Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem

1After these actes in the reigne of Artaxerses kynge of Persia, there wente vp from Babilon, Esdras the sonne of Seraia, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Helchias, 2the sonne of Sallum, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, 3the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne Meraioth, 4the sonne of Serahia, ye sonne of Vsi, the sonne of Buki, 5the sonne of Abisua, the sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Eleasar, the sonne of Aaron the chefe prest, 6which was a quycke scrybe in the lawe of Moses, which the LORDE God of Israel dyd geue. And ye kynge gaue him all that he requyred, acordinge to the hande of the LORDE his God vpon him. 7And there wente vp certayne of the children of Israel, and of the prestes, and of the Leuites, of the syngers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims vnto Ierusalem, in the seuenth yeare of kynge Artaxerses.

8And they came to Ierusalem in the fifth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the kynge. 9For vpon the first daye of the first moneth, deuysed he to go vp from Babilon: and on ye first daye of the fifth moneth came he to Ierusalem, acordinge to the good hande of God vpon him: 10For Esdras prepared his hert to seke the lawe of the LORDE, and to do it, and to teach the precepte & iudgment in Israel.

Artaxerxes’ Letter for Ezra

11And this is the summe of the letter, that kynge Artaxerses gaue vnto Esdras the prest, the scrybe, which was a teacher in the wordes of the LORDE and of his statutes ouer Israel. 12Vnto Esdras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauen, peace and salutacion. 13I haue commaunded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the prestes and Leuites in my realme, which are mynded of their awne good wyll to go vp to Ierusalem, that they go with the, 14beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen lordes of the councell, to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem, acordinge to the lawe of God, which is in thy hade: 15And that thou shuldest take with the, syluer and golde, which the kynge and the lordes of his councell geue of their awne good wyll vnto the God of Israel (whose habitacion is at Ierusalem) 16and all the syluer and golde that thou canst fynde in all ye countre of Babilon: with it that the people and prestes geue of their awne good wil vnto the house of God at Ierusalem. 17Take thou the same, and bye diligently with the same money, calues, lambes, goates, and meatofferynges and drynkofferynges, to be offred vpon the altare of the house of youre God at Ierusalem. 18And loke what it lyketh the and thy brethren to do with the remnaunt of the money, that do after the wyll of youre God. 19And the vessels that are geuen the for the mynistracion in the house of thy God, those delyuer thou before God at Ierusalem. 20And what so euer thinge more shal be nedefull for the house of thy God, which is necessary for the to spende, let the same be geue out of the kynges chamber.

21I kynge Artaxerses haue commaunded all the treasurers beyonde the water, yt loke what so euer Esdras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heaue, requyreth of you, that ye fulfyll the same diligently, 22vntyll an hundreth taletes of syluer, and tyll an hundreth quarters of wheate, and tyll an hudreth Batthes of wyne, and tyll an hundreth Batthes of oyle, and salt without measure. 23Whatsoeuer belongeth to the lawe of the God of heauen, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaue, that there come no wrath vpon the kynges realme & his children. 24And knowne be it vnto you, that ye shall haue no auctorite to requyre taxinge & custome, and yearly rentes vpon eny of the prestes, Leuites, syngers, porters, Nethinims and mynisters in ye house of this God.

25But thou Esdras (after the wysdome of yi God that is in thy hande) set thou iudges and arbiters, to iudge all the people that is beyonde Iordane, euen all soch as knowe the lawe of thy God: and them that knowe it not, those se that ye teache. 26And who so euer wyl not diligently fulfyll the lawe of thy God, and the kynges lawe, shall haue his iudgmet for the dede, whether it be vnto death, or to be banyshed, or to be condemned in good, or to be put in preson.

Ezra Blesses God

27Praysed be the LORDE God of oure fathers, which so hath inspyred ye kynges hert to garnysh the house of God at Ierusalem: 28and hath enclyned his mercy vnto me in the presence of the kynge, and his councelers, and before all the kynges hye estates. And I was comforted (acordinge to the hade of the LORDE my God ouer me) and so gathered I the heades of Israel together, yt they mighte go vp with me.