Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

1  וְאַחַר֙ (And after) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), בְּמַלְכ֖וּת (in the reign) אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא (of Artaxerxes) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) פָּרָ֑ס (of Persia), עֶזְרָא֙ (Ezra) בֶּן־ (son) שְׂרָיָ֔ה (of Seraiah), בֶּן־ (son) עֲזַרְיָ֖ה (of Azariah), בֶּן־ (son) חִלְקִיָּֽה׃ (of Hilkiah), 2  בֶּן־ (son) שַׁלּ֥וּם (of Shallum), בֶּן־ (son) צָד֖וֹק (of Zadok), בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיטֽוּב׃ (of Ahitub), 3  בֶּן־ (son) אֲמַרְיָ֥ה (of Amariah), בֶן־ (son) עֲזַרְיָ֖ה (of Azariah), בֶּן־ (son) מְרָיֽוֹת׃ (of Meraioth), 4  בֶּן־ (son) זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה (of Zerahiah), בֶן־ (son) עֻזִּ֖י (of Uzzi), בֶּן־ (son) בֻּקִּֽי׃ (of Bukki), 5  בֶּן־ (son) אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ (of Abishua), בֶּן־ (son) פִּֽינְחָס֙ (of Phinehas), בֶּן־ (son) אֶלְעָזָ֔ר (of Eleazar), בֶּן־ (son) אַהֲרֹ֥ן (of Aaron) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest) הָרֹֽאשׁ׃ (chief)— 6  ה֤וּא (himself) עֶזְרָא֙ (Ezra) עָלָ֣ה (came up) מִבָּבֶ֔ל (from Babylon), וְהֽוּא־ (and he was) סֹפֵ֤ר (a scribe) מָהִיר֙ (skilled) בְּתוֹרַ֣ת (in the Law) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (of Moses) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) נָתַ֥ן (had given) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel).

וַיִּתֶּן־ (And granted) ל֣וֹ (him) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), כְּיַד־ (according to the hand) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהָיו֙ (his God) עָלָ֔יו (upon him), כֹּ֖ל (all) בַּקָּשָׁתֽוֹ׃פ (his request), 7  וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ (and came up) מִבְּנֵֽי־ (some of the sons) יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל (of Israel), וּמִן־ (and) הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים (the priests), וְהַלְוִיִּ֜ם (and the Levites), וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים (and the singers), וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים (and the gatekeepers), וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים (and the Nethinim), אֶל־ (to) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem) בִּשְׁנַת־ (in the year) שֶׁ֖בַע (seventh) לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא (of Artaxerxes) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

8  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And Ezra came) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (to Jerusalem) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הַחֲמִישִׁ֑י (fifth), הִ֛יא (that was) שְׁנַ֥ת (in year) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖ית (the seventh) לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king). 9  כִּ֗י (For) בְּאֶחָד֙ (on the first) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן (first) ה֣וּא (he) יְסֻ֔ד (began) הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה (the ascent) מִבָּבֶ֑ל (from Babylon), וּבְאֶחָ֞ד (and on the first) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הַחֲמִישִׁ֗י (fifth) בָּ֚א (he came) אֶל־ (to) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), כְּיַד־ (according to hand) אֱלֹהָ֖יו (of his God) הַטּוֹבָ֥ה (the good) עָלָֽיו׃ (upon him). 10  כִּ֤י (For) עֶזְרָא֙ (Ezra) הֵכִ֣ין (had prepared) לְבָב֔וֹ (his heart) לִדְר֛וֹשׁ (to seek) אֶת־ (-) תּוֹרַ֥ת (the Law) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וְלַעֲשֹׂ֑ת (and to do it), וּלְלַמֵּ֥ד (and to teach) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (in Israel) חֹ֥ק (statutes) וּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ס (and ordinances).

Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

11  וְזֶ֣ה׀ (And this is) פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן (a copy) הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן (of the letter) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) נָתַן֙ (gave) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא (Artaxerxes) לְעֶזְרָ֥א (to Ezra) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest), הַסֹּפֵ֑ר (the scribe), סֹפֵ֞ר (a scribe) דִּבְרֵ֧י (of the words) מִצְוֺת־ (of the commandments) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) וְחֻקָּ֖יו (and of His statutes) עַל־ (to) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (Israel):

12  אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא (Artaxerxes), מֶ֖לֶךְ (king) מַלְכַיָּ֑א (of kings),

לְעֶזְרָ֣א (to Ezra) כָ֠הֲנָא (the priest), סָפַ֨ר (a scribe) דָּתָ֜א (of the Law) דִּֽי־ (of) אֱלָ֧הּ (the God) שְׁמַיָּ֛א (of the heavens):

גְּמִ֖יר (Peace). וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ (And now)

