Now afterthesethings, in the reignof Artaxerxeskingof Persia, Ezrathe sonof Seraiah, the sonof Azariah, the sonof Hilkiah, The sonof Shallum, the sonof Zadok, the sonof Ahitub, The sonof Amariah, the sonof Azariah, the sonof Meraioth, The sonof Zerahiah, the sonof Uzzi, the sonof Bukki, The sonof Abishua, the sonof Phinehas, the sonof Eleazar, the sonof Aaronthe chiefpriest: ThisEzrawent upfrom Babylon; and he was a readyscribein the lawof Moses, whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given: and the kinggrantedhim allhis request, according to the handof the LORDhis Goduponhim. And there went up some of the childrenof Israel, and ofthe priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, untoJerusalem, in the seventhyearof Artaxerxesthe king. And he cameto Jerusalemin the fifthmonth, which was in the seventhyearof the king. Forupon the first day of the firstmonthbeganheto go upfrom Babylon, and on the first day of the fifthmonthcamehe toJerusalem, according to the goodhandof his Goduponhim. ForEzrahad preparedhis heartto seekthe lawof the LORD, and to do it , and to teachin Israelstatutesand judgments. Now this is the copyof the letterthatthe kingArtaxerxesgaveunto Ezrathe priest, the scribe, even a scribeof the wordsof the commandmentsof the LORD, and of his statutestoIsrael. Artaxerxes, kingof kings, unto Ezrathe priest, a scribeof the lawofthe Godof heaven, perfect peace , and at such a time. I makea decree, thatallthey ofthe peopleof Israel, and of his priestsand Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewillto go upto Jerusalem, gowiththee. Forasmuchas thou art sentofthe king, and of his sevencounselors, to inquireconcerningJudahand Jerusalem, according to the lawof thy Godwhich is in thine hand; And to carrythe silverand gold, whichthe kingand his counselorshave freely offeredunto the Godof Israel, whosehabitation is in Jerusalem, And allthe silverand goldthatthou canst findin allthe provinceof Babylon, withthe freewill offeringof the people, and of the priests, offering willinglyfor the houseof their Godwhich is in Jerusalem: Thatthou mayest buyspeedilywith thismoneybullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offeringsand their drink offerings, and offerthemuponthe altarofthe houseof your Godwhich is in Jerusalem. And whatsoevershall seem goodtothee, and tothy brethren, to dowith the restof the silverand the gold, that doafter the willof your God. The vesselsalso thatare giventhee for the serviceof the houseof thy God, those deliverthou beforethe Godof Jerusalem. And whatsoever moreshall be needfulfor the houseof thy God, whichthou shalt have occasionto bestow, bestow it out ofthe king's treasurehouse. And I, even IArtaxerxesthe king, do makea decreeto allthe treasurerswhich are beyondthe river, thatwhatsoeverEzrathe priest, the scribeof the lawofthe Godof heaven, shall requireof you, it be donespeedily, Untoa hundredtalentsof silver, and toa hundredmeasuresof wheat, and toa hundredbathsof wine, and toa hundredbathsof oil, and saltwithoutprescribing how much . Whatsoeveris commandedbythe Godof heaven, let it be diligentlydonefor the houseof the Godof heaven: forwhyshould there bewrathagainstthe realmof the kingand his sons? Also we certifyyou, thattouching anyof the priestsand Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministersof thishouseof God, it shall notbe lawfulto imposetoll, tribute, or custom, uponthem. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdomof thy God, that is in thine hand, setmagistratesand judges, whichmayjudgeallthe peoplethat are beyondthe river, allsuch as knowthe lawsof thy God; and teachye them thatknow them not. And whosoeverwillnotdothe lawofthy God, and the lawofthe king, letjudgmentbe executedspeedilyuponhim, whether it be unto death, orto banishment, orto confiscationof goods, or to imprisonment. Blessed be the LORDGodof our fathers, whichhath put such a thing as thisin the king's heart, to beautifythe houseof the LORDwhich is in Jerusalem: And hath extendedmercyuntome beforethe king, and his counselors, and before allthe king's mightyprinces. And Iwas strengthenedas the handof the LORDmy God was uponme, and I gathered togetherout of Israelchief mento go upwithme.