Ezra 7 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
After these things, during the reign of king of Persia, came along. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of the
This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a skilled in the law of Moses that the of Israel, had given. The king gave everything he asked for, because the of was on
Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and also went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the king's seventh year.
He had set out from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the of was on him.
For Ezra had to study the of Yahweh, to live it out, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe — an expert in the words of Yahweh's commands and statutes for Israel:
"Artaxerxes, of to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Complete peace."
"I now decree that any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who wish to go to Jerusalem may go with you."
"You are sent by the king and his to investigate conditions in Judah and Jerusalem based on the law of your God, which is in your hand."
"And to bring the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,"
"along with all the silver and gold you can find throughout the province of Babylon, together with the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests for the house of their God in Jerusalem."
"With this money, be sure to buy bulls, rams, and lambs with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem."
"Whatever seems best to you and your fellow priests to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it in accordance with the will of your God."
"The items given to you for the service of the house of your God — deliver them all before the God of Jerusalem."
"And whatever else is needed for the house of your God that you need to provide, provide it from the royal treasury."
"I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, asks of you, provide it promptly —"
"up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred cors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of olive oil, and unlimited salt."
"Whatever the God of heaven commands, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven — because why would we risk his against the realm of the king and his sons?"
"Also be informed that you have no authority to impose tribute, taxes, or tolls on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or any other worker in this house of God."
"And you, Ezra, using the of that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice for all the people in the region west of the Euphrates — all who know the laws of And teach anyone who doesn't know them."
"Anyone who does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king — let judgment be strictly carried out: whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment."
Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, who put something like this in the king's heart — to honor the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem!
He has shown me before the king, his advisors, and all the king's powerful officials. I was strengthened because the hand of Yahweh my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.