<vn='1'>Now <sn="310">after</s><sn="428">these</s><sn="1697">things</s>, in the <sn="4438">reign</s> of <sn="783">Artaxerxes</s><sn="4428">king</s> of <sn="6539">Persia</s>, <sn="5830">Ezra</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="8304">Seraiah</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5838">Azariah</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="2518">Hilkiah</s>, </v>
<vn='2'>The <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="7967">Shallum</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6659">Zadok</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="285">Ahitub</s>, </v>
<vn='3'>The <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="568">Amariah</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5838">Azariah</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="4812">Meraioth</s>, </v>
<vn='4'>The <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="2228">Zerahiah</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="5813">Uzzi</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="1231">Bukki</s>, </v>
<vn='5'>The <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="50">Abishua</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6372">Phinehas</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="499">Eleazar</s>, the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="175">Aaron</s> the <sn="7218">chief</s><sn="3548">priest</s>: </v>
<vn='6'><sn="1931">This</s><sn="5830">Ezra</s> went <sn="5927">up</s> from <sn="4480 894">Babylon</s>; and <sn="1931">he</s> was a <sn="4106">ready</s><sn="5608">scribe</s> in the <sn="8451">law</s> of <sn="4872">Moses</s>, <sn="834">which</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s><sn="430">God</s> of <sn="3478">Israel</s> had <sn="5414">given</s>: and the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="5414">granted</s> him <sn="3605">all</s> his <sn="1246">request</s>, according to the <sn="3027">hand</s> of the <sn="3068">LORD</s> his <sn="430">God</s><sn="5921">upon</s> him. </v>
<vn='7'>And there went <sn="5927">up</s> some of the <sn="4480 1121">children</s> of <sn="3478">Israel</s>, and <sn="4480">of</s> the <sn="3548">priests</s>, and the <sn="3881">Levites</s>, and the <sn="7891">singers</s>, and the <sn="7778">porters</s>, and the <sn="5411">Nethinims</s>, <sn="413">unto</s><sn="3389">Jerusalem</s>, in the <sn="7651">seventh</s><sn="8141">year</s> of <sn="783">Artaxerxes</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>. </v>
<vn='8'>And he <sn="935">came</s> to <sn="3389">Jerusalem</s> in the <sn="2549">fifth</s><sn="2320">month</s>, <sn="1931">which</s> was in the <sn="7637">seventh</s><sn="8141">year</s> of the <sn="4428">king</s>. </v>
<vn='9'><sn="3588">For</s> upon the <sn="259">first</s> day of the <sn="7223">first</s><sn="2320">month</s><sn="3246">began</s><sn="1931">he</s> to go <sn="4609">up</s> from <sn="4480 894">Babylon</s>, and on the <sn="259">first</s> day of the <sn="2549">fifth</s><sn="2320">month</s><sn="935">came</s> he <sn="413">to</s><sn="3389">Jerusalem</s>, according to the <sn="2896">good</s><sn="3027">hand</s> of his <sn="430">God</s><sn="5921">upon</s> him. </v>
<vn='10'><sn="3588">For</s><sn="5830">Ezra</s> had <sn="3559">prepared</s> his <sn="3824">heart</s> to <sn="1875">seek</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="8451">law</s> of the <sn="3068">LORD</s>, and to <sn="6213">do</s> it, and to <sn="3925">teach</s> in <sn="3478">Israel</s><sn="2706">statutes</s> and <sn="4941">judgments</s>. </v>
<vn='11'>Now <sn="2088">this</s> is the <sn="6572">copy</s> of the <sn="5406">letter</s><sn="834">that</s> the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="783">Artaxerxes</s><sn="5414">gave</s> unto <sn="5830">Ezra</s> the <sn="3548">priest</s>, the <sn="5608">scribe</s>, even a <sn="5608">scribe</s> of the <sn="1697">words</s> of the <sn="4687">commandments</s> of the <sn="3068">LORD</s>, and of his <sn="2706">statutes</s><sn="5921">to</s><sn="3478">Israel</s>. </v>
