(KJV) Ezra 7¹

⥃Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

[1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes² king of Persia, Ezra³ the son of Seraiah⁴, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah⁵,⁶ [2] The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok⁷, 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 Phinehas⁸, the son of Eleazar⁹, the son of Aaron the chief priest¹⁰: [6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready¹¹ scribe¹² in the law¹³ of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him¹⁴ all his request, according to¹⁵ the hand of the Lord his God upon him. [7] And there went up [some] of the children¹⁶ of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites¹⁷, and the singers¹⁸, and the porters¹⁹, and the Nethinims²⁰, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes²¹ 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 up²² 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 prepared²³ his heart to seek the law²⁴ of the Lord, and to do [it²⁵], and to teach²⁶ in Israel statutes and judgments.

⥃Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

[11] Now this [is] the copy²⁷ of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, [even] a scribe²⁸ of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. [12] Artaxerxes²⁹, king of kings, unto Ezra³⁰ the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and at such a time. [13] I make³¹ a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded³² of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. [14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king³³, and of his seven counsellors³⁴, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according³⁵ to the law of thy God³⁶ which [is] in thine hand; [15] And to carry the silver³⁷ and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation³⁸ [is] in Jerusalem, [16] And all the silver³⁹ and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering⁴⁰ of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem: [17] That thou mayest buy speedily⁴¹ with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings⁴² and their drink offerings, and offer them⁴³ upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem. [18] And whatsoever⁴⁴ shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do⁴⁵ after the will⁴⁶ of your God. [19] The vessels⁴⁷ also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, [those] deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem⁴⁸. [20] And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow [it⁴⁹] out of the king’s treasure house. [21] And I, [even] I Artaxerxes⁵⁰ the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river⁵¹, that whatsoever Ezra the priest⁵², 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 measures⁵³ of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine⁵⁴, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt⁵⁵ without prescribing [how much]. [23] Whatsoever is commanded⁵⁶ by the God of heaven, let it be⁵⁷ diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath⁵⁸ against the realm of the king and his sons? [24] Also we certify you, that touching any⁵⁹ 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 wisdom⁶⁰ of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates⁶¹ and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river⁶², all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye⁶³ them that know [them] not. [26] And whosoever⁶⁴ will not do the law of thy God⁶⁵, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether [it be⁶⁶] unto death, or to banishment⁶⁷, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

⥃Ezra Blesses God

[27] Blessed⁶⁸ [be] the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put [such⁶⁹ a thing] as this in the king’s heart⁷⁰, to beautify⁷¹ the house of the Lord which [is] in Jerusalem: [28] And hath extended⁷² mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors⁷³, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened⁷⁴ as the hand⁷⁵ of the Lord my God [was] upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.