Ezra Chapter 7
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2
And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a roll, and therein was thus written for a record:
3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
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with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
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And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God.
6
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from thence:
7
let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
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Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence unto these men, that they be not hindered.
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And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven;
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also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
11
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
12
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
13
and the God that hath caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples that shall put forth their hand to alter
14
the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.
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Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.
16
And the elders of the Jews builded and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
17
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
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And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
19
And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
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And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
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And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth
22
day of the first month.
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For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
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And the children of Israel that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat,
25
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
26
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
27
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
28
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkijah,
2
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest,
6
— this Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah theGod of Israel had given. And the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah hisGod upon him.
7
(And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the doorkeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.)
8
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For upon the first of the first month the project of going up from Babylon was determined on, and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of hisGod upon him.
10
For Ezra had directed his heart to seek the law of Jehovah and to do it, and to teach in Israel the statutes and the ordinances.
11
And this is the copy of the letter that king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an accomplished scribe of the law of theGod of the heavens, and so forth.
13
I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel, and of their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are disposed to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14
Because thou art sent by the king, and by his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thyGod which is in thy hand;
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and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to theGod of Israel, whose habitation is at Jerusalem,
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and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, besides the voluntary offering of the people, and of the priests, who offer willingly for the house of theirGod which is at Jerusalem.
17
Therefore thou shalt buy diligently with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their oblations and their drink-offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of yourGod which is at Jerusalem.
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And whatever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do according to the will of yourGod.
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And the vessels that have been given thee for the service of the house of thyGod, deliver before theGod of Jerusalem.
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And whatever more shall be needful for the house of thyGod which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
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And I, I Artaxerxes the king, do give orders to all the treasurers that are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of theGod of the heavens shall require of you, it be done diligently,
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unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing [how much].
23
Whatever is commanded by theGod of the heavens, let it be carefully done for the house of theGod of the heavens; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24
Also we inform you, as regards all the priests and Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, and ministers of this house ofGod, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, tax, and toll upon them.
25
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thyGod, which is in thy hand, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thyGod; and teach ye him that knows [them] not.
26
And whosoever will not do the law of thyGod and the law of the king, let judgment be executed diligently upon him, whether unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
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Blessed be Jehovah theGod of our fathers, who has put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem;
28
and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened, as the hand of Jehovah myGod was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Arthasastha king of the Persians, came up Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Chelcias,
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the son of Selum, the son of Sadduc, the son of Achitob,
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the son of Samarias, the son of Esria, the son of Mareoth,
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the son of Zaraia, the son of Ozias, the son of Bokki,
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the son of Abisue, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the first priest.
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This Esdras went up out of Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel gave: and the king gave him [leave], for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in all things which he sought.
7
And [some] of the children of Israel went up, and [some] of the priests, and of the Levites, and the singers, and the door-keepers, and the Nathinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Arthasastha the king.
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And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, this [was] the seventh year of the king.
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For in the first [day] of the first month he began the going up from Babylon, and in the first day of the fifth month they came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him.
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For Esdras had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.
11
And this [is] the copy of the order which Arthasastha gave to Esdras the priest, the scribe of the book of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his ordinances to Israel.
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Arthasastha, king of kings, to Esdras, the scribe of the law of the Lord God of heaven, Let the order and the answer be accomplished.
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A decree is made by me, that every one who is willing in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, [be permitted] to go with thee.
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[One] has been sent from the king and the seven councillors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem, according to the law of their God that is in thine hand.
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And for the house of the Lord [there have been sent] silver and gold, which the king and the councillors have freely given to the God of Israel, who dwells in Jerusalem.
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And all the silver and gold, whatsoever thou shalt find in all the land of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and the priests that offer freely for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
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And as for every one that arrives [there], speedily order him by this letter [to bring] calves, rams, lambs, and their meat-offerings, and their drink-offerings; and thou shalt offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
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And whatever it shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do as it is pleasing to your God.
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And deliver the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of God, before God in Jerusalem.
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And as to the rest of the need of the house of thy God, thou shalt give from the king's treasure-houses,
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and from me, whatever it shall seem [good] to thee to give. I king Arthasastha have made a decree for all the treasuries that are in the [country] beyond the river, that whatever Esdras the priest and scribe of the God of heaven may ask you, it shall be done speedily,
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to [the amount of] a hundred talents of silver, and a hundred measures of wheat, and a hundred baths of wine, and a hundred baths of oil, and salt without reckoning.
