Ezra 7
1 Now after these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes, the king of the Persians, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
這些事以後，當波斯王阿塔薛西斯在位時，有位厄斯德拉，是色辣雅的兒子，色辣雅是阿匝黎雅的兒子，阿匝黎雅是希耳克雅的兒子，
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
希耳克雅是沙隆的兒子，沙隆是匝多克的兒子，匝多克是阿希突布是兒子，
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
阿希突布是阿瑪黎雅的兒子，阿瑪黎雅是阿匝黎雅的兒子，阿匝黎雅是默辣約特的兒子，
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
默辣約特是則辣希雅的兒子，則辣希雅是烏齊的兒子，烏齊是步克的兒子，
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, priest from the beginning,
步克是阿彼叔亞的兒子，阿彼叔亞是丕乃哈斯的兒子，阿彼叔亞是厄肋阿匝爾的兒子，厄肋阿匝爾是大司祭亞郎的兒子。
6 this same Ezra, ascended from Babylon; and he was a proficient scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God gave to Israel. And the king granted to him his every petition. For the hand of the Lord, his God, was over him.
這厄斯德拉是位經師，精通上主賜給梅瑟的法律。他因有上主天主的助佑，君王准許了他所要求的一切，他遂從巴比倫起程。
7 And some from the sons of Israel, and from the sons of the priests, and from the sons of the Levites, and from the singing men, and from the gatekeepers, and from the temple servants ascended to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.
與他同行的，還有一些以色列子民、司祭、肋未人、歌詠者、門丁和獻身者；他們在阿塔薛西斯王第七年，上了耶路撒冷。
8 And they arrived at Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the same seventh year of the king.
厄斯德拉在王當國第七年五月，到了耶路撒冷。
9 For on the first day of the first month, he began to ascend from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived at Jerusalem. For the good hand of his God was over him.
他決定由一月一日由巴比倫起程，賴他天主的助佑，五月一日到了耶路撒冷。
10 For Ezra prepared his heart, so that he might search the law of the Lord, and so that he might keep and teach precept and judgment in Israel.
厄斯德拉專心致志研究上主的法律，心體力行，且在以色列人中教授法律和誡命。
11 Now this is a copy of the letter of the edict, which king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest, a scribe well-taught in the words and precepts of the Lord and in his ceremonies in Israel:
阿塔薛西斯王，頒給精通上主給以色列人的誡命和法律的司祭兼經師厄斯德拉的詔書，副本如下：
12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra, the priest, a very learned scribe of the law of the God of heaven: a greeting.
萬王之王阿塔薛西斯，祝上天大王的法律經師厄斯德拉安好：
13 It has been decreed by me, that whosoever wishes, among the people of Israel and their priests and Levites within my kingdom, to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
我現在頒佈此令：凡在我國土內的以色列人民，以及司祭和肋未人，有願赴耶路撒冷的，可與你同去；
14 For you have been sent from the face of the king and his seven counselors, so that you may visit Judea and Jerusalem by the law of your God, which is in your hand,
因為君王和七位參謀派遺你去，照你手中所持有的天主的法律，視察猶大和耶路撒冷，
15 and so that you may carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle is in Jerusalem.
並帶去君王和他的參謀，甘願住在的天主的金銀，
16 And all the silver and gold, as much as you will find in the entire province of Babylon, and which the people will wish to offer, and which some of the priests will offer freely to the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem,
以及你在巴比倫所獲得的金銀，和民眾並司祭向耶路撒冷天主的殿宇，所自願捐獻的獻儀。
17 accept it freely. And with this money, carefully purchase calves, rams, lambs, and their sacrifices and libations, and offer these upon the altar of the temple of your God, which is in Jerusalem.
為此，你可用這錢，費心去買牛犢、綿羊和羔羊，以及同獻的素祭和奠祭的祭品，奉獻在耶路撒冷你們天主殿內的祭壇上。
18 But also, whatever it will please you and your brothers to do with the remainder of the silver and gold, do so in accord with the will of your God.
對於所餘的金銀，你和你的弟兄看著怎樣作好，就按照你們天主的旨意去作。
19 Likewise, the vessels that have been given to you for the ministry of the house of your God, deliver these to the sight of God in Jerusalem.
至於交給你，為你天主的殿宇行敬禮時用的器皿，都應安置在耶路撒冷的天主前!
20 Then, whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, as much as is necessary for you to spend, it shall be given from the treasury, and from the king’s finances,
如你天主的殿另有需要，而你又必須備置，概由王家府庫支付。
21 and by me. I, king Artaxerxes, have appointed and decreed to all the keepers of the public treasury, those who are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra, the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall ask of you, you shall provide it without delay,
我阿塔薛西斯王，向河西的司庫官頒佈此令：凡厄斯德拉司祭兼上天大王的法律經師，向你所要求的，都應立即一一照辦：
22 even up to one hundred talents of silver, and up to one hundred cors of wheat, and up to one hundred baths of wine, and up to one hundred baths of oil, and truly salt without measure.
銀子至一百「塔冷通」，麥子至一百「苛爾」，酒至一百「巴特」，油至一百「巴特」，監無限制。
23 All that pertains to the rite of the God of heaven, let it be distributed scrupulously to the house of the God of heaven, lest perhaps he may become angry against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
凡上天大主所命令的一切，都應為上天大主的殿一一遵行，免得義怒降在君王和他子孫的國土上。
24 Likewise, we would make known to you, about all the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, and the ministers of the house of this God, that you have no authority to impose tax, or tribute, or duty upon them.
我再通告你們：不得向所有司祭、肋未人、歌詠者、門丁、獻身作殿役的，或在這天主殿內作侍役的，徵收田賦、課捐和關稅。
25 But as for you, Ezra, in accord with the wisdom of your God, which is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates, so that they may judge the entire people, which is beyond the river, especially so that they may know the law of your God, but also so as to teach the ignorant freely.
厄斯德拉，你要按手中所持的天主的法律，派定官吏和判官，治理河西所有的人民，即認識你天主法律的人民，凡不認識的，應加教導；
26 And anyone who will not diligently keep the law of your God, and the law of the king, judgment shall be upon him, either to death, or to exile, or to the confiscation of his goods, or certainly to prison.”
凡不遵守你天主的和君王的法律，應嚴加處分：或處死刑，或放逐，或財產充公，或徒到」。
27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put this into the heart of the king, so that he may glorify the house of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem.
上主我們祖先的天主，應受讚美，因為衪感動了君王的心，決意光榮耶路撒冷上主的殿宇，
28 For he has turned his mercy toward me in the sight of the king, and his counselors, and all the powerful leaders of the king. And so, having been strengthened by the hand of the Lord, my God, which was upon me, I gathered together some of the leaders of Israel, those who were to go up with me.
使我在王和他的參謀前，以及在王所有的一切有權勢的首長前，獲得了寵幸。我因上主我天主的扶助，增加了勇氣，遂召集以色列人的首領，與我一同起程。
