Ezra 7
1 And after the things these in [the] reign of Artaxerxes [the] king of Persia Ezra [the] son of Seraiah [the] son of Azariah [the] son of Hilkiah.
[Many/Fifty years] later, while Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, I, Ezra came from Babylon here to Jerusalem. I am the son of Seraiah and the grandson of Azariah, and the great-grandson of Hilkiah.
2 [the] son of Shallum [the] son of Zadok [the] son of Ahitub.
Hilkiah was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub,
3 [the] son of Amariah [the] son of Azariah [the] son of Meraioth.
who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth,
4 [the] son of Zerahiah [the] son of Uzzi [the] son of Bukki.
who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,
5 [the] son of Abishua [the] son of Phinehas [the] son of Eleazar [the] son of Aaron the priest the chief.
who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron, the [first] Supreme Priest.
6 That Ezra he came up from Babylon and he [was] a scribe skilled in [the] law of Moses which he had given Yahweh [the] God of Israel and he gave to him the king according to [the] hand of Yahweh God his on him all request his.
I am a man who knows very well the laws that Moses [wrote]. Those were the laws that Yahweh, the God whom we Israeli people ([worship/belong to]), had given to us Israeli people. When I arrived in Jerusalem, Yahweh my God was kind to me, and as a result the [people] gave me everything that I had requested the king to [tell them to] give to me.
7 And they came up some of [the] people of Israel and some of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers and the temple servants to Jerusalem in year seven of Artaxerxes the king.
Some of the priests, some [other] descendants of Levi, [some] singers, [some] (gatekeepers/men who guarded the gates of the temple), and [some] men who worked in the temple, and some other [Israeli] people came up with me here to Jerusalem. That was during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was the king [of Persia].
8 And he came Jerusalem in the month fifth it [was] [the] year seventh of the king.
We left Babylon on April 8, which was the first day of the Jewish year. Because God was very kind to us, we arrived [safely] in Jerusalem on August 4 of that year.
9 For on [day] one of the month first it [was] [the] beginning of the going up from Babylon and on [day] one of the month fifth he came to Jerusalem according to [the] hand of God his good on him.
10 For Ezra he had directed heart his to study [the] law of Yahweh and to do [it] and to teach in Israel decree and judgment.
During my entire life, I devoted myself to studying the laws of Yahweh, and how to obey those laws. I had also taught those laws and all their regulations to the Israeli people [for many years].
11 And this - [is] [the] copy of the letter which he gave the king Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest the scribe [the] scribe of [the] matters of [the] commandments of Yahweh and statutes his on Israel.
King Artaxerxes [knew that] I am a priest who knows the Jewish laws very well. [He knew that for many years] I had studied those laws and had taught all the rules and regulations of those laws to the Israeli people. [So before I left Babylon to come to Jerusalem, ] he wrote a letter, and gave a copy to me. [This is what he wrote]:
12 Artaxerxes [the] king of kings to Ezra priest the [the] scribe of law the of [the] God of heavens the perfect and now.
[“This letter is] from me, Artaxerxes, the greatest of the kings. [I am giving it] to Ezra the priest, who has studied very well all the rules and regulations that the God [who is/rules] in heaven [gave to the Israeli people].
13 From me it is made a decree that every [one who] volunteers in kingdom my from people the Israel and priests its and Levites the to go to Jerusalem with you he will go.
“Ezra, I command that when you return to Jerusalem, any of the Israeli people in my kingdom who want to are allowed to go with you. That includes any priests and [other] descendants of Levi [who will work in the temple] who want to go.
14 As to because that from before king the and seven counselors his [you are] sent to enquire on Judah and to Jerusalem in [the] law of God your which [is] in hand your.
I, along with my seven counselors/advisors, am sending you to Jerusalem, in order that you can determine what is happening there and in [other towns in] Judah. You are taking with you [MTY] a copy of God’s laws; make sure that the people are doing everything that is written in those laws.
15 And to carry silver and gold which king the and counselors his they have offered freely to [the] God of Israel who [is] in Jerusalem abode his.
[We are also saying that] you should take with you the silver and gold that I and my advisors are wanting to give to you, in order that you will present it to be an offering to the God who [rules] the Israeli people and who lives in Jerusalem.
16 And all [the] silver and [the] gold which you will find in all [the] province of Babylon with [the] freewill offering of people the and priests the [who] have offered freely for [the] house of God their which [is] in Jerusalem.