<vn='12'><sn="783">Artaxerxes</s>, <sn="4430">king</s> of <sn="4430">kings</s>, unto <sn="5831">Ezra</s> the <sn="3549">priest</s>, a <sn="5613">scribe</s> of the <sn="1882">law</s><sn="1768">of</s> the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="8065">heaven</s>, <sn="1585">perfect</s> peace, and at such a <sn="3706">time</s>. </v>
<vn='13'>I <sn="7761">make</s> a <sn="2942">decree</s>, <sn="1768">that</s><sn="3606">all</s> they <sn="4481">of</s> the <sn="5972">people</s> of <sn="3479">Israel</s>, and of his <sn="3549">priests</s> and <sn="3879">Levites</s>, in my <sn="4437">realm</s>, which are minded of their own <sn="5069">freewill</s> to go <sn="1946">up</s> to <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>, <sn="1946">go</s><sn="5974">with</s> thee. </v>
<vn='14'><sn="3606 6903 1768">Forasmuch</s> as thou art <sn="7972">sent</s><sn="4481 6925">of</s> the <sn="4430">king</s>, and of his <sn="7655">seven</s><sn="3272">counselors</s>, to <sn="1240">inquire</s><sn="5922">concerning</s><sn="3061">Judah</s> and <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>, according to the <sn="1882">law</s> of thy <sn="426">God</s><sn="1768">which</s> is in thine <sn="3028">hand</s>; </v>
<vn='15'>And to <sn="2987">carry</s> the <sn="3702">silver</s> and <sn="1722">gold</s>, <sn="1768">which</s> the <sn="4430">king</s> and his <sn="3272">counselors</s> have freely <sn="5069">offered</s> unto the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="3479">Israel</s>, <sn="1768">whose</s><sn="4907">habitation</s> is in <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>, </v>
<vn='16'>And <sn="3606">all</s> the <sn="3702">silver</s> and <sn="1722">gold</s><sn="1768">that</s> thou canst <sn="7912">find</s> in <sn="3606">all</s> the <sn="4083">province</s> of <sn="895">Babylon</s>, <sn="5974">with</s> the freewill <sn="5069">offering</s> of the <sn="5974">people</s>, and of the <sn="3549">priests</s>, offering <sn="5069">willingly</s> for the <sn="1005">house</s> of their <sn="426">God</s><sn="1768">which</s> is in <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>: </v>
<vn='17'><sn="3606 6903 1836">That</s> thou mayest <sn="7066">buy</s><sn="629">speedily</s> with <sn="1836">this</s><sn="3702">money</s><sn="8450">bullocks</s>, <sn="1798">rams</s>, <sn="563">lambs</s>, with their meat <sn="4504">offerings</s> and their drink <sn="5261">offerings</s>, and <sn="7127">offer</s><sn="1994">them</s><sn="5922">upon</s> the <sn="4056">altar</s><sn="1768">of</s> the <sn="1005">house</s> of your <sn="426">God</s><sn="1768">which</s> is in <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>. </v>
<vn='18'>And <sn="4101 1768">whatsoever</s> shall seem <sn="3191">good</s><sn="5922">to</s> thee, and <sn="5922">to</s> thy <sn="252">brethren</s>, to <sn="5648">do</s> with the <sn="7606">rest</s> of the <sn="3702">silver</s> and the <sn="1722">gold</s>, that <sn="5648">do</s> after the <sn="7470">will</s> of your <sn="426">God</s>. </v>
<vn='19'>The <sn="3984">vessels</s> also <sn="1768">that</s> are <sn="3052">given</s> thee for the <sn="6402">service</s> of the <sn="1005">house</s> of thy <sn="426">God</s>, those <sn="8000">deliver</s> thou <sn="6925">before</s> the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="3390">Jerusalem</s>. </v>
<vn='20'>And whatsoever <sn="7606">more</s> shall be <sn="2819">needful</s> for the <sn="1005">house</s> of thy <sn="426">God</s>, <sn="1768">which</s> thou shalt have <sn="5308">occasion</s> to <sn="5415">bestow</s>, <sn="5415">bestow</s> it out <sn="4481">of</s> the <sn="4430">king</s> 's <sn="1596">treasure</s><sn="1005">house</s>. </v>
