Ezra 7
1 After all this, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra arrived from Babylon. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, 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 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, 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 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, 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 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, 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 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.
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 Ezra arrived from Babylon, and was a scribe who was an expert in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to Israel. The king had granted Ezra everything he'd asked for, because the Lord his God was with 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 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes left for Jerusalem, accompanied by some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, singers and gatekeepers, and Temple servants.
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 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign.
厄斯德拉在王當國第七年五月，到了耶路撒冷。
9 He had started the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, his gracious God going with 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 had committed himself to gaining insights from the Law of the Lord, wanting to practice it and to teach in Israel its rules and how to live.
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 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, who had studied the Lord's commandments and regulations given to 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, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
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 I hereby issue this decree: Any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who voluntarily decide to go to Jerusalem with you may do so.
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 You are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to investigate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem as it relates to the Law of your God, which you carry with you.
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 We also instruct you to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have voluntarily donated to the God of Israel, whose lives in Jerusalem,
並帶去君王和他的參謀，甘願住在的天主的金銀，
16 together with all the silver and gold you may receive from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary donations of the people and priests to the Temple of their God 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 You are to use this money first to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as necessary, along with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and present them on the altar at the Temple of your God 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 Then you and those with you may decide to use the rest of the silver and gold in whatever way you think best, in accordance 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 But the items you have been given for the service of the Temple of your God must be all delivered to the God of 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 If there is anything else required for the Temple of your God that you have to provide, you may charge it to the royal treasury.
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 I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers west of the Euphrates should provide whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require from you, and it must be provided in full,
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 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred cors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of olive oil, and unrestricted amounts of salt.
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 Make sure you provide in full whatever the God of heaven requires for his Temple, for why should his anger be brought down on 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 Also be aware that all of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Temple servants, or other workers of this Temple are exempt from paying any tax, tribute, or fees, and you are not authorized to charge 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 You, Ezra, are to follow the wisdom of your God which you possess, shall appoint magistrates and judges to provide justice to all the people west of the Euphrates—all those who follow the laws of your God. You are to teach these laws to those who do not.
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 Anyone who does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, will be severely punished, either by death, banishment, seizure of property, or imprisonment.”
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 Praise the Lord, the God of our forefathers, who put into the king's mind to honor the Lord's Temple in Jerusalem in this way,
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 and who has shown me such kindness by honoring me before the king, his counselors, and all his high officials. Because the Lord my God was with me, I was encouraged and called together the leaders of Israel to return to Jerusalem 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。