13  מִנִּי֮ (I) שִׂ֣ים (issue) טְעֵם֒ (a decree) דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (everyone) מִתְנַדַּ֣ב (who is willing) בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ (in my kingdom) מִן־ (from) עַמָּ֨ה (the people of) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (Israel), וְכָהֲנ֣וֹהִי (and the priests) וְלֵוָיֵ֗א (and Levites), לִמְהָ֧ךְ (to go up) לִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם (to Jerusalem) עִמָּ֖ךְ (with you), יְהָֽךְ׃ (go). 14  כָּל־ (All) קֳבֵ֗ל (according to) דִּי֩ (that) מִן־ (from) קֳדָ֨ם (before) מַלְכָּ֜א (the king), וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת (and seven) יָעֲטֹ֙הִי֙ (his counselors), שְׁלִ֔יחַ (you are sent) לְבַקָּרָ֥א (to inquire) עַל־ (concerning) יְה֖וּד (Judah) וְלִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם (and concerning Jerusalem) בְּדָ֥ת (with regard to the Law) אֱלָהָ֖ךְ (of your God) דִּ֥י (which is) בִידָֽךְ׃ (in your hand), 15  וּלְהֵיבָלָ֖ה (and to carry) כְּסַ֣ף (the silver) וּדְהַ֑ב (and gold), דִּֽי־ (which) מַלְכָּ֣א (the king) וְיָעֲט֗וֹהִי (and his counselors) הִתְנַדַּ֙בוּ֙ (have freely offered) לֶאֱלָ֣הּ (to the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), דִּ֥י (whose) בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֖ם (in Jerusalem) מִשְׁכְּנֵֽהּ׃ (dwelling is). 16  וְכֹל֙ (And all) כְּסַ֣ף (the silver) וּדְהַ֔ב (and gold) דִּ֣י (that) תְהַשְׁכַּ֔ח (you may find) בְּכֹ֖ל (in all) מְדִינַ֣ת (the province) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon), עִם֩ (along with) הִתְנַדָּב֨וּת (the freewill offering) עַמָּ֤א (of the people) וְכָֽהֲנַיָּא֙ (and the priests), מִֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ין (offering willingly) לְבֵ֥ית (for the house) אֱלָהֲהֹ֖ם (of their God) דִּ֥י (that is) בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ (in Jerusalem); 17  כָּל־ (all) קֳבֵ֣ל (that) דְּנָה֩ (therefore) אָסְפַּ֨רְנָא (diligently) תִקְנֵ֜א (buy) בְּכַסְפָּ֣א (with silver) דְנָ֗ה (this) תּוֹרִ֤ין׀ (bulls), דִּכְרִין֙ (rams), אִמְּרִ֔ין (lambs), וּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹן (and their grain offerings), וְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹן (and their drink offerings), וּתְקָרֵ֣ב (and offer) הִמּ֔וֹ (them) עַֽל־ (on) מַדְבְּחָ֔ה (altar the) דִּ֛י (of) בֵּ֥ית (the house) אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם (of your⁺ God) דִּ֥י (that is) בִירוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ (in Jerusalem). 18  וּמָ֣ה (And that) דִי֩ (which) עֲלַיִךְ (to you) וְעַל־ (and) אֶחַיִךְ (your brothers) יֵיטַ֗ב (seems good) בִּשְׁאָ֛ר (with the rest) כַּסְפָּ֥א (of the silver) וְדַהֲבָ֖ה (and gold) לְמֶעְבַּ֑ד (to do), כִּרְע֥וּת (according to the will) אֱלָהֲכֹ֖ם (of your⁺ God), תַּעַבְדֽוּן׃ (do it).

19  וּמָֽאנַיָּא֙ (And the vessels) דִּֽי־ (that) מִתְיַהֲבִ֣ין (are given) לָ֔ךְ (to you) לְפָלְחָ֖ן (for the service) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) אֱלָהָ֑ךְ (of your God), הַשְׁלֵ֕ם (deliver in full) קֳדָ֖ם (before) אֱלָ֥הּ (the God) יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם׃ (of Jerusalem). 20  וּשְׁאָ֗ר (And the rest) חַשְׁחוּת֙ (of what is needed) בֵּ֣ית (for the house) אֱלָהָ֔ךְ (of your God), דִּ֥י (which) יִפֶּל־ (may have occasion) לָ֖ךְ (you) לְמִנְתַּ֑ן (to give), תִּנְתֵּ֕ן (you are to give) מִן־ (from) בֵּ֖ית (the house) גִּנְזֵ֥י (of treasury) מַלְכָּֽא׃ (of the king).

