1 N ow after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Now after this, during the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra went up from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

2 T he son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,

3 T he son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,

4 T he son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,

5 T he son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—

son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head religious leader.

6 T his Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the five books of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. And the king granted him all he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.

This Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a writer who knew well the Law of Moses which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king gave him everything he asked for, because the Lord his God was good to him.

7 A nd also some of the Israelites, with some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants, went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Some of the sons of Israel and some of the religious leaders, the Levites, the singers, the gate-keepers and the servants of the house of God went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 E zra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month in the seventh year of the king.

9 O n the first of the first month he started out from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, for upon him was the good hand of his God.

He left Babylon on the first day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the good hand of his God was upon him.

10 F or Ezra had prepared and set his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do and teach in Israel its statutes and its ordinances.

For Ezra had set his heart to learn the Law of the Lord, to live by it, and to teach His Laws in Israel.

11 N ow this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe the words of the commands of the Lord and of His statutes to Israel:

This is what was written in the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the religious leader, the writer, who had much learning in the Laws of the Lord and His Laws for Israel:

12 A rtaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the instructions of the God of heaven: Greetings.

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the religious leader, the writer who knows the Law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now

13 I make a decree that all of the people of Israel and of their priests and Levites in my realm, who offer freely to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.

I let it be known that if there are any people of Israel, religious leaders or Levites in my nation who are willing to go to Jerusalem, they may go with you.

14 F or you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to the instruction of your God, which is in your hand,

For you are sent by the king and his seven men of wisdom to see if the Law of your God which is in your hand is being obeyed in Judah and Jerusalem.

15 A nd to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, Whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

Take the silver and gold which the king and his men of wisdom have given because they wanted to give to the God of Israel, Whose house is in Jerusalem.

16 A nd all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylonia, with the freewill offerings of the people and of the priests, offered willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

Take this with all the silver and gold you will find in the whole land of Babylon. And take the gifts of the people and of the religious leaders, who have given because they have wanted to for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

17 T herefore you shall with all speed and exactness buy with this money young bulls, rams, lambs, with their cereal offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.

With this money, buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain gifts and their drink gifts. And give them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.

18 A nd whatever shall seem good to you and to your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

Whatever you and your brothers think is best to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, if it is the will of your God.

19 T he vessels also that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, those deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

Also take to the God of Jerusalem all the objects given to you for the work of the house of your God.

20 A nd whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God which you shall have occasion to provide, provide it out of the king’s treasury.

Whatever else is needed for the house of your God, you may take it from the king’s store-house.

21 A nd I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province beyond the River that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the instructions of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it shall be done exactly and at once—

I, King Artaxerxes, here make this known to all those who take care of the money in the lands on the other side of the River. You should be ready and willing to give Ezra, the religious leader and writer who knows the Law of the God of heaven, whatever he needs.

22 U p to 100 talents of silver, 100 measures of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt not specified.

Give silver weighing up to as much as 100 men, and as much as 1, 000 baskets of grain, 1, 100 jars of wine, 1, 100 jars of oil, and as much salt as is needed.

23 W hatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done diligently and honorably for the house of the God of heaven, lest His wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.

Whatever is wanted by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven. Or else He might be angry with the nation of the king and his sons.

24 A lso we notify you that as to any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on them.

We also let you know that it is not allowed to take any taxes from any of the religious leaders, Levites, singers, door-keepers, or servants of this house of God.

25 Y ou, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, which is in your hand, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people of the River; choose those who know the instructions of your God, and teach him who does not know them.

And you, Ezra, use the wisdom of your God which is in your hand to choose leaders and judges. They are to judge all the people in the land on the other side of the River, all those who know the Laws of your God. You may teach anyone who does not know them.

26 A nd whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him exactly and speedily, whether it be unto death or banishment or confiscation of goods or imprisonment.

Whoever will not obey the Law of your God and the law of the king, let his punishment be hard. Put him to death, or send him out of the land, or take what he has, or put him in prison.” Ezra Gives Praise to God

27 B lessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, Who put such a thing as this into the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,

Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, Who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to make the house of the Lord in Jerusalem beautiful.

28 A nd Who has extended His mercy and steadfast love to me before the king, his counselors, and all the king’s mighty officers. I was strengthened and encouraged, for the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together outstanding men of Israel to go with me to Jerusalem.

He has shown loving-kindness to me in front of the king and his wise men, and in front of all the king’s powerful leaders. I was given strength, because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me. And I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.