kjv Ezra:7:11-28 SEEK
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Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest ,
the scribe ,
even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD ,
and of his statutes to Israel .
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Artaxerxes ,
king of kings ,
unto Ezra the priest ,
a scribe of the law of the God of heaven ,
perfect peace ,
and at such a time .
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I make a decree ,
that all they of the people of Israel ,
and of his priests and Levites ,
in my realm ,
which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem ,
go with thee .
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Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king ,
and of his seven counsellors ,
to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem ,
according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand ;
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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 ,
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And all the silver and gold that thou canst 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 :
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That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks ,
rams ,
lambs ,
with their meat offerings and their drink offerings ,
and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem .
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And whatsoever shall seem good to thee ,
and to thy brethren ,
to do with the rest of the silver and the gold ,
that do after the will of your God .
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The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God ,
those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem .
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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 .
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And I ,
even I Artaxerxes the king ,
do make a decree to all the treasurers which 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 speedily ,
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Unto an hundred talents of silver ,
and to an hundred measures of wheat ,
and to an hundred baths of wine ,
and to an hundred baths of oil ,
and salt without prescribing how much .
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Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven ,
let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven :
for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ?
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Also we certify you ,
that touching any of the priests and Levites ,
singers ,
porters ,
Nethinims ,
or ministers of this house of God ,
it shall not be lawful to impose toll ,
tribute ,
or custom ,
upon them .
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And thou ,
Ezra ,
after the wisdom of thy God ,
that is in thine hand ,
set magistrates and judges ,
which may judge all the people that are beyond the river ,
all such as know the laws of thy God ;
and teach ye them that know them not .
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And whosoever will not do the law of thy God ,
and the law of the king ,
let judgment be executed speedily upon him ,
whether it be unto death ,
or to banishment ,
or to confiscation of goods ,
or to imprisonment .
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Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers ,
which hath put such a thing as this in the king '
s heart ,
to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem :
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And hath extended mercy unto me before the king ,
and his counsellors ,
and before all the king '
s mighty princes .
And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me ,
and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me .