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Let whatever is in the decree of the God of heaven, be done: take heed lest any one make an attack on the house of the God of heaven, lest at any time there should be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons.
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Also this has been declared to you, with respect to all the priests, and Levites, the singers, porters, Nathinim and ministers of the house of God, let no tribute be [paid] to thee; thou shalt not have power to oppress them.
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And thou, Esdras, as the wisdom of God [is] in thy hand, appoint scribes and judges, that they may judge for all the people beyond the river, all that know the law of the Lord thy God; and ye shall make it known to him that knows not.
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And whosoever shall not do the law of God, and the law of the king readily, judgment shall be taken upon him, whether for death or for chastisement, or for a fine of his property, or casting into prison.
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Blessed [be] the Lord God of our fathers, who has put it thus into the heart of the king, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem;
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and has given me favour in the eyes of the king, and of his councillors, and all the rulers of the king, the exalted ones. And I was strengthened according to the good hand of God upon me, and I gathered chief men of Israel to go up with me.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Post hæc autem verba in regno Artaxerxis regis Persarum, Esdras filius Saraiæ, filii Azariæ, filii Helciæ,
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filii Sellum, filii Sadoc, filii Achitob,
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filii Amariæ, filii Azariæ, filii Maraioth,
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filii Zarahiæ, filii Ozi, filii Bocci,
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filii Abisue, filii Phinees, filii Eleazar, filii Aaron sacerdotis ab initio.
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Ipse Esdras ascendit de Babylone, et ipse scriba velox in lege Moysi, quam Dominus Deus dedit Israel: et dedit ei rex secundum manum Domini Dei eius super eum, omnem petitionem eius.
7
Et ascenderunt de filiis Israel, et de filiis Sacerdotum, et de filiis Levitarum, et de cantoribus, et de ianitoribus, et de Nathinæis, in Ierusalem anno septimo Artaxerxis regis.
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Et venerunt in Ierusalem mense quinto, ipse est annus septimus regis.
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Quia in primo die mensis primi cœpit ascendere de Babylone, et in primo die mensis quinti venit in Ierusalem, iuxta manum Dei sui bonam super se.
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Esdras enim paravit cor suum, ut investigaret legem Domini, et faceret et doceret in Israel præceptum et iudicium.
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Hoc est autem exemplar epistolæ edicti, quod dedit rex Artaxerxes Esdræ sacerdoti, scribæ erudito in sermonibus et præceptis Domini, et ceremoniis eius in Israel.
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Artaxerxes rex regum Esdræ sacerdoti, scribæ legis Dei cæli doctissimo, salutem.
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A me decretum est, ut cuicumque placuerit in regno meo de populo Israel, et de Sacerdotibus eius, et de Levitis ire in Ierusalem, tecum vadat.
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A facie enim regis, et septem consiliatorum eius missus es, ut visites Iudæam et Ierusalem in lege Dei tui, quæ est in manu tua:
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et ut feras argentum et aurum quod rex, et consiliatores eius sponte obtulerunt Deo Israel, cuius in Ierusalem tabernaculum est.
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Et omne argentum et aurum quodcumque inveneris in universa provincia Babylonis, et populus offerre voluerit, et de Sacerdotibus quæ sponte obtulerint domui Dei sui, quæ est in Ierusalem,
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libere accipe, et studiose eme de hac pecunia vitulos, arietes, agnos et sacrificia et libamina eorum, et offer ea super altare templi Dei vestri, quod est in Ierusalem.
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Sed et si quid tibi, et fratribus tuis placuerit de reliquo argento et auro ut faciatis, iuxta voluntatem Dei vestri facite.
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Vasa quoque, quæ dantur tibi in ministerium domus Dei tui, trade in conspectu Dei in Ierusalem.
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Sed et cetera, quibus opus fuerit in domum Dei tui, quantumcumque necesse est ut expendas, dabitur de thesauro, et de fisco regis,
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et a me. Ego Artaxerxes rex, statui atque decrevi omnibus custodibus arcæ publicæ, qui sunt trans Flumen, ut quodcumque petierit a vobis Esdras sacerdos, scriba legis Dei cæli, absque mora detis
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usque ad argenti talenta centum, et usque ad frumenti coros centum, et usque ad vini batos centum, et usque ad batos olei centum, sal vero absque mensura.
