching anyכָל־khol-H3606of the priestsכָּהֲנַיָּ֣אka.ha.nai.Ya'H3549and Levitesוְ֠לֵוָיֵאVe.le.va.ye'H3879,singersזַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤אza.Ma.rai.Ya'H2171,portersתָרָֽעַיָּא֙ta.ra.'ai.Ya'H8652,Nethinimsנְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔אne.Ti.nai.Ya'H5412,or ministersוּפָ֣לְחֵ֔יu.Fa.le.CheiH6399of thisדְנָ֑הde.NahH1836houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1005of Godאֱלָהָ֣א'e.la.Ha'H426,it shall notלָ֥אla'H3809be lawfulשַׁלִּ֖יטsha.LitH7990to imposeלְמִרְמֵ֥אle.mir.Me'H7412tollמִנְדָּ֤הmin.DahH4061,tributeבְלוֹ֙ve.LoH1093,or customוַהֲלָ֔ךְva.ha.LakhH1983,uponעֲלֵיהֹֽם׃'a.lei.HomH5922them.

25And thouוְאַ֣נְתְּve.'AntH607,Ezraעֶזְרָ֗א'ez.Ra'H5831,after the wisdomכְּחָכְמַ֨תke.cha.khe.MatH2452of thy Godאֱלָהָ֤ךְ'e.la.HakhH426, that isin thine handבִידָךְ֙vi.doKhH3028,setמֶ֣נִּיMe.niH4483magistratesשָׁפְטִ֞יןsha.fe.TinH8200and judgesוְדַיָּנִ֗יןve.dai.ya.NinH1782,which may judgeלֶהֱוֹ֤ן דָּאיְנִין֙le.he.Von da.'a.ninH1778 H1934allלְכָל־le.kholH3606the peopleעַמָּה֙'a.Mah'H5972that arebeyondבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the riverנַהֲרָ֔הna.ha.Rah'H5103,allלְכָל־le.kholH3606such as knowיָדְעֵ֖יya.de.'EiH3046the lawsדָּתֵ֣יda.TeiH1882of thy Godאֱלָהָ֑ךְ'e.la.HakhH426;and teachיָדַ֖עya.Da'H3046ye them that knowתְּהוֹדְעֽוּן׃te.hod.'UnH3046themnotלָ֦אla'H3809.

26And whosoeverוְכָל־ve.kholH3606will notלָא֩la'H3809doלֶהֱוֵ֨א עָבֵ֜דle.he.Ve' 'a.VedH5648 H1934the lawדָּתָ֣אda.Ta'H1882of thy Godאֱלָהָ֗ךְ'e.la.HakhH426,and the lawוְדָתָא֙ve.da.Ta'H1882of the kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430,let judgmentדִּינָ֕הdi.Nah'H1780beלֶהֱוֵ֥אle.he.Ve'H1934executedמִתְעֲבֵ֖דmit.'a.VedH5648speedilyאָסְפַּ֕רְנָא'a.se.Par.na'H629upon himמִנֵּ֑הּmi.NehH4481,whetherהֵ֤ןhenH2006it beunto deathלְמוֹת֙le.mOtH4193,orהֵ֣ןhenH2006to banishmentלִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔יlish.ro.shuH8332,orהֵן־hen-H2006to confiscationלַעֲנָ֥שׁla.'a.NashH6065of goodsנִכְסִ֖יןnikh.SinH5232,or to imprisonmentוְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ פve.le.'e.su.RinH613.

27Blessedבָּר֥וּךְba.RukhH1288beYhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of our fathersאֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ'a.vo.Tei.nuH1,which hath putנָתַ֤ןna.TanH5414such a thingas this in the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heartבְּלֵ֣בbe.LevH3820,to beautifyלְפָאֵ֕רle.fa.'ErH6286the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068which isin Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389:

28And hath extendedהִטָּה־hi.tah-H5186mercyחֶ֗סֶדChe.sedH2617unto me beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428,and his counsellorsוְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יוve.yo.'a.TzavH3289,and before all the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428mightyהַגִּבֹּרִ֑יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368princesשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269.And I was strengthenedהִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּיhit.cha.Zak.tiH2388as the handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430wasupon me, and I gathered togetherוָאֶקְבְּצָ֧הva.'ek.be.TzahH6908out of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478chief menרָאשִׁ֖יםra.ShimH7218to go upלַעֲל֥וֹתla.'a.LotH5927with me.

Commentaries on Ezra 7