< עֶזְרָא 7 >

וְאַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּמַלְכ֖וּת אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרָ֑ס עֶזְרָא֙ בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֔ה בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה׃ 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,
בֶּן־שַׁלּ֥וּם בֶּן־צָדֹ֖וק בֶּן־אֲחִיטֽוּב׃ 2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מְרָיֹֽות׃ 3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בֶן־עֻזִּ֖י בֶּן־בֻּקִּֽי׃ 4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
בֶּן־אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ בֶּן־פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ 5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.
ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִבָּבֶ֔ל וְהֽוּא־סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּתֹורַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־לֹ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כְּיַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל בַּקָּשָׁתֹֽו׃ פ 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.
וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ מִבְּנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל וּמִן־הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 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.
וַיָּבֹ֥א יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֑י הִ֛יא שְׁנַ֥ת הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖ית לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ 8
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign.
כִּ֗י בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשֹׁ֔ון ה֣וּא יְסֻ֔ד הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וּבְאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י בָּ֚א אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כְּיַד־אֱלֹהָ֖יו הַטֹּובָ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃ 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.
כִּ֤י עֶזְרָא֙ הֵכִ֣ין לְבָבֹ֔ו לִדְרֹ֛ושׁ אֶת־תֹּורַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה וְלַעֲשֹׂ֑ת וּלְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ ס 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.
וְזֶ֣ה ׀ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַן֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא לְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסֹּפֵ֑ר סֹפֵ֞ר דִּבְרֵ֧י מִצְוֹת־יְהוָ֛ה וְחֻקָּ֖יו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ 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:
אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א לְעֶזְרָ֣א כָ֠הֲנָא סָפַ֨ר דָּתָ֜א דִּֽי־אֱלָ֧הּ שְׁמַיָּ֛א גְּמִ֖יר וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ 12
“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
מִנִּי֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כָל־מִתְנַדַּ֣ב בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ מִן־עַמָּ֨ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְכָהֲנֹ֣והִי וְלֵוָיֵ֗א לִמְהָ֧ךְ לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם עִמָּ֖ךְ יְהָֽךְ׃ 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.
כָּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּי֩ מִן־קֳדָ֨ם מַלְכָּ֜א וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ שְׁלִ֔יחַ לְבַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּדָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖ךְ דִּ֥י בִידָֽךְ׃ 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.
וּלְהֵיבָלָ֖ה כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֑ב דִּֽי־מַלְכָּ֣א וְיָעֲטֹ֗והִי הִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דִּ֥י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם מִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃ 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,
וְכֹל֙ כְּסַ֣ף וּדְהַ֔ב דִּ֣י תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח בְּכֹ֖ל מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֑ל עִם֩ הִתְנַדָּב֨וּת עַמָּ֤א וְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ מִֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ין לְבֵ֥ית אֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ 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.
כָּל־קֳבֵ֣ל דְּנָה֩ אָסְפַּ֨רְנָא תִקְנֵ֜א בְּכַסְפָּ֣א דְנָ֗ה תֹּורִ֤ין ׀ דִּכְרִין֙ אִמְּרִ֔ין וּמִנְחָתְהֹ֖ון וְנִסְכֵּיהֹ֑ון וּתְקָרֵ֣ב הִמֹּ֔ו עַֽל־מַדְבְּחָ֔ה דִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם דִּ֥י בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ 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.
וּמָ֣ה דִי֩ עֲלַיִךְ (עֲלָ֨ךְ) וְעַל־אֶחַיִךְ (אֶחָ֜ךְ) יִיטַ֗ב בִּשְׁאָ֛ר כַּסְפָּ֥א וְדַהֲבָ֖ה לְמֶעְבַּ֑ד כִּרְע֥וּת אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם תַּעַבְדֽוּן׃ 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.
וּמָֽאנַיָּא֙ דִּֽי־מִתְיַהֲבִ֣ין לָ֔ךְ לְפָלְחָ֖ן בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֑ךְ הַשְׁלֵ֕ם קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ 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.
וּשְׁאָ֗ר חַשְׁחוּת֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֔ךְ דִּ֥י יִפֶּל־לָ֖ךְ לְמִנְתַּ֑ן תִּנְתֵּ֕ן מִן־בֵּ֖ית גִּנְזֵ֥י מַלְכָּֽא׃ 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.
וּ֠מִנִּי אֲנָ֞ה אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְכֹל֙ גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה דִּ֣י כָל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכֹון עֶזְרָ֨א כָהֲנָ֜ה סָפַ֤ר דָּתָא֙ דִּֽי־אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד׃ 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,
עַד־כְּסַף֮ כַּכְּרִ֣ין מְאָה֒ וְעַד־חִנְטִין֙ כֹּרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־חֲמַר֙ בַּתִּ֣ין מְאָ֔ה וְעַד־בַּתִּ֥ין מְשַׁ֖ח מְאָ֑ה וּמְלַ֖ח דִּי־לָ֥א כְתָֽב׃ 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.
כָּל־דִּ֗י מִן־טַ֙עַם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יִתְעֲבֵד֙ אַדְרַזְדָּ֔א לְבֵ֖ית אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֑א דִּֽי־לְמָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְצַ֔ף עַל־מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖א וּבְנֹֽוהִי׃ 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?
וּלְכֹ֣ם מְהֹודְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י כָל־כָּהֲנַיָּ֣א וְ֠לֵוָיֵא זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤א תָרָֽעַיָּא֙ נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔א וּפָ֣לְחֵ֔י בֵּ֖ית אֱלָהָ֣א דְנָ֑ה מִנְדָּ֤ה בְלֹו֙ וַהֲלָ֔ךְ לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְמִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃ 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.
וְאַ֣נְתְּ עֶזְרָ֗א כְּחָכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤ךְ דִּֽי־בִידָךְ֙ מֶ֣נִּי שָׁפְטִ֞ין וְדַיָּנִ֗ין דִּי־לֶהֱוֹ֤ן דָּאֲנִין (דָּאיְנִין֙) לְכָל־עַמָּה֙ דִּ֚י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה לְכָל־יָדְעֵ֖י דָּתֵ֣י אֱלָהָ֑ךְ וְדִ֧י לָ֦א יָדַ֖ע תְּהֹודְעֽוּן׃ 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.
וְכָל־דִּי־לָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ֨א עָבֵ֜ד דָּתָ֣א דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֗ךְ וְדָתָא֙ דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֔א אָסְפַּ֕רְנָא דִּינָ֕ה לֶהֱוֵ֥א מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד מִנֵּ֑הּ הֵ֤ן לְמֹות֙ הֵ֣ן לִשְׁרֹשׁוּ (לִשְׁרֹשִׁ֔י) הֵן־לַעֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין וְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃ פ 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.”
בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹותֵ֑ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן כָּזֹאת֙ בְּלֵ֣ב הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְפָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ 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,
וְעָלַ֣י הִטָּה־חֶ֗סֶד לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְיֹֽועֲצָ֔יו וּלְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַאֲנִ֣י הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי כְּיַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהַי֙ עָלַ֔י וָאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל רָאשִׁ֖ים לַעֲלֹ֥ות עִמִּֽי׃ פ 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.

< עֶזְרָא 7 >