Now after{H310} these things,{H1697} in the reign{H4438} of Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4428} of Persia,{H6539} Ezra{H5830} the son{H1121} of Seraiah,{H8304} the son{H1121} of Azariah,{H5838} the son{H1121} of Hilkiah,{H2518}

the son{H1121} of Shallum,{H7967} the son{H1121} of Zadok,{H6659} the son{H1121} of Ahitub,{H285}

the son{H1121} of Amariah,{H568} the son{H1121} of Azariah,{H5838} the son{H1121} of Meraioth,{H4812}

the son{H1121} of Zerahiah,{H2228} the son{H1121} of Uzzi,{H5813} the son{H1121} of Bukki,{H1231}

the son{H1121} of Abishua,{H50} the son{H1121} of Phinehas,{H6372} the son{H1121} of Eleazar,{H499} the son{H1121} of Aaron{H175} the chief{H7218} priest;{H3548}

this Ezra{H5830} went up{H5927} from Babylon:{H894} and he was a ready{H4106} scribe{H5608} in the law{H8451} of Moses,{H4872} which Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} had given;{H5414} and the king{H4428} granted{H5414} him all his request,{H1246} according to the hand{H3027} of Jehovah{H3068} his God{H430} upon him.

And there went up{H5927} some of the children{H1121} of Israel,{H3478} and of the priests,{H3548} and the Levites,{H3881} and the singers,{H7891} and the porters,{H7778} and the Nethinim,{H5411} unto Jerusalem,{H3389} in the seventh{H7651} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} the king.{H4428}

And he came{H935} to Jerusalem{H3389} in the fifth{H2549} month,{H2320} which was in the seventh{H7637} year{H8141} of the king.{H4428}

For upon the first{H259} [day] of the first{H7223} month{H2320} began{H3246} he to go up{H4609} from Babylon;{H894} and on the first{H259} [day] of the fifth{H2549} month{H2320} came{H935} he to Jerusalem,{H3389} according to the good{H2896} hand{H3027} of his God{H430} upon him.

For Ezra{H5830} had set{H3559} his heart{H3824} to seek{H1875} the law{H8451} of Jehovah,{H3068} and to do{H6213} it, and to teach{H3925} in Israel{H3478} statutes{H2706} and ordinances.{H4941}

Now this is the copy{H6572} of the letter{H5406} that the king{H4428} Artaxerxes{H783} gave{H5414} unto Ezra{H5830} the priest,{H3548} the scribe,{H5608} even the scribe{H5608} of the words{H1697} of the commandments{H4687} of Jehovah,{H3068} and of his statutes{H2706} to Israel:{H3478}

Artaxerxes,{H783} king{H4430} of kings,{H4430} unto Ezra{H5831} the priest,{H3549} the scribe{H5613} of the law{H1882} of the God{H426} of heaven,{H8065} perfect{H1585} and so forth.{H3706}

I{H4481} make{H7761} a decree,{H2942} that all{H3606} they of{H4481} the people{H5972} of Israel,{H3479} and their priests{H3549} and the Levites,{H3879} in my realm,{H4437} that are minded of their own free will{H5069} to go to{H1946} Jerusalem,{H3390} go{H1946} with thee.{H5974}

Forasmuch{H1768} as{H3606} thou art sent{H7972} of{H4481} the king{H4430} and his seven{H7655} counsellors,{H3272} to inquire{H1240} concerning{H5922} Judah{H3061} and Jerusalem,{H3390} according to the law{H1882} of thy God{H426} which is in thy hand,{H3028}

and to carry{H2987} the silver{H3702} and gold,{H1722} which the king{H4430} and his counsellors{H3272} have freely offered{H5069} unto the God{H426} of Israel,{H3479} whose{H1768} habitation{H4907} is in Jerusalem,{H3390}

and all{H3606} the silver{H3702} and gold{H1722} that thou shalt find{H7912} in all{H3606} the province{H4083} of Babylon,{H895} with{H5974} the freewill-offering{H5069} of the people,{H5972} and of the priests,{H3549} offering willingly{H5069} for the house{H1005} of their God{H426} which is in Jerusalem;{H3390}

therefore{H3606} thou shalt with all diligence{H629} buy{H7066} with this{H1836} money{H3702} bullocks,{H8450} rams,{H1798} lambs,{H563} with their meal-offerings{H4504} and their drink-offerings,{H5261} and shalt offer{H7127} them{H1994} upon{H5922} the altar{H4056} of the house{H1005} of your God{H426} which is in Jerusalem.{H3390}

