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 went up5927 from Babylon;4480 894 and he1931 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 upon5921 him.

7 And there went up5927 some of the children4480 1121 of Israel,3478 and of4480 the priests,3548 and the Levites,3881 and the singers,7891 and the porters,7778 and the Nethinims,5411 unto413 Jerusalem,3389 in the seventh7651 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 the king.4428

8 And he came935 to Jerusalem3389 in the fifth2549 month,2320 which1931 was in the seventh7637 year8141 of the king.4428

9 For3588 upon the first259 day of the first7223 month2320 began3246 he1931 to go up4609 from Babylon,4480 894 and on the first259 day of the fifth2549 month2320 came935 he to413 Jerusalem,3389 according to the good2896 hand3027 of his God430 upon5921 him.

10 For3588 Ezra5830 had prepared3559 his heart3824 to seek1875 853 the law8451 of the LORD,3068 and to do6213 it, and to teach3925 in Israel3478 statutes2706 and judgments.4941

11 Now this2088 is the copy6572 of the letter5406 that834 the king4428 Artaxerxes783 gave5414 unto Ezra5830 the priest,3548 the scribe,5608 even a scribe5608 of the words1697 of the commandments4687 of the LORD,3068 and of his statutes2706 to5921 Israel.3478

12 Artaxerxes,783 king4430 of kings,4430 unto Ezra5831 the priest,3549 a scribe5613 of the law1882 of1768 the God426 of heaven,8065 perfect1585 peace, and at such a time.3706

13 I make7761 a decree,2942 that1768 all3606 they of4481 the people5972 of Israel,3479 and of his priests3549 and Levites,3879 in my realm,4437 which are minded of their own freewill5069 to go up1946 to Jerusalem,3390 go1946 with5974 thee.

14 Forasmuch3606 6903 1768 as thou art sent7972 of4481 6925 the king,4430 and of his seven7655 counselors,3272 to inquire1240 concerning5922 Judah3061 and Jerusalem,3390 according to the law1882 of thy God426 which1768 is in thine hand;3028

15 And to carry2987 the silver3702 and gold,1722 which1768 the king4430 and his counselors3272 have freely offered5069 unto the God426 of Israel,3479 whose1768 habitation4907 is in Jerusalem,3390

16 And all3606 the silver3702 and gold1722 that1768 thou canst find7912 in all3606 the province4083 of Babylon,895 with5974 the freewill offering5069 of the people,5974 and of the priests,3549 offering willingly5069 for the house1005 of their God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem: 3390

17 That3606 6903 1836 thou mayest buy7066 speedily629 with this1836 money3702 bullocks,8450 rams,1798 lambs,563 with their meat offerings4504 and their drink offerings,5261 and offer7127 them1994 upon5922 the altar4056 of1768 the house1005 of your God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem.3390

18 And whatsoever4101 1768 shall seem good3191 to5922 thee, and to5922 thy brethren,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 that1768 are given3052 thee for the service6402 of the house1005 of thy God,426 those deliver8000 thou before6925 the God426 of Jerusalem.3390

20 And whatsoever more7606 shall be needful2819 for the house1005 of thy God,426 which1768 thou shalt have occasion5308 to bestow,5415 bestow5415 it out of4481 the king's4430 treasure1596 house.1005

21 And I, even I576 Artaxerxes783 the king,4430 do make7761 a decree2942 to all3606 the treasurers1490 which1768 are beyond5675 the river,5103 that1768 whatsoever3606 1768 Ezra5831 the priest,3549 the scribe5613 of the law1882 of1768 the God426 of heaven,8065 shall require7593 of you, it be done5648 speedily,629

22 Unto5705 a hundred3969 talents3604 of silver,3702 and to5705 a hundred3969 measures3734 of wheat,2591 and to5705 a hundred3969 baths1325 of wine,2562 and to5705 a hundred3969 baths1325 of oil,4887 and salt4416 without1768 3809 prescribing3792 how much.

23 Whatsoever3606 1768 is commanded2941 by4481 the God426 of heaven,8065 let it be diligently149 done5648 for the house1005 of the God426 of heaven:8065 for1768 why4101 should there be1934 wrath7109 against5922 the realm4437 of the king4430 and his sons?1123

24 Also we certify3046 you, that1768 touching any3606 of the priests3549 and Levites,3879 singers,2171 porters,8652 Nethinims,5412 or ministers6399 of this1836 house1005 of God,426 it shall not3809 be lawful7990 to impose7412 toll,4061 tribute,1093 or custom,1983 upon5922 them.

25 And thou,607 Ezra,5831 after the wisdom2452 of thy God,426 that1768 is in thine hand,3028 set4483 magistrates8200 and judges,1782 which1768 may1934 judge1780 all3606 the people5972 that1768 are beyond5675 the river,5103 all3606 such as know3046 the laws1882 of thy God;426 and teach3046 ye them that1768 know3046 them not.3809

26 And whosoever3606 1768 will1934 not3809 do5648 the law1882 of1768 thy God,426 and the law1882 of1768 the king,4430 let1934 judgment1780 be executed5648 speedily629 upon4481 him, whether2006 it be unto 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 hath put5414 such a thing as this2063 in the king's4428 heart,3820 to beautify6286 853 the house1004 of the LORD3068 which834 is in Jerusalem: 3389

28 And hath extended5186 mercy2617 unto5921 me before6440 the king,4428 and his counselors,3289 and before all3605 the king's4428 mighty1368 princes.8269 And I589 was strengthened2388 as the hand3027 of the LORD3068 my God430 was upon5921 me, and I gathered together6908 out of Israel4480 3478 chief men7218 to go up5927 with5973 me.