1Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes…
2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,…
3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah,…
4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi,…
5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,…
6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was…
7So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes,…
8Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month…
9He had begun the journey from Babylon on…
10For Ezra had set his heart to study…
11This is the text of the letter King…
12Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest,…
13I hereby decree that any volunteers among the…
14You are sent by the king and his…
15Moreover, you are to take with you the…
16together with all the silver and gold you…
17With this money, therefore, you are to buy…
18You and your brothers may do whatever seems…
19You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem…
20And if anything else is needed for the…
21I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers…
22up to a hundred talents of silver, a…
23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven…
24And be advised that you have no authority…
25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of…
26If anyone does not keep the law of…
27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our…
28and who has shown me favor before the…
