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 came up from Babylon ; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses , which the LORD God of Israel had given . The king granted him all his request , according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him . * Some of the children of Israel , the priests , the Levites , the singers , the gatekeepers , and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes . * And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month , which was in the seventh year of the king . * On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon , and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem , according to the good hand of his God upon him . * For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD , and to do it , and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel . * This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest , the scribe , expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD , and of His statutes to Israel : * Artaxerxes , king of kings , To Ezra the priest , a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven : Perfect peace , and so forth . * I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm , who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem , may go with you . * And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem , with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand ; * and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel , whose dwelling is in Jerusalem ; * and whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon , along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests , are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem -- * now therefore , be careful to buy with this money bulls , rams , and lambs , with their grain offerings and their drink offerings , and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem . * And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold , do it according to the will of your God . * Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God , deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem . * And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God , which you may have occasion to provide , pay for it from the king 's treasury . * And I , even I , Artaxerxes the king , issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River , that whatever Ezra the priest , the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven , may require of you , let it be done diligently , * up to one hundred talents of silver , one hundred kors of wheat , one hundred baths of wine , one hundred baths of oil , and salt without prescribed limit . * Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven , let it diligently be done 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 inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax , tribute , or custom on any of the priests , Levites , singers , gatekeepers , Nethinim , or servants of this house of God . * And you , Ezra , according to your God-given wisdom , set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River , all such as know the laws of your God ; and teach those who do not know them . * Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king , let judgment be executed speedily on him , whether it be death , or banishment , or confiscation of goods , or imprisonment . * Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers , who has put such a thing as this in the king 's heart , to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem , * and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors , and before all the king 's mighty princes . So I was encouraged , as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me ; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me .

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