1 After|strong="H0310" these|strong="H0428" things|strong="H1697", during|strong="H0428" the|strong="H0310" rule|strong="H4438" of|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" of|strong="H1121" Persia|strong="H6539", Ezra|strong="H5830" came to|strong="H1697" Jerusalem from|strong="H1121" Babylon. Ezra|strong="H5830" was|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0310" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Seraiah|strong="H8304". Seraiah|strong="H8304" was|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0310" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Azariah|strong="H5838". Azariah|strong="H5838" was|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0310" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hilkiah|strong="H2518".
2 Hilkiah was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6659" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shallum|strong="H7967". Shallum|strong="H7967" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6659" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zadok|strong="H6659". Zadok|strong="H6659" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6659" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahitub|strong="H0285".
3 Ahitub was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5838" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Amariah|strong="H0568". Amariah|strong="H0568" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5838" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Azariah|strong="H5838". Azariah|strong="H5838" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5838" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Meraioth|strong="H4812".
4 Meraioth was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zerahiah|strong="H2228". Zerahiah|strong="H2228" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Uzzi|strong="H5813". Uzzi|strong="H5813" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bukki|strong="H1231".
5 Bukki was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0499" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Abishua|strong="H0050". Abishua|strong="H0050" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0499" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Phinehas|strong="H6372". Phinehas|strong="H6372" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0499" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Eleazar|strong="H0499". Eleazar|strong="H0499" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0499" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Aaron|strong="H0175" the|strong="H0499" high priest|strong="H3548".
6 Ezra|strong="H5830" came|strong="H5927" to|strong="H5921" Jerusalem from|strong="H5921" Babylon|strong="H0894". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" a|strong="H5414" teacher and|strong="H3068" knew the|strong="H3605" Law|strong="H8451" of|strong="H4428" Moses|strong="H4872" very well|strong="H0834". The|strong="H3605" Law|strong="H8451" of|strong="H4428" Moses|strong="H4872" was|strong="H0834" given|strong="H5414" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478". King|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes gave|strong="H5414" Ezra|strong="H5830" everything|strong="H3605" he|strong="H0834" asked for|strong="H5921" because|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H0834" with|strong="H3068" Ezra|strong="H5830".
7 Among|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0413" people|strong="H1121" who|strong="H3548" came|strong="H5927" with|strong="H0413" Ezra were|strong="H3478" Israelites|strong="H3478", priests|strong="H3548", Levites|strong="H3881", singers|strong="H7891", gatekeepers|strong="H7778", and|strong="H1121" Temple|strong="H5411" servants|strong="H5411". They|strong="H8141" arrived in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" during the|strong="H0413" seventh|strong="H7651" year|strong="H8141" of|strong="H1121" King|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783".
8 Ezra arrived|strong="H0935" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0935" fifth|strong="H2549" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0935" seventh|strong="H7637" year|strong="H8141" that|strong="H1931" Artaxerxes was|strong="H1931" king|strong="H4428".
9 Ezra left|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" first|strong="H7223" day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H5921" first|strong="H7223" month|strong="H2320" and|strong="H0935" arrived|strong="H0935" in|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" first|strong="H7223" day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H5921" fifth|strong="H2549" month|strong="H2320". With|strong="H0413" God’s|strong="H0430" blessing his|strong="H5921" trip went|strong="H0935" well|strong="H2896".
10 Ezra|strong="H5830" had|strong="H3068" always given his|strong="H3068" time|strong="H3478" and|strong="H3068" attention to|strong="H3068" studying and|strong="H3068" obeying the|strong="H0853" law|strong="H8451" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". He|strong="H3588" also|strong="H3068" loved to|strong="H3068" teach|strong="H3925" its|strong="H0853" rules|strong="H2706" and|strong="H3068" commandments to|strong="H3068" others in|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478".