And whatsoever{H4101} shall seem good{H3191} to thee and to{H5922} thy brethren{H252} to do{H5648} with the rest{H7606} of the silver{H3702} and the gold,{H1722} that do{H5648} ye after the will{H7470} of your God.{H426}

And the vessels{H3984} that are given{H3052} thee for the service{H6402} of the house{H1005} of thy God,{H426} deliver{H8000} thou before{H6925} the God{H426} of Jerusalem.{H3390}

And whatsoever more{H7606} shall be needful{H2819} for the house{H1005} of thy God,{H426} which thou shalt have occasion{H5308} to bestow,{H5415} bestow{H5415} it out of{H4481} the king's{H4430} treasure -{H1596} house.{H1005}

And I,{H4481} even I{H576} Artaxerxes{H783} the king,{H4430} do make{H7761} a decree{H2942} to all{H3606} the treasurers{H1490} that are beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} that whatsoever Ezra{H5831} the priest,{H3549} the scribe{H5613} of the law{H1882} of the God{H426} of heaven,{H8065} shall require{H7593} of you, it be done{H5648} with all diligence,{H629}

unto{H5705} a hundred{H3969} talents{H3604} of silver,{H3702} and to a hundred{H3969} measures{H3734} of wheat,{H2591} and to a hundred{H3969} baths{H1325} of wine,{H2562} and to a hundred{H3969} baths{H1325} of oil,{H4887} and salt{H4416} without{H3809} prescribing{H3792} how much.

Whatsoever{H3606} is commanded by{H2941} the God{H426} of heaven,{H8065} let it be done{H5648} exactly{H149} for the house{H1005} of the God{H426} of heaven;{H8065} for{H1768} why{H4101} should there be{H1934} wrath{H7109} against{H5922} the realm{H4437} of the king{H4430} and his sons?{H1123}

Also we certify{H3046} you, that touching any{H3606} of the priests{H3549} and Levites,{H3879} the singers,{H2171} porters,{H8652} Nethinim,{H5412} or servants{H6399} of this{H1836} house{H1005} of God,{H426} it shall not{H3809} be lawful{H7990} to impose{H7412} tribute,{H1093} custom,{H1983} or toll,{H4061} upon{H5922} them.

And thou,{H607} Ezra,{H5831} after the wisdom{H2452} of thy God{H426} that is in thy hand,{H3028} appoint{H4483} magistrates{H8200} and judges,{H1782} who may judge{H1934} all{H3606} the people{H5972} that are beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} all{H3606} such as know{H3046} the laws{H1882} of thy God;{H426} and teach{H3046} ye him that knoweth{H3046} them not.{H3809}

And whosoever{H3606} will not{H3809} do{H1934} the law{H1882} of thy God,{H426} and the law{H1882} of the king,{H4430} let judgment{H1780} be{H1934} executed{H5648} upon him{H4481} with all diligence,{H629} whether{H2006} it be unto death,{H4193} or{H2006} to banishment,{H8332} or{H2006} to confiscation{H6065} of goods,{H5232} or to imprisonment.{H613}

Blessed{H1288} be Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of our fathers,{H1} who hath put{H5414} such a thing as this in the king's{H4428} heart,{H3820} to beautify{H6286} the house{H1004} of Jehovah{H3068} which is in Jerusalem;{H3389}

and hath extended{H5186} lovingkindness{H2617} unto me before{H6440} the king,{H4428} and his counsellors,{H3289} and before all the king's{H4428} mighty{H1368} princes.{H8269} And I was strengthened{H2388} according to the hand{H3027} of Jehovah{H3068} my God{H430} upon me, and I gathered together{H6908} out of Israel{H3478} chief men{H7218} to go up{H5927} with me.