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Ezra chapter 7
English Standard Version
1
Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest —
6
this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the
Lord
, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the
Lord
his God was on him.
7
And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.
8
And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.
10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the
Lord
, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
11
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the
Lord
and his statutes for Israel:
12
"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now
13
I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand,
15
and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16
with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
17
With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem.
18
Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.
19
The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20
And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king 's treasury.
21
"And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence,
22
up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23
Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.
24
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25
"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach.
26
Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment."
27
Blessed be the
Lord
, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the
Lord
that is in Jerusalem,
28
and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king 's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the
Lord
my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
New International Version
1
After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
6
this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the
Lord
, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the
Lord
his God was on him.
7
Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.
9
He had begun his 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.
10
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the
Lord
, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
11
This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the
Lord
for Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
13
Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.
14
You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
15
Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16
together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17
With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18
You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God.
19
Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God.
20
And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
21
Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you—
22
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.
23
Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?
24
You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
25
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
26
Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
27
Praise be to the
Lord
, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the
Lord
in Jerusalem in this way
28
and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the
Lord
my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
New American Standard Bible
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra
went up to Jerusalem; Ezra was
the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest.
6
So
this Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the
Lord
God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the
Lord
his God
was
upon him.
7
Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For on the first
day
of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God
was
upon him.
10
For Ezra had firmly resolved to study the Law of the
Lord
and to practice
it,
and to teach
His
statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11
Now this is the copy of the letter which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the
Lord
and His statutes to Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect
peace.
And now
13
I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
Since you are sent on the part of the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God which is in your hand,
15
and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his advisers have voluntarily given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16
with all the silver and gold which you find in the entire province of Babylon, along with the voluntary offering of the people and of the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
17
with this money, therefore, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams,
and
lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18
And whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God.
19
Also the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem.
20
And the rest of the needs of the house of your God, for which it may be incumbent upon you to provide, provide
for them
from the royal treasury.
21
I myself, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are
in the provinces
beyond the
Euphrates
River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently,
22
up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred kors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of anointing oil, and salt as needed.
23
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, it shall be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
24
We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute, or toll
on
any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or
other
servants of this house of God.
25
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges so that they may judge all the people who are in
the province
beyond the
Euphrates
River, that is, all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant
of them.
26
And whoever does not comply with the Law of your God and the law of the king, judgment is to be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment, or for confiscation of property or for imprisonment.'
27
Blessed be the
Lord
, the God of our fathers, who has put
such a thing
as this in the king’s heart, to glorify the house of the
Lord
which is in Jerusalem,
28
and has extended favor to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty officials. So I was strengthened according to the hand of the
Lord
my God
that was
upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Christian Standard Bible
1
After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra—
Seraiah’s son, Azariah’s son, Hilkiah’s son,
2
Shallum’s son, Zadok’s son, Ahitub’s son,
3
Amariah’s son, Azariah’s son, Meraioth’s son,
4
Zerahiah’s son, Uzzi’s son, Bukki’s son,
5
Abishua’s son, Phinehas’s son, Eleazar’s son, the chief priest Aaron’s son
6
—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 him everything he requested because the hand of the
Lord
his God was on him.
7
Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king.
9
He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him.
10
Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the
Lord
, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11
This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the
Lord
’s commands and statutes for Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the heavens: Greetings.
13
I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
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 possession.
15
You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16
and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.
17
Then you are to be diligent to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18
You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
19
Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.
20
You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.
21
I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River: Whatever Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of the heavens, asks of you must be provided in full,
22
up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of oil, and salt without limit.
23
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for the house of the God of the heavens, so that wrath will not fall on the realm of the king and his sons.
24
Be advised that you do not have authority to impose tribute, duty, and land tax on any priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25
And you, Ezra, according to God’s wisdom that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them.
26
Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let the appropriate judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
27
Blessed be the
Lord
, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of the
Lord
in Jerusalem,
28
and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers. So I took courage because I was strengthened by the hand of the
Lord
my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.
New Living Translation
1
Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.
6
This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the
Lord
, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the
Lord
his God was on him.
7
Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.
8
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year.
9
He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
10
This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the
Lord
and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.
11
King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the
Lord
to Israel:
12
'From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.
13
'I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.
14
I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand.
15
We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
16
'Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17
These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18
Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
19
'But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem.
20
If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
21
'I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River : ‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you.
22
You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt.
23
Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?
24
I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’
25
'And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.
26
Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.'
27
Praise the
Lord
, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the
Lord
in Jerusalem!
28
And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the
Lord
my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.
King James Version
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2
The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3
The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4
The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5
The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the
Lord
God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the
Lord
his God upon him.
7
And there went up some of the children of 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.
8
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For 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 God upon him.
10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the
Lord
, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11
Now 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 the
Lord
, and of his statutes to Israel.
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
15
And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16
And all the silver and gold that thou canst 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 God which is in Jerusalem:
17
That thou mayest 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 God which is in Jerusalem.
18
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19
The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20
And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
21
And 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 God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22
Unto 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.
23
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
26
And whosoever will not do the law of thy 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.
27
Blessed be the
Lord
God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the
Lord
which is in Jerusalem:
28
And hath 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 the
Lord
my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
New King James Version
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
6
this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he
was
a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the
Lord
God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the
Lord
his God upon him.
7
Some
of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which
was
in the seventh year of the king.
9
On the first
day
of the first month he began
his
journey 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.
10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the
Lord
, and to do
it,
and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11
This
is
a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the
Lord
, and of His statutes to Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings,
To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven:
Perfect
peace,
and so forth.
13
I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which
is
in your hand;
15
and
whereas you are
to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling
is
in Jerusalem;
16
and
whereas
all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests,
are to be
freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem—
17
now therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18
And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.
19
Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem.
20
And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay
for it
from the king’s treasury.
21
And I,
even
I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who
are in the region
beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently,
22
up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit.
23
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.
25
And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who
are in the region
beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know
them.
26
Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether
it be
death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
27
Blessed
be
the
Lord
God of our fathers, who has put
such a thing
as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the
Lord
which
is
in Jerusalem,
28
and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the
Lord
my God
was
upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
What does Ezra chapter 7 mean?
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