11 Ezra|strong="H5830" was|strong="H0834" a|strong="H5414" priest|strong="H3548" and|strong="H3068" teacher. He|strong="H0834" knew much|strong="H1697" about|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" commands|strong="H4687" and|strong="H3068" laws|strong="H2706" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" gave|strong="H5414" Israel|strong="H3478". This|strong="H2088" is|strong="H0834" a|strong="H5414" copy|strong="H6572" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" letter|strong="H5406" King|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" gave|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5921" Ezra|strong="H5830" the|strong="H0834" teacher:
12 From|strong="H1768" King|strong="H4430" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783",
13 I|strong="H4481" give|strong="H7761" this order: Any|strong="H3606" of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" Israelites living in|strong="H4437" my|strong="H1768" kingdom|strong="H4437", including priests|strong="H3549" and|strong="H4437" Levites|strong="H3879", who|strong="H1768" want to|strong="H2942" go with|strong="H5974" you|strong="H1768" to|strong="H2942" Jerusalem|strong="H3390", may go.
14 I|strong="H4481" and|strong="H4430" my|strong="H1768" seven|strong="H7655" advisors send|strong="H7972" you|strong="H1768" to|strong="H5922" Judah|strong="H3061" and|strong="H4430" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". Go and|strong="H4430" see how|strong="H5922" your|strong="H5922" people are|strong="H1768" doing in|strong="H0426" obeying the|strong="H3606" law|strong="H1882" of|strong="H0426" your|strong="H5922" God|strong="H0426". You|strong="H1768" have|strong="H4430" that|strong="H1768" law|strong="H1882" with|strong="H5922" you|strong="H1768".
15 I|strong="H1768" and|strong="H4430" my|strong="H1768" advisors are|strong="H1768" giving gold|strong="H1722" and|strong="H4430" silver|strong="H3702" to|strong="H2987" the|strong="H1768" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" Israel|strong="H3479", who|strong="H1768" lives in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". You|strong="H1768" must take this gold|strong="H1722" and|strong="H4430" silver|strong="H3702" with|strong="H0426" you|strong="H1768".
16 You|strong="H1768" must also go through all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" provinces|strong="H4083" of|strong="H0426" Babylonia. Collect the|strong="H3606" gifts from|strong="H1768" your people|strong="H5972", from|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" priests|strong="H3549", and|strong="H3702" from|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" Levites. The|strong="H3606" gifts are|strong="H1768" for|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" their|strong="H3606" God|strong="H0426" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390".
17 Use this|strong="H1836" money|strong="H3702" to|strong="H5922" buy|strong="H7066" bulls|strong="H8450", rams|strong="H1798", and|strong="H3702" male lambs|strong="H0563". Buy|strong="H7066" the|strong="H3606" grain offerings|strong="H5261" and|strong="H3702" drink|strong="H5261" offerings|strong="H5261" that|strong="H1768" go with|strong="H5922" these|strong="H1836" sacrifices. Then|strong="H6903" sacrifice|strong="H4504" them|strong="H1994" on|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" altar|strong="H4056" in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" your|strong="H5922" God|strong="H0426" in|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390".
18 Then|strong="H1768" you|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3702" the|strong="H5921" other Jews may spend the|strong="H5921" silver|strong="H3702" and|strong="H3702" gold|strong="H1722" left over|strong="H5921" any way|strong="H5921" you|strong="H5921" want to|strong="H5921". Use it|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H5921" way|strong="H5921" that|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" pleasing to|strong="H5921" your|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0426".
19 Take all these things to|strong="H6925" the|strong="H1768" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" Jerusalem|strong="H3390". They|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" for|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" worship in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" your|strong="H3052" God|strong="H0426".
20 And|strong="H4430" you|strong="H1768" may get any other things that|strong="H1768" you|strong="H1768" need for|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" your God|strong="H0426". Use the|strong="H1768" money in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H1768" king’s|strong="H4430" treasury|strong="H1005" to|strong="H4481" buy anything you|strong="H1768" need.
21 Now|strong="H4430" I|strong="H0576", King|strong="H4430" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783", give|strong="H7761" this order: I|strong="H0576" order all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" men who|strong="H1768" keep the|strong="H3606" king’s|strong="H4430" money in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" area west of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" Euphrates River|strong="H5103" to|strong="H2942" give|strong="H7761" Ezra|strong="H5831" anything he|strong="H1768" wants. Ezra|strong="H5831" is|strong="H1768" a|strong="H7761" priest|strong="H3549" and|strong="H4430" a|strong="H7761" teacher of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" Law|strong="H1882" of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" heaven|strong="H8065". Do|strong="H5648" this quickly and|strong="H4430" completely.
