1 Now after310 these428 things,1697 in the reign4438 of Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Persia,6539 Ezra5830 the son1121 of Seraiah,8304 the son1121 of Azariah,5838 the son1121 of Hilkiah,2518

2 The son1121 of Shallum,7967 the son1121 of Zadok,6659 the son1121 of Ahitub,285

3 The son1121 of Amariah,568 the son1121 of Azariah,5838 the son1121 of Meraioth,4812

4 The son1121 of Zerahiah,2228 the son1121 of Uzzi,5813 the son1121 of Bukki,1231

5 The son1121 of Abishua,50 the son1121 of Phinehas,6372 the son1121 of Eleazar,499 the son1121 of Aaron175 the chief7218 priest:3548

6 This1931 Ezra5830 went5927 up from Babylon;894 and he was a ready4106 scribe5608 in the law8451 of Moses,4872 which834 the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478 had given:5414 and the king4428 granted5414 him all3605 his request,1246 according to the hand3027 of the LORD3068 his God430 on him.

7 And there went5927 up some of the children1121 of Israel,3478 and of the priests,3548 and the Levites,3881 and the singers,7891 and the porters,7778 and the Nethinims,5411 to Jerusalem,3389 in the seventh7651 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 the king.4428

8 And he came935 to Jerusalem3389 in the fifth2549 month,2320 which1958 was in the seventh7637 year8141 of the king.4428

9 For on the first259 day of the first7223 month2320 began3246 he to go4609 up from Babylon,894 and on the first259 day of the fifth2549 month2320 came935 he to Jerusalem,3389 according to the good2896 hand3027 of his God430 on him.

10 For Ezra5830 had prepared3559 his heart3824 to seek1875 the law8451 of the LORD,3068 and to do6213 it, and to teach3925 in Israel3478 statutes2706 and judgments.4941

11 Now this2088 is the copy6573 of the letter5406 that the king4428 Artaxerxes783 gave5414 to Ezra5830 the priest,3548 the scribe,5608 even a scribe5608 of the words1697 of the commandments4687 of the LORD,3068 and of his statutes2706 to Israel.3478

12 Artaxerxes,783 king4430 of kings,4428 to Ezra5830 the priest,3549 a scribe5613 of the law1882 of the God426 of heaven,8065 perfect1585 peace, and at such3706 a time.

13 I make7761 a decree,2942 that all3606 they of the people5972 of Israel,3479 and of his priests3549 and Levites,3879 in my realm,4437 which1768 are minded of their own freewill5069 to go1946 up to Jerusalem,3390 go1946 with you.

14 For as much3606 as you are sent7972 of the king,4430 and of his seven7655 counsellors,3272 to inquire1240 concerning5922 Judah3061 and Jerusalem,3390 according to the law1882 of your God426 which1768 is in your hand;3028

15 And to carry2987 the silver3702 and gold,1722 which1768 the king4430 and his counsellors3272 have freely offered5069 to the God426 of Israel,3479 whose1768 habitation4907 is in Jerusalem,3390

16 And all3606 the silver3702 and gold1722 that you can find7912 in all3606 the province4082 of Babylon,895 with the freewill5069 offering of the people,5972 and of the priests,3549 offering willingly5068 for the house1005 of their God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem:3390

17 That you may buy7066 speedily629 with this1836 money3702 bullocks,8450 rams,1798 lambs,563 with their meat offerings4503 and their drink5261 offerings, and offer7127 them on the altar4056 of the house1005 of your God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem.3390

18 And whatever1401 1768 shall seem3191 good3191 to you, and to your brothers,252 to do5648 with the rest7606 of the silver3702 and the gold,1722 that do5648 after the will7470 of your God.426

19 The vessels3984 also that are given3052 you for the service6402 of the house1005 of your God,426 those deliver8000 you before6925 the God426 of Jerusalem.3390

20 And whatever more7606 shall be needful2819 for the house1005 of your God,426 which1768 you shall have occasion5308 to bestow,5415 bestow5415 it out of the king's4430 treasure1596 house.1005

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes783 the king,4430 do make7761 a decree2942 to all3606 the treasurers1490 which1768 are beyond5675 the river,5103 that whatever3605 3627 Ezra5830 the priest,3548 the scribe5613 of the law1882 of the God426 of heaven,8065 shall require7593 of you, it be done5648 speedily,629

22 To an hundred3969 talents3604 of silver,3702 and to an hundred3969 measures3734 of wheat,2591 and to an hundred3969 baths1325 of wine,2562 and to an hundred3969 baths1324 of oil,4887 and salt4416 without3809 prescribing3792 how much.

23 Whatever3605 3627 is commanded4480 2941 by the God426 of heaven,8065 let it be diligently149 done5648 for the house1005 of the God426 of heaven:8065 for why4101 should there be wrath7109 against5922 the realm4437 of the king4430 and his sons?1123

24 Also we certify3046 you, that touching any3606 of the priests3549 and Levites,3879 singers,2171 porters,8652 Nethinims,5412 or ministers6399 of this1836 house1005 of God,426 it shall not be lawful7990 to impose7412 toll,4061 tribute,1093 or custom,1983 on them.

25 And you, Ezra,5830 after the wisdom2452 of your God,426 that is in your hand,3028 set4483 magistrates8200 and judges,1782 which1768 may judge1934 1778 all3606 the people5972 that are beyond5675 the river,5103 all3606 such as know3046 the laws1882 of your God;426 and teach3046 you them that know3046 them not.

26 And whoever3605 will not do5648 the law1882 of your God,426 and the law1882 of the king,4430 let judgment1780 be executed5648 speedily629 on him, whether2006 it be to death,4193 or2006 to banishment,8332 or2006 to confiscation6065 of goods,5232 or to imprisonment.613

27 Blessed1288 be the LORD3068 God430 of our fathers,1 which834 has put5414 such a thing as this2063 in the king's4428 heart,3820 to beautify6286 the house1004 of the LORD3068 which834 is in Jerusalem:3389

28 And has extended5186 mercy2617 to me before6440 the king,4428 and his counsellors,3289 and before6440 all3605 the king's4428 mighty1368 princes.8269 And I was strengthened2388 as the hand3027 of the LORD3068 my God430 was on me, and I gathered6908 together out of Israel3478 chief7218 men to go5927 up with me.