21  וּ֠מִנִּי (And by me)— אֲנָ֞ה (I) אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא (Artaxerxes) מַלְכָּא֙ (the king)— שִׂ֣ים (is made) טְעֵ֔ם (a decree) לְכֹל֙ (to all) גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א (treasurers) דִּ֖י (who) בַּעֲבַ֣ר (are beyond) נַהֲרָ֑ה (the River), דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (all) דִּ֣י (that) יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְכוֹן (may ask of you⁺) עֶזְרָ֨א (Ezra) כָהֲנָ֜ה (the priest), סָפַ֤ר (the scribe) דָּתָא֙ (of the Law) דִּֽי־ (of) אֱלָ֣הּ (the God) שְׁמַיָּ֔א (of the heavens), אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא (diligently) יִתְעֲבִֽד׃ (let it be done). 22  עַד־ (Up to) כְּסַף֮ (silver) כַּכְּרִ֣ין (talents) מְאָה֒ (of a hundred), וְעַד־ (and) חִנְטִין֙ (wheat) כֹּרִ֣ין (cors) מְאָ֔ה (of a hundred), וְעַד־ (and) חֲמַר֙ (wine) בַּתִּ֣ין (baths) מְאָ֔ה (of a hundred), וְעַד־ (and) בַּתִּ֥ין (baths) מְשַׁ֖ח (of oil) מְאָ֑ה (a hundred), וּמְלַ֖ח (and salt) דִּי־ (that is) לָ֥א (not) כְתָֽב׃ (is written), 23  כָּל־ (all) דִּ֗י (that) מִן־ (is by) טַ֙עַם֙ (the decree) אֱלָ֣הּ (of the God) שְׁמַיָּ֔א (of the heavens), יִתְעֲבֵד֙ (let it be done) אַדְרַזְדָּ֔א (diligently) לְבֵ֖ית (for the house) אֱלָ֣הּ (of the God) שְׁמַיָּ֑א (of the heavens), דִּֽי־ (for) לְמָ֤ה (why) לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ (should there be) קְצַ֔ף (wrath) עַל־ (against) מַלְכ֥וּת (the kingdom) מַלְכָּ֖א (of the king) וּבְנֽוֹהִי׃ (and sons)? 24  וּלְכֹ֣ם (And to you⁺) מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין (we inform) דִּ֣י (that) כָל־ (on any) כָּהֲנַיָּ֣א (of the priests) וְ֠לֵוָיֵא (and Levites), זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤א (singers), תָרָֽעַיָּא֙ (gatekeepers), נְתִ֣ינַיָּ֔א (Nethinim), וּפָ֣לְחֵ֔י (or servants) בֵּ֖ית (of house) אֱלָהָ֣א (of God) דְנָ֑ה (this), מִנְדָּ֤ה (tax), בְלוֹ֙ (tribute), וַהֲלָ֔ךְ (or custom) לָ֥א (not) שַׁלִּ֖יט (there is authority) לְמִרְמֵ֥א (to impose) עֲלֵיהֹֽם׃ (on them).

25  וְאַ֣נְתְּ (And you), עֶזְרָ֗א (Ezra), כְּחָכְמַ֨ת (according to wisdom) אֱלָהָ֤ךְ (of your God) דִּֽי־ (that is) בִידָךְ֙ (in your hand), מֶ֣נִּי (appoint) שָׁפְטִ֞ין (magistrates) וְדַיָּנִ֗ין (and judges) דִּי־ (who) לֶהֱוֺ֤ן (may) דָּאֲנִין (judge) לְכָל־ (all) עַמָּה֙ (the people) דִּ֚י (who are) בַּעֲבַ֣ר (beyond) נַהֲרָ֔ה (the River), לְכָל־ (all) יָדְעֵ֖י (knowing) דָּתֵ֣י (the law) אֱלָהָ֑ךְ (of your God). וְדִ֧י (And he who) לָ֦א (has not) יָדַ֖ע (known), תְּהוֹדְעֽוּן׃ (you⁺ shall cause to know). 26  וְכָל־ (And) דִּי־ (whoever) לָא֩ (not) לֶהֱוֵ֨א (will) עָבֵ֜ד (do) דָּתָ֣א (the law) דִֽי־ (of) אֱלָהָ֗ךְ (your God) וְדָתָא֙ (and the law) דִּ֣י (of) מַלְכָּ֔א (the king), אָסְפַּ֕רְנָא (diligently) דִּינָ֕ה (judgment) לֶהֱוֵ֥א (let be) מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד (done) מִנֵּ֑הּ (on him), הֵ֤ן (whether) לְמוֹת֙ (death), הֵ֣ן (or) לִשְׁרֹשׁוּ (or banishment), הֵן־ (or) לַעֲנָ֥שׁ (or confiscation) נִכְסִ֖ין (of goods) וְלֶאֱסוּרִֽין׃פ (or bonds).

Ezra Blesses God

27  בָּר֥וּךְ (Blessed be) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ (of our fathers), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) נָתַ֤ן (has put) כָּזֹאת֙ (such as this) בְּלֵ֣ב (in the heart) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), לְפָאֵ֕ר (to beautify) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (in Jerusalem), 28  וְעָלַ֣י (and to me) הִטָּה־ (has extended) חֶ֗סֶד (mercy) לִפְנֵ֤י (before the face of) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), וְיֽוֹעֲצָ֔יו (and his counselors), וּלְכָל־ (and before all) שָׂרֵ֥י (princes) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים (mighty).

וַאֲנִ֣י (And I) הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי (was encouraged) כְּיַד־ (as the hand) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהַי֙ (my God) עָלַ֔י (was upon me), וָאֶקְבְּצָ֧ה (and I gathered) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) רָאשִׁ֖ים (leading men) לַעֲל֥וֹת (to go up) עִמִּֽי׃פ (with me).