1 And after these things, during the reign {malkhut: royal authority} of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra {ezra: priest-scribe}, son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah.
2 The son of Shallum {ben: patrilineal link}, the son of Zadok {ben: hereditary succession}, the son of Ahitub.
3 The son {ben: direct descendant} of Amariah, the son of Azariah {Azariah: Yahweh has helped}, and the son of Meraioth.
4 The son {ben: son in a genealogical line} of Zerahiah {zerahyah: founding ancestor}, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki.
5 The son {ben: direct lineage} of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest {harosh: supreme office}.
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a skilled scribe {sopher: official writer} of the law of Moses which the LORD the God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Instructor} had given. The king granted him everything he asked because the LORD his God {YHWH Elohav, Divine Favor} had placed His hand in support of him.
7 Some of the sons of Israel and of the priests and of the Levites {leviyim: tribe of temple assistants} and of the singers and of the gatekeepers and of the temple servants {nethinim: hereditary temple servants} went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month {ha-chamishi: fifth calendar month}, during the seventh year of the king {melekh: royal ruler}.
9 For on the first day of the first month he began the journey {ma'alah: upward departure} from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God {Elohav, Providential Helper} was upon him.
10 For Ezra had set his heart {levav: inner will} to seek the law of the LORD {YHWH: Divine Instructor}, to practice it, and to teach Israel statutes and judgments.
11 And this is the copy of the document that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words and statutes of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Lawgiver} concerning Israel {Yisrael: God’s chosen nation}.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven {elah shemaya: celestial authority}: peace {gemir: complete well-being}; and now {ke’enet: transition to the decree}.
13 From me, I issue a decree {taem: official royal edict} that all who volunteer in my kingdom {malkhuti: royal domain}—from the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites—to go to Jerusalem with you may go.
14 For you have been sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem regarding the law of your God {Elahakh, Covenant Authority} that is in your hand {bi-yadakh: possession and stewardship}.
15 And to bring the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have offered willingly to the God {Elah, Worship Recipient} of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem {birushlem: central sanctuary}.
16 And all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who are offering freely for the house of their God {elahahem, Worshipped Deity} which is in Jerusalem {birushlem: ancient holy city}.
17 According to all this, diligently you shall buy with this silver bulls, rams, and lambs, and their grain and drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar {madb’kha: place of sacrifice} in the house of your God {Elohakhem, Recipient of Worship} which is in Jerusalem.
18 And as for whatever seems good to you and to your brothers concerning the remainder {bishar: leftover portion} of the silver and gold, you shall do according to the will of your God {elahakhem: Covenant Sovereign}.
19 And the vessels that are being given to you for the service of the house of your God {elahakh, Devoted Protector}, deliver them before the God {elah, Revered Presence} of Jerusalem.
20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God {Eloah, Worship Center}, which may fall to you to supply, shall be given from the king’s treasury {ginzei: royal storehouse}.
21 And from me, I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree {te‘em: authoritative order} to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven {Elah shemaya, Celestial Ruler} may ask of you, it shall be done diligently.
22 Up to one hundred talents {kakrin: weight measure} of silver, up to one hundred cors of wheat, up to one hundred baths of wine, up to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without limit {ketav: written limit}.
23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven {elah shemaya, Supreme Ruler}, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven. Why should wrath {ketzaf: divine anger} come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24 And it is made known to you that concerning all the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the temple servants, and the workers of this house of God {elaha: Divine Sustainer} it is not lawful {shallit: legally permitted} to impose any tribute, custom, or toll upon them.
25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God {eloakh: Divine Source of Insight} that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who will administer justice to all the people across the River—all who know the laws of your God; and those who do not know, you shall instruct {tehodun: make known}.
26 And anyone who does not perform the law of your God {elahakh: Divine Authority} and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with full strictness—whether to death, or to banishment {lishroshi: Forced Removal}, or to confiscation of property, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the LORD {YHWH, Worship Receiver}, the God of our fathers {Elohei avoteinu, Promise Keeper}, who put this into the king’s heart—to beautify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
28 And he extended his favor to me in the presence of the king, his counselors, and all of the king’s formidable princes. I then strengthened myself {hitchazakti: took courage} because the hand of the LORD my God {YHWH Elohai, Divine Empowerer} was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.