Ezra:7

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* And after these things , in the reign of Artaxerxes , king of Persia , Ezra the son of Seraiah , the son of Azariah , the son of Hilkijah , * the son of Shallum , the son of Zadok , the son of Ahitub , * the son of Amariah , the son of Azariah , the son of Meraioth , * the son of Zerahiah , the son of Uzzi , the son of Bukki , * the son of Abishua , the son of Phinehas , the son of Eleazar , the son of Aaron the chief priest , * -- this Ezra went up from Babylon ; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses , which Jehovah the God of Israel had given . And the king granted him all his request , according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him . * (And there went up [some ] of the children of Israel , and of the priests , and the Levites , and the singers , and the doorkeepers , and the Nethinim , to Jerusalem , in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king .) * And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month , which was in the seventh year of the king . * For upon the first of the first month the project of going up from Babylon was determined on , and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem , according to the good hand of his God upon him . * For Ezra had directed his heart to seek the law of Jehovah and to do it , and to teach in Israel the statutes and the ordinances . * And this is the copy of the letter that king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest , the scribe , a scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah , and of his statutes to Israel : * Artaxerxes , king of kings , to Ezra the priest , an accomplished scribe of the law of the God of the heavens , and so forth . * I have given orders that all they of the people of Israel , and of their priests and the Levites , in my realm , who are disposed to go to Jerusalem , go with thee . * Because thou art sent by the king , and by his seven counsellors , to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem , according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand ; * and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel , whose habitation is at Jerusalem , * and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon , besides the voluntary offering of the people , and of the priests , who offer willingly for the house of their God which is at Jerusalem . * Therefore thou shalt buy diligently with this money bullocks , rams , lambs , with their oblations and their drink-offerings , and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is at Jerusalem . * And whatever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold , that do according to the will of your God . * And the vessels that have been given thee for the service of the house of thy God , deliver before the God of Jerusalem . * And whatever 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 . * And I , I Artaxerxes the king , do give orders to all the treasurers that are beyond the river , that whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of the God of the heavens shall require of you , it be done diligently , * unto a hundred talents of silver , and to a hundred measures of wheat , and to a hundred baths of wine , and to a hundred baths of oil , and salt without prescribing [how much ]. * Whatever is commanded by the God of the heavens , let it be carefully done for the house of the God of the heavens ; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ? * Also we inform you , as regards all the priests and Levites , singers , doorkeepers , Nethinim , and ministers of this house of God , it shall not be lawful to impose tribute , tax , and toll upon them . * And thou , Ezra , after the wisdom of thy God , which is in thy hand , set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people that are beyond the river , all such as know the laws of thy God ; and teach ye him that knows [them ] not . * And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of the king , let judgment be executed diligently upon him , whether unto death , or to banishment , or to confiscation of goods , or to imprisonment . * Blessed be Jehovah the God of our fathers , who has put [such a thing ] as this in the king 's heart , to beautify the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem ; * and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counsellors , and before all the king 's mighty princes . And I was strengthened , as the hand of Jehovah my God was upon me ; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me .

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