After this, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was an Ezra, the son of Zeraiah, the son of Azariah, and the son of Hilkiah.

Hilkiah was the son of Shallum, Shallum the son of Zadok, and Zadok the son of Ahitub,

Ahitub was the son of Amariah, Amariah was the son of Azariah, and Azariah was the son of Milaio,

Milaio was the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Buki,

Buki was the son of Abishu, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest.

This Ezra came up from Babylon, a swift scribe who understood the Book of the Law given to Moses by the Lord God of Israel. The king granted him all his requests because the hand of the Lord his God helped him.

In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, there were Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinims who went up to Jerusalem.

In the fifth month of the seventh year of the king’s reign, Ezra came to Jerusalem.

On the first day of the first lunar month, he set off from Babylon. On the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem because of the hand of his God’s grace that helped him.

Ezra determined to study and follow the law of the Lord, and to teach the Israelites the laws and regulations.

Ezra the priest was a scribe who fulfilled the commandments of the Lord and the laws given to Israel. King Artaxerxes gave him an edict, which was written:,

King Artaxerxes, the king of the kings, was appointed as a scribe by Ezra the priest, who was proficient in the law of the gods in heaven.

I have issued a decree allowing all the Israelites, priests, and Levites who are willing to go up to Jerusalem in my land to go with you.

Since the king and seven counselors have sent you, according to the law of God in your hands, to inquire about the situation in Judah and Jerusalem.

And he brought gold and silver, which the king and his counselors willingly offered to the God of Israel, who resided in Jerusalem,

And bring with you the gold and silver that you have obtained throughout Babylon, as well as the gifts that the priests are willing to offer to their temple in Jerusalem.

So use this gold and silver to quickly buy bulls, rams, lambs, and their meat and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of your temple in Jerusalem.

Use the remaining gold and silver as you and your brothers see fit, always according to the will of your God.

The vessels entrusted to you for use in the temple of God shall be handed over to the God of Jerusalem.

If there are any additional funds needed in your temple, you can withdraw them from the king’s treasury.

I, King Artaxerxes, have issued a decree to all the treasury officials on the west bank of the river, saying, “Prepare quickly whatever the scribe and priest Ezra, who knows the law of the gods in heaven, may ask of you.”,

Even a hundred talents of silver, a hundred koels of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of oil, and countless amounts of salt shall be given to him.

Whatever the gods of heaven command, it shall be done in detail for the temple of the gods of heaven. Why did anger come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons?

I also declare to you that as for the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinims, as well as those who are on duty in the temple of God, they shall not be called to bring tribute, pay taxes, or pay taxes.

Ezra, according to the wisdom that your God has given you, make all those who understand the law of your God judges and judges over the people beyond the river, so that they may teach all those who do not understand the law of God.

Anyone who does not follow the law of your God and the commands of the king should be quickly condemned, either to death, to exile, to rob the house, or to be imprisoned.

Ezra said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of our ancestors. Because he inspired the king to embellish the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem,

And he showed kindness to me before the king, his advisors, and the mighty commanders of the army. Because the hand of the Lord my God helped me, I was strong and gathered leaders from Israel to come up with me.