22 Give this much to|strong="H5705" Ezra: 3 3/4 tons of|strong="H1325" silver|strong="H3702", 600 bushels of|strong="H1325" wheat, 600 gallons of|strong="H1325" wine|strong="H2562", 600 gallons of|strong="H1325" olive oil|strong="H4887", and|strong="H3702" as|strong="H1768" much salt|strong="H4416" as|strong="H1768" Ezra wants.
23 Anything that|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" heaven|strong="H8065" has|strong="H0426" ordered for|strong="H1768" Ezra to|strong="H5922" get, you|strong="H1768" must give to|strong="H5922" Ezra quickly and|strong="H4430" completely. Do|strong="H5648" this for|strong="H1768" the|strong="H3606" Temple|strong="H1005" of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" God|strong="H0426" of|strong="H0426" heaven|strong="H8065". We|strong="H1768" don’t want God|strong="H0426" to|strong="H5922" be|strong="H0426" angry with|strong="H5922" my|strong="H1768" kingdom|strong="H4437" or|strong="H0426" my|strong="H1768" sons|strong="H1123".
24 I|strong="H1768" want you|strong="H1768" men to|strong="H5922" know|strong="H3046" that|strong="H1768" it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" against|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" law to|strong="H5922" make|strong="H3046" the|strong="H3606" priests|strong="H3549", Levites|strong="H3879", singers|strong="H2171", gatekeepers, Temple|strong="H1005" servants|strong="H6399", and|strong="H1005" other workers in|strong="H0426" God’s Temple|strong="H1005" pay taxes|strong="H4061". They|strong="H1768" don’t have to|strong="H5922" pay taxes|strong="H4061", money to|strong="H5922" honor the|strong="H3606" king, or|strong="H0426" any|strong="H3606" customs fees.
25 Ezra|strong="H5831", I|strong="H1768" give you|strong="H0607" the|strong="H3606" authority to|strong="H2452" use the|strong="H3606" wisdom|strong="H2452" you|strong="H0607" have|strong="H1934" from|strong="H1768" your|strong="H4483" God|strong="H0426" and|strong="H2452" choose civil and|strong="H2452" religious judges|strong="H1782". These men will|strong="H1768" be|strong="H0426" judges|strong="H1782" for|strong="H1768" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" people|strong="H5972" living in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" area west of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" Euphrates River|strong="H5103". They|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" judge all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" people|strong="H5972" who|strong="H1768" know|strong="H3046" the|strong="H3606" laws|strong="H1882" of|strong="H0426" your|strong="H4483" God|strong="H0426" and|strong="H2452" they|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" teach|strong="H3046" those|strong="H1768" who|strong="H1768" don’t know|strong="H3046" those|strong="H1768" laws|strong="H1882".
26 Anyone|strong="H3606" who|strong="H1768" does|strong="H5648" not|strong="H3809" obey the|strong="H3606" law|strong="H1882" of|strong="H0426" your God|strong="H0426", or|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" law|strong="H1882" of|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430", must be|strong="H0426" punished. Depending on the|strong="H3606" crime, they|strong="H1768" must be|strong="H0426" punished with|strong="H0426" death|strong="H4193", or|strong="H0426" sent away to|strong="H4481" another country, or|strong="H0426" their|strong="H3606" property taken away, or|strong="H0426" put into prison.
27 Blessed|strong="H1288" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" our|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001". He|strong="H0834" put|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" idea into|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" heart|strong="H3820" to|strong="H3068" honor|strong="H6286" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004" in|strong="H0430" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
28 God|strong="H0430" showed his|strong="H3605" faithful|strong="H2617" love|strong="H2617" to|strong="H5921" me|strong="H6440" in|strong="H5921" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428", his|strong="H3605" advisors, and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" important officials|strong="H8269". The|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" my|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" was|strong="H3068" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H6440", and|strong="H3068" that|strong="H3605" gave|strong="H2388" me|strong="H6440" courage|strong="H2388". I|strong="H0589" gathered|strong="H6908" together|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H7218" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" to|strong="H5921" go|strong="H5927" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H6440" to|strong="H5921" Jerusalem.