<vn='21'>And I, even <sn="576">I</s><sn="783">Artaxerxes</s> the <sn="4430">king</s>, do <sn="7761">make</s> a <sn="2942">decree</s> to <sn="3606">all</s> the <sn="1490">treasurers</s><sn="1768">which</s> are <sn="5675">beyond</s> the <sn="5103">river</s>, <sn="1768">that</s><sn="3606 1768">whatsoever</s><sn="5831">Ezra</s> the <sn="3549">priest</s>, the <sn="5613">scribe</s> of the <sn="1882">law</s><sn="1768">of</s> the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="8065">heaven</s>, shall <sn="7593">require</s> of you, it be <sn="5648">done</s><sn="629">speedily</s>, </v>
<vn='22'><sn="5705">Unto</s> a <sn="3969">hundred</s><sn="3604">talents</s> of <sn="3702">silver</s>, and <sn="5705">to</s> a <sn="3969">hundred</s><sn="3734">measures</s> of <sn="2591">wheat</s>, and <sn="5705">to</s> a <sn="3969">hundred</s><sn="1325">baths</s> of <sn="2562">wine</s>, and <sn="5705">to</s> a <sn="3969">hundred</s><sn="1325">baths</s> of <sn="4887">oil</s>, and <sn="4416">salt</s><sn="1768 3809">without</s><sn="3792">prescribing</s> how much. </v>
<vn='23'><sn="3606 1768">Whatsoever</s> is <sn="2941">commanded</s><sn="4481">by</s> the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="8065">heaven</s>, let it be <sn="149">diligently</s><sn="5648">done</s> for the <sn="1005">house</s> of the <sn="426">God</s> of <sn="8065">heaven</s>: <sn="1768">for</s><sn="4101">why</s> should there <sn="1934">be</s><sn="7109">wrath</s><sn="5922">against</s> the <sn="4437">realm</s> of the <sn="4430">king</s> and his <sn="1123">sons</s>? </v>
<vn='24'>Also we <sn="3046">certify</s> you, <sn="1768">that</s> touching <sn="3606">any</s> of the <sn="3549">priests</s> and <sn="3879">Levites</s>, <sn="2171">singers</s>, <sn="8652">porters</s>, <sn="5412">Nethinims</s>, or <sn="6399">ministers</s> of <sn="1836">this</s><sn="1005">house</s> of <sn="426">God</s>, it shall <sn="3809">not</s> be <sn="7990">lawful</s> to <sn="7412">impose</s><sn="4061">toll</s>, <sn="1093">tribute</s>, or <sn="1983">custom</s>, <sn="5922">upon</s> them. </v>
<vn='25'>And <sn="607">thou</s>, <sn="5831">Ezra</s>, after the <sn="2452">wisdom</s> of thy <sn="426">God</s>, <sn="1768">that</s> is in thine <sn="3028">hand</s>, <sn="4483">set</s><sn="8200">magistrates</s> and <sn="1782">judges</s>, <sn="1768">which</s><sn="1934">may</s><sn="1780">judge</s><sn="3606">all</s> the <sn="5972">people</s><sn="1768">that</s> are <sn="5675">beyond</s> the <sn="5103">river</s>, <sn="3606">all</s> such as <sn="3046">know</s> the <sn="1882">laws</s> of thy <sn="426">God</s>; and <sn="3046">teach</s> ye them <sn="1768">that</s><sn="3046">know</s> them <sn="3809">not</s>. </v>
<vn='26'>And <sn="3606 1768">whosoever</s><sn="1934">will</s><sn="3809">not</s><sn="5648">do</s> the <sn="1882">law</s><sn="1768">of</s> thy <sn="426">God</s>, and the <sn="1882">law</s><sn="1768">of</s> the <sn="4430">king</s>, <sn="1934">let</s><sn="1780">judgment</s> be <sn="5648">executed</s><sn="629">speedily</s><sn="4481">upon</s> him, <sn="2006">whether</s> it be unto <sn="4193">death</s>, <sn="2006">or</s> to <sn="8332">banishment</s>, <sn="2006">or</s> to <sn="6065">confiscation</s> of <sn="5232">goods</s>, or to <sn="613">imprisonment</s>. </v>
<vn='27'><sn="1288">Blessed</s> be the <sn="3068">LORD</s><sn="430">God</s> of our <sn="1">fathers</s>, <sn="834">which</s> hath <sn="5414">put</s> such a thing as <sn="2063">this</s> in the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="3820">heart</s>, to <sn="6286">beautify</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="1004">house</s> of the <sn="3068">LORD</s><sn="834">which</s> is in <sn="3389">Jerusalem</s>: </v>
<vn='28'>And hath <sn="5186">extended</s><sn="2617">mercy</s><sn="5921">unto</s> me <sn="6440">before</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, and his <sn="3289">counselors</s>, and before <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="1368">mighty</s><sn="8269">princes</s>. And <sn="589">I</s> was <sn="2388">strengthened</s> as the <sn="3027">hand</s> of the <sn="3068">LORD</s> my <sn="430">God</s> was <sn="5921">upon</s> me, and I gathered <sn="6908">together</s> out of <sn="4480 3478">Israel</s> chief <sn="7218">men</s> to go <sn="5927">up</s><sn="5973">with</s> me. </v>