You should also take any silver and gold that the people in the entire Babylonia province give to you, and the money that the priests and [other] Israeli people have happily said that they would give to you to be offerings for building the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17 As to because this diligently you will buy with silver the this bulls - rams lambs and grain offerings their and drink offerings their so you may offer them on altar the of [the] house of God your which [is] in Jerusalem.
With this money, you should buy the bulls, rams, lambs, and the grain and wine that the priests will burn on the altar [outside] the temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18 And whatever that (to you *Q(k)*) and to (brothers your *Q(k)*) (it is good *LH(ab)*) with [the] rest of silver the and gold the to do according to [the] will of God your you will do.
“If there is any silver or gold that remains [you have bought all those things], you and your companions/colleagues are permitted to use it to [buy] whatever you desire, but buy only things that [you know that] God wants you to buy.
19 And vessels the which [have been] given to you for [the] worship of [the] house of God your make complete before [the] God of Jerusalem.
We have given to you some valuable items to be used in the temple of your God. Take them also to Jerusalem.
20 And [the] rest of [the] thing[s] needed of [the] house of God your which it will fall to you to give you will give from [the] house of [the] treasures of king the.
If you need any other things for the temple, you are permitted to get the money for those things from the building here where my government’s money is kept/stored.
21 And from me I Artaxerxes king the it is made a decree to all treasurers the who [are] in [the] region beyond river the that all that he will ask for you Ezra priest the [the] scribe of law the of [the] God of heavens the diligently let it be done.
“And I, King Artaxerxes, command this to all the treasurers in the province west of the [Euphrates] River: 'Give to Ezra, the priest who has studied very well the laws of the God [who is/rules] in heaven, everything that he requests, and give it to him quickly.
22 Up to silver talents one hundred and up to wheat cors one hundred and up to wine baths one hundred and up to baths oil one hundred and salt which not [is] writing.
The most that you should give to him is (7,500 pounds/3,400 kg.) of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, and 550 gallons of [olive] oil, but give to him all the salt that they need.
23 All that [is] according to [the] decree of [the] God of heavens the let it be done exactly for [the] house of [the] God of heavens the that why? will it be anger on [the] kingdom of king the and sons his.
Be sure that you provide whatever their God requires for his temple, because we certainly do not [RHQ] want him to be angry with me or with my descendants who will later be kings.
24 And to you [we are] making known that all priests the and Levites the singers the gatekeepers the temple servants the and [the] servants of [the] house of God this tribute tax and toll not [is] authorized to throw on them.
We are also commanding that none of the priests, descendants of Levi, musicians, temple guards, or other men who work in the temple, will be required to pay any kind of taxes.'
25 And you O Ezra according to [the] wisdom of God your which [is] in hand your appoint judges and judges that they will be (judging *Q(k)*) all people the which [is] in [the] region beyond river the all [those who] know [the] laws of God your and [one] who not [he is] knowing you will instruct.
“Ezra, your God has enabled you to become very wise. Using that wisdom, appoint men in the province west of the [Euphrates] River who will judge cases involving the people, and men who will judge cases involving the government. You must appoint men who know the laws of your God. All of you must teach God’s laws to others who do not know them.
26 And any who not he will be doing law the of God your and decree the of king the diligently judgment let it be done from him whether to death or (to banishment *Q(k)*) or to confiscation of properti and to imprisonment.
Everyone who does not obey God’s laws or the laws of my government must be punished severely. Some of them will be executed, some will be put in prison, some will be sent out of the country or have all their property taken away from them.”
27 [be] blessed Yahweh [the] God of ancestors our who he has put like this in [the] heart of the king to beautify [the] house of Yahweh which [is] in Jerusalem.
[Because King Artaxerxes was very kind like that, I said], “Praise Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors [worshiped/belonged to]! He has caused the king to want to honor the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem.
28 And towards me he has extended covenant loyalty before the king and counselors his and to all [the] officials of the king mighty and I I strengthened myself according to [the] hand of Yahweh God my on me and I assembled! from Israel chiefs to go up with me.
Because God was very kind to me, the king and all his advisors and all his powerful officials have also been kind to me. So, because God has helped me, I have become encouraged, and I have [been able to] persuade some of the Israeli leaders to go up to Jerusalem with me.”
