1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahuah Elohim (the LORD God) of Yashar'el (Israel) had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahuah Elohav (the LORD his God) upon him.
7And there went up some of the children of Yashar'el (Israel), and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elohim (God) upon him.
10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of Yahuah (LORD), and to do it, and to teach in Yashar'el (Israel) statutes and judgments.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahuah (LORD), and of his statutes to Yashar'el (Israel).
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the Elohim (God) of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13I make a decree, that all they of the people of Yashar'el (Israel), and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with you.
14Forasmuch as you are sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Yahudah (Judah) and Jerusalem, according to the law of your Elohim (God) which is in your hand;
15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the Elohim (God) of Yashar'el (Israel), whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their Elohim (God) which is in Jerusalem:
17That you may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your Elohim (God) which is in Jerusalem.
18And whatsoever shall seem good to you, and to your brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your Elohim (God).
19The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your Elohim (God), those deliver you before the Elohim (God) of Jerusalem.
20And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of your Elohim (God), which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the Elohim (God) of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23Whatsoever is commanded by the Elohim (God) of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the Elohim (God) of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of Elohim (God), it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your Elohim (God), that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your Elohim (God); and teach you them that know them not.
26And whosoever will not do the law of your Elohim (God), and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27Blessed be Yahuah Elohim (the LORD God) of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahuah (LORD) which is in Jerusalem:
28And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of Yahuah Elohai (the LORD my God) was upon me, and I gathered together out of Yashar'el (Israel) chief men to go up with me.