rsv Ezra:1:1-6 SEEK
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In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia ,
that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished ,
the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing :
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Thus says Cyrus king of Persia :
The LORD ,
the God of heaven ,
has given me all the kingdoms of the earth ,
and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem ,
which is in Judah .
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Whoever is among you of all his people ,
may his God be with him ,
and let him go up to Jerusalem ,
which is in Judah ,
and rebuild the house of the LORD ,
the God of Israel --
he is the God who is in Jerusalem ;
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and let each survivor ,
in whatever place he sojourns ,
be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold ,
with goods and with beasts ,
besides freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem ."
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Then rose up the heads of the fathers '
houses of Judah and Benjamin ,
and the priests and the Levites ,
every one whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem ;
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and all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver ,
with gold ,
with goods ,
with beasts ,
and with costly wares ,
besides all that was freely offered .