Open English Translation EZRA Chapter 7

7 Many years later in the reign of Persian King Artahshasta (Artaxerxes), Ezra (son of Serayah, son of Azaryah, son of Hilkiyyah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Tsadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amaryah, son of Azaryah, son of Merayot, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Avishua, the son of Pinhas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aharon the head priest) 6 was a skilled expert in the law that Israel’s God Yahweh had given through Mosheh (Moses). With the favour of his God Yahweh helping Ezra, the king had granted all his requests, and he travelled from Babylon to Yerushalem. 7 Some Israelis, including some priests and Levites, singers and gatekeepers, and some temple servants travelled to Yerushalem in the seventh year of Artahshasta’s reign.8-9 8-9They left Babylon on New Year’s Day (in early April) and with God’s favour on the journey, arrived in Yerushalem exactly four months later 10 because Ezra had made a firm resolution to study Yahweh’s written instructions, and to carefully follow them, and to teach them in Israel.

11 King Artahshasta (Artaxerxes) had given a letter for Ezra the priest and scribe and expert in Yahweh’s commands and instructions to take with him, saying:

12 Artahshasta, the king of kings, to the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heavens: Peace.

Now, 13 I hereby decree that anyone in my kingdom from Israel (including priests and Levites) who freely offers to go to Yerushalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven counsellors to determine whether the people of Yehudah and Yerushalem are following the law of your God which you have a copy of. 15 You are also to take the gold and silver that the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem, 16 along with all the gold and silver that you collect all across Babylon, along with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests who freely give towards the house of God in Yerushalem.

17 So then you should diligently use those funds to buy bulls, rams, lambs, and supplies for their grain offerings and drink offerings, and you should offer them on the altar at the your God’s house in Yerushalem. 18 With the remaining funds, you can use them for whatever seems good to you and your brothers, according to the will of your God. 19 Also, make sure that you deliver all those gold and silver containers that were handed over to you for use in your God’s house in Yerushalem. 20 Anything else that’s needed for the house of your God that you need to supply can be provided from the king’s treasuries.

21 And I, King Artahshasta make a decree for all the treasurers in the province west of the river: that you all diligently help with everything that the priest Ezra (the scribe of the law of the God of the heavens) asks from you all— 22 up to three tonnes of silver, five hundred bushels of wheat, two thousand litres of wine and the same amount of olive oil, and as much salt as he needs. 23 Everything that the God of the heavens decreed to be done should be done exactly as he specified because there’s no good reason to make him angry at the kingdom of the king and his sons? 24 Also, it should be made clear that there is no authority to extract taxes or tribute from any priests or Levites, singers or the gatekeepers, the temple servants or the servants of that house of God.

25 As for you, Ezra, use the wisdom that your God has given to you to appoint magistrates and judges who can judge all the people who are in that province beyond the river—everyone who know the laws of your God (plus you should teach those who don’t know them). 26 Anyone who refuses to obey your God’s laws and the king’s laws, should receive swift judgment—whether it’s confiscation of goods, or banishment, imprisonment, or the death sentence.”

27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers who put it into the king’s heart to honour Yahweh’s house in Yerushalem, 28 and showed me his loyal commitment in dealing with the king and his counselors, and all the powerful officials of the king. And as for me, Yahweh my God blessed me with initiative and the strength to carry it out as I gathered some Israeli leaders to go to Yerushalem with me.