CHAPTER 7
Many years later,
during the reign
of King
Artaxerxes
of Persia,
Ezra
son
of Seraiah,
the son
of Azariah,
the son
of Hilkiah,
this
Ezra
came up
from Babylon.
He was
a scribe
skilled
in the law
of Moses,
which
the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
had given.
The king
had granted
Ezra
all
his requests,
for the hand
of the LORD
his God
was upon him.
So in the seventh
year
of King
Artaxerxes,
he went up
to
Jerusalem
with some of
the Israelites,
including priests,
Levites,
singers,
gatekeepers,
and temple servants.
He had begun
the journey
from Babylon
on the first
day of the first
month,
and he arrived
in
Jerusalem
on the first
day of the fifth
month,
for the gracious
hand
of his God
was on him.
For
Ezra
had set
his heart
to study
the law
of the LORD,
to practice it,
and to teach
its statutes
and ordinances
in Israel.
This
is the text
of the letter
King
Artaxerxes
had given
to Ezra
the priest
and scribe,
a man learned
in the commandments
and statutes
of the LORD
to
Israel:
Artaxerxes,
king
of kings.
To Ezra
the priest,
the scribe
of the Law
of
the God
of heaven:
Greetings.
I
hereby
decree
that
any
volunteers
among the Israelites
in my kingdom,
including the priests
and Levites,
may go up
with you
to Jerusalem.
You are sent
by
the king
and his seven
counselors
to evaluate
Judah
and Jerusalem
according to the law
of your God,
which
is in your hand.
Moreover, you are to take with you
the silver
and gold
that the king
and his counselors
have freely offered
to the God
of Israel,
whose
dwelling
is in Jerusalem,
together with all
the silver
and gold
you may find
in all
the province
of Babylon,
as well as
the freewill offerings
of the people
and priests
to the house
of their God
in Jerusalem.
With this
money,
therefore,
you are to buy
as many bulls,
rams,
and lambs
as needed,
together with their grain offerings
and drink offerings,
and offer
them
on
the altar
at the house
of your God
in Jerusalem.
You and your brothers
may do
whatever
seems best
with the rest
of the silver
and gold,
according to the will
of your God.
You must deliver
to
the God
of Jerusalem
all the articles
given
to you
for the service
of the house
of your God.
And if anything else
is needed
for the house
of your God
that
you
may have occasion
to supply,
you may pay for it
from
the royal
treasury.
I,
King
Artaxerxes,
decree
to all
the treasurers
west
of the Euphrates:
Whatever
Ezra
the priest,
the scribe
of the Law
of
the God
of heaven,
may require of you,
it must be provided
promptly,
up to
a hundred
talents
of silver,
a hundred
cors
of wheat,
a hundred
baths
of wine,
a hundred
baths
of olive oil,
and salt
without
limit.
Whatever
is commanded
by
the God
of heaven
must be done
diligently
for the His house.
For
why
should wrath
fall
on
the realm
of the king
and his sons?
And
be advised
that
you have no
authority
to impose
tribute,
duty,
or toll
on
any
of the priests,
Levites,
singers,
doorkeepers,
temple servants,
or other servants
of this
house
of God.
And you,
Ezra,
according to the wisdom
of your God
which you possess,
are to appoint
magistrates
and judges
to judge
all
the people
west
of the Euphrates—
all
who know
the laws
of your God.
And
you are to teach these laws
to anyone who
does not
know them.
If anyone
does not
keep
the law
of
your God
and the law
of
the king,
let a strict
judgment
be
executed
against him,
whether
death,
banishment,
confiscation
of property,
or imprisonment.
Blessed be
the LORD,
the God
of our fathers,
who
has put
into the heart
of the king
to so honor
the house
of the LORD
in Jerusalem,
and who has shown
me
favor
before
the king,
his counselors,
and all
his
powerful
officials.
And because the hand
of the LORD
my God
was upon me,
I
took courage
and gathered
the leaders
of Israel
to return
with me.