Ezra, a priest and scribe skilled in the law of Moses, goes up to Jerusalem from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes. The king gives him a letter authorizing his mission and supporting the temple. Ezra praises God for the king's favour.
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.