Ezra 7

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,

After all that had happened, during the rule of Artaxerxes, the Persian king, there was a man named Ezra. He was the descendant of Seraiah, Azariah, and Hilkiah.

The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

Shallum's child, born from Zadok's lineage, a descendant of Ahitub.

The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

Amariah's son, who was born from Azariah, who himself was the offspring of Meraioth.

The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

Zerahiah's child, who was born from Uzzi, who himself was the offspring of Bukki.

The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

He was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the revered high priest.

This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Ezra, a devoted scholar of Moses' law, journeyed from Babylon. God's favor was upon him, leading the king to fulfill all his requests.

And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign, a group of Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinims, journeyed with hope and reverence to Jerusalem.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

In the king's seventh year, during the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, his heart filled with anticipation and reverence.

For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

He started his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and by the first day of the fifth month, he had reached Jerusalem. All this was possible because of the divine guidance and blessings he received from his God.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Ezra had devoted his heart to understanding and following God's laws. He was committed to not only practicing them, but also teaching these principles and rules to the people of Israel.

Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and scribe, an expert in God's commands and laws for Israel.

Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

King Artaxerxes, the supreme ruler, sends his deepest peace to Ezra, the priest and scribe of God's heavenly laws, in this very moment.

I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

I declare, anyone from Israel, including priests and Levites in my kingdom, who willingly wishes to journey to Jerusalem, may accompany you.

Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

Since you've been sent by the king and his seven advisors to investigate Judah and Jerusalem, following the law of your God that you hold dear;

And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

With joy and reverence, transport the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have generously given to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem.

And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

Every bit of silver and gold you find in Babylon, along with the heartfelt donations from the people and priests, willingly given for their God's house in Jerusalem.

That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Use this money quickly to buy bulls, rams, and lambs, along with their food and drink offerings. Then present them as an offering on the altar of God's house in Jerusalem.

And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

Use the remaining silver and gold as you and your brothers see fit, but always in a way that honors God's wishes.

The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

Offer the tools given to you for God's work, before the God of Jerusalem, with all your heart.

And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.

Whatever else your God's house may need, which you feel compelled to give, generously provide it from the king's treasury.

And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

I, King Artaxerxes, command all treasurers beyond the river: Quickly fulfill any request made by Ezra, the priest and scribe of God's heavenly law.

Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

Giving generously, a hundred portions of silver, a hundred measures of wheat, a hundred vats of wine and oil, and an endless supply of salt.

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Whatever the God of heaven commands for His house must be done with utmost dedication. Why invite anger against the king's kingdom and his children?

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

We assure you, any priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or ministers of God's house should not be burdened with taxes or fees. It's simply not right.

And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

Ezra, guided by the wisdom of God within you, appoint fair and wise leaders to govern and judge those living across the river. Ensure they understand God's laws, and educate those who are unaware.

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

If anyone refuses to follow God's law and the king's law, they should face swift justice, whether it's death, exile, loss of property, or imprisonment.

Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

Praise to the LORD, our ancestors' God, who inspired the king to enhance the beauty of the LORD's house in Jerusalem.

And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

He has shown me His kindness before the king, his advisors, and all his powerful princes. I felt empowered, knowing God's hand was guiding me, and I rallied the leaders of Israel to join me on my journey.