Ezra 7

1After these events, in the realm of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah.

2son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub

3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth

4son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki

5son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest

6Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh the God of Israel had given; the king granted him everything he requested, according to the hand of Yahweh his God upon him.

7Some Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinim went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king.

9For on the first day of the first month he began the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10For Ezra had fixed his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, to follow it, and to teach decrees and ordinances in Israel.

11This is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, the scribe of the words of Yahweh's commandments and his statutes to Israel.

12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and at such a time.

13From me has been set a decree, that all offering themselves willingly in my kingdom from the people of Israel, his priests, and the Levites go to Jerusalem with you.

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

15and to carry silver and gold that the king and his counselors have willingly offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

16And all the silver and gold that you find throughout the province of Babylon, together with the voluntary contributions of the people and the priests who give willingly to the house of their God in Jerusalem.

17With all haste buy bulls, rams, and lambs with this silver, along with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.

18Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.

19The vessels given to you for the service of your God's house, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

20Whatever more is needed for the house of your God, which falls to you to provide, provide it from the king's treasure house.

21I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers beyond the River that whatever Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you be carried out diligently.

22up to a hundred talents of silver, up to a hundred cors of wheat, up to a hundred baths of wine, up to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without a prescribed amount.

23Whatever the God of heaven commands must be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; why should wrath arise against the realm of the king and his sons?

24We make known to you that it is not lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or servants of this house of God.

25You, Ezra, with the wisdom of your God at your disposal, appoint magistrates and judges who can judge all the people beyond the river, all those who know your God's laws, and instruct whoever does not know them.

26Whoever does not carry out the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be enforced upon him promptly, whether to death or to banishment or to a fine on goods or to imprisonment.

27Blessed be Yahweh, God of our fathers, who has put such a purpose in the king's heart to glorify the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem.

28He extended kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I took courage as the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.