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Omne, quod ad ritum Dei cæli pertinet, tribuatur diligenter in domo Dei cæli: ne forte irascatur contra regnum regis, et filiorum eius.
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Vobis quoque notum facimus de universis Sacerdotibus, et Levitis, et cantoribus, et ianitoribus, Nathinæis, et ministris domus Dei huius, ut vectigal, et tributum, et annonas non habeatis potestatem imponendi super eos.
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Tu autem Esdra secundum sapientiam Dei tui, quæ est in manu tua, constitue iudices et præsides ut iudicent omni populo, qui est trans Flumen, his videlicet qui noverunt legem Dei tui, sed et imperitos docete libere.
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Et omnis qui non fecerit legem Dei tui, et legem regis diligenter, iudicium erit de eo sive in mortem, sive in exilium, sive in condemnationem substantiæ eius, vel certe in carcerem.
27
Benedictus Dominus Deus patrum nostrorum, qui dedit hoc in corde regis ut glorificaret domum Domini, quæ est in Ierusalem,
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et in me inclinavit misericordiam suam coram rege et consiliatoribus eius, et universis principibus regis potentibus: et ego confortatus manu Domini Dei mei, quæ erat in me, congregavi de Israel principes qui ascenderent mecum.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
6
this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the LORD his God’s hand on him.
7
Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8
He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.
10
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the LORD’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11
Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the LORD’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel:
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now
13
I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
14
Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
15
and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16
and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem.
17
Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18
Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.
19
The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20
Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
21
I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
22
up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God.
25
You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
26
Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27
Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem;
28
and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the LORD my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the head priest;
6
Ezra himself hath come up from Babylon, and he <FI>is<Fi> a scribe ready in the law of Moses, that Jehovah God of Israel gave, and the king giveth to him--according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him--all his request.
7
And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8
And he cometh in to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that <FI>is in<Fi> the seventh year of the king,
9
for on the first of the month he hath founded the ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he hath come in unto Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him,
10
for Ezra hath prepared his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do, and to teach in Israel statute and judgment.
11
And this <FI>is<Fi> a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commands of Jehovah, and of His statutes on Israel:
12
`Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and at such a time:
13
By me hath been made a decree that every one who is willing, in my kingdom, of the people of Israel and of its priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem with thee, doth go;
14
because that from the king and his seven counsellors thou art sent, to inquire concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem, with the law of God that <FI>is<Fi> in thy hand,
15
and to carry silver and gold that the king and his counsellors willingly offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem,
16
and all the silver and gold that thou findest in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will offerings of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly, for the house of their God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem,
17
therefore thou dost speedily buy with this money, bullocks, rams, lambs, and their presents, and their libations, and dost bring them near to the altar of the house of your God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem,
18
and that which to thee and to thy brethren is good to do with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God ye do.'
19
`And the vessels that are given to thee, for the service of the house of thy God, make perfect before the God of Jerusalem;
20
and the rest of the needful things of the house of thy God, that it falleth to thee to give, thou dost give from the treasure-house of the king.
21
`And by me--I Artaxerxes the king--is made a decree to all treasurers who <FI>are<Fi> beyond the river, that all that Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, doth ask of you, be done speedily:
22
Unto silver a hundred talents, and unto wheat a hundred cors, and unto wine a hundred baths, and unto oil a hundred baths, and salt without reckoning;
23
all that <FI>is<Fi> by the decree of the God of heaven, let be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven; for why is there wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24
`And to you we are making known, that upon any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.
25
`And thou, Ezra, according to the wisdom of thy God, that <FI>is<Fi> in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may be judges to all the people who are beyond the river, to all knowing the law of thy God, and he who hath not known ye cause to know;
26
and any who doth not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, speedily is judgment done upon him, whether to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of riches, and to bonds.'
27
Blessed <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, God of our fathers, who hath given such a thing as this in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of Jehovah that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem,
28
and unto me hath stretched out kindness before the king and his counsellors, and before all the mighty heads of the king: and I have strengthened myself as the hand of Jehovah my God <FI>is<Fi> upon me, and I gather out of Israel heads to go up with me.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).