Ezra:7

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* 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 , * 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 the LORD , the God of Israel , had given ; and the king granted him all his request , according to the hand of the LORD 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 porters , and the Nethinim , unto 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 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 . * For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the LORD , and to do it , and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances . * Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest , the scribe , even the scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD , and of His statutes to Israel : * 'Artaxerxes , king of kings , unto Ezra the priest , the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven , and so forth . And now * I make a decree , that all they of the people of Israel , and their priests and the Levites , in my realm , that are minded of their own free will to go with thee to Jerusalem , go . * Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and 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 unto the God of Israel , whose habitation is in Jerusalem , * and all the silver and gold that thou shalt 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 ; * therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks , rams , lambs , with their meal-offerings and their drink - offerings , and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is 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 ye after the will of your God . * And the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God , deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem . * 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 . * And I , even I Artaxerxes the king , do make a decree to all the treasurers that 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 with all diligence , * 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 . * Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven , let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven ; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ? * Also we announce to you , that touching any of the priests and Levites , the singers , porters , Nethinim , or servants of this house of God , it shall not be lawful to impose tribute , impost , or toll , upon them . * And thou , Ezra , after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand , appoint 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 knoweth them not . * And whosoever will not do the law of thy God , and the law of the king , let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence , whether it be unto death , or to banishment , or to confiscation of goods , or to imprisonment .' * Blessed be the LORD , the God of our fathers , who hath put such a thing as this in the king 's heart , to beautify the house of the LORD which is 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 according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me , and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me .

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