‏ Ezra 7

CHAPTER 7

Ezra the Scribe Teaches the Law

1And after   these things, in the kingdom of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, there ascended Ezra the 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 [²priest   ¹foremost]. 6This Ezra ascended from out of Babylon; and he [²scribe ¹was a quick] in the law of Moses, which [⁴gave ¹the lord    ²God ³of Israel]. And [³gave ⁴to him ¹the ²king]; for the hand of the lord  his God was upon him in all things  which he sought. 7And there ascended some from the sons of Israel, and from the priests, and from the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in [²year ¹the seventh]   of Artaxerxes the king. 8And they came to Jerusalem in the [²month   ¹fifth], this was  the [²year ¹seventh] of the king. 9For on day one of the [²month   ¹first] he founded the expedition   from Babylon. And during the first day  of the [²month   ¹fifth] he came into Jerusalem, for the hand of his God was good upon him. 10For Ezra prepared   his heart to seek the law of the lord, and to do and to teach in Israel the orders and judgments. 11And this is  the copy of the edict which [⁴gave ¹Artaxerxes ²the ³king] to Ezra the priest, to the scribe of the scroll of the words of the commandments of the lord, and his orders unto   Israel.

The Decree from Artaxerxes

12Artaxerxes king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God   of heaven. Let [⁵be initiated, ¹the matter ²and ³the ⁴answer]. 13From me was rendered a decree, that all the ones willing in my kingdom from the people of Israel, and priests, and Levites, to go to Jerusalem -- with you let them go! 14In so far as from in front of the king, and   [²seven ³counselors ¹of his], one should be sent to look about over   Judea and Jerusalem, and in the law of their God in your hand, 15to carry away even [⁴for ⁵the ⁶house ⁷of the lord  ¹silver ²and ³gold], which the king and the counselors were willing to give  to the God   of Israel, to the one [²in ³Jerusalem ¹inhabiting]. 16And all the silver and gold, whatever you should find in every place of Babylon, let it be offered with a voluntary offering of the people, and the priests, of the ones willing to give  for the house of God, the one in Jerusalem. 17And every one going [²this ³readily ¹you arrange] by this scroll -- calves, rams, lambs, and their sacrifice offerings, and their libation offerings! And you shall offer them upon the altar of the house   of your God, of the one in Jerusalem. 18And if anything [²with ³you ⁴and   ⁵your brethren ¹should seem good] with the rest of the silver and gold to do, as it pleases   your God, you do it! 19And the items, the ones given to you for the ministration of the house of God, you deliver before God in Jerusalem! 20And for the rest of the need of the house of your God, what ever should be apparent to you to give, you shall give from [³houses ²treasury ¹the king's]. 21I Artaxerxes the king established a decree to all the treasuries, to the ones on the other side of the river, that all what ever he should ask of you (Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of the God   of heaven) readily let it become so! 22Unto [³of silver ²talents ¹a hundred], and unto [³of wheat ²cors ¹a hundred], and unto [³of wine ²baths ¹a hundred], and unto [³of olive oil ²baths ¹a hundred], and salt of which the amount  is not recorded. 23All what is in the decree of the God of the heaven, let it become in the house of the God of the heaven! Take heed lest any make an attempt against the house of the God of the heaven! lest at any time [²should happen ¹anger] upon the kingdom of the king, and   his sons. 24And to you, let it be made known in respect  to all the priests, and to the Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and ministers of the house of God! that this   tribute, and toll, and impost, [²do not have ¹you] authority to assign upon them. 25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom   of God, the wisdom  in your hand, ordain scribes and judges! that they might judge all the people, the people  on the other side of the river, to all the ones knowing the laws   of your God. And to the ones  not knowing you shall make it known. 26And all who ever might not be observing the law   of God and the law of the king diligently,   judgment will be taken upon him, whether for death, whether   to root him out, or to instruct, or to penalize the subsistence, or for prison to lock up. 27Blessed be  the lord    God   of our fathers, who put it  in the heart of the king thus,   to glorify the house of the lord, the one in Jerusalem. 28And upon me [²leaned ¹mercy] in the eyes of the king, and   his counselors, and all the rulers of the king of the mighty ones. And I was strengthened by the [²hand ³of the lord  ⁴my God   ¹good] upon me, and I gathered from Israel rulers   to ascend with me.