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Ezra 7 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:1 - Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia,[fn] there was a man named Ezra. He was the son[fn] of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:2 - son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:3 - son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son[fn] of Meraioth,
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:4 - son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:5 - son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:6 - This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:7 - Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:8 - Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August[fn] of that year.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:9 - He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year,[fn] and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4,[fn] for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:10 - This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.
Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:11 - King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the LORD to Israel:
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:12 - [fn]“From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:13 - “I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:14 - I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:15 - We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:16 - “Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:17 - These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:18 - Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:19 - “But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:20 - If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:21 - “I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River[fn]: ‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:22 - You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds[fn] of silver, 500 bushels[fn] of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil,[fn] and an unlimited supply of salt.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:23 - Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:24 - I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:25 - “And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:26 - Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”
Ezra Praises the LORD
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:27 - Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem!
Unchecked Copy BoxEzr 7:28 - And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the LORD my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.
NLT Footnotes
Artaxerxes reigned 465–424 B.C.
Or descendant; see 1 Chr 6:14.
Or descendant; see 1 Chr 6:6-10.
Or the first priest.
Hebrew in the fifth month. This month in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of August and September 458 B.C.
Hebrew on the first day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 8, 458 B.C.; also see note on 6:15.
Hebrew on the first day of the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 4, 458 B.C.; also see note on 6:15.
The original text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.
Aramaic the province beyond the river; also in 7:25.
Aramaic 100 talents [3,400 kilograms].
Aramaic 100 cors [18.2 kiloliters].
Aramaic 100 baths [2.1 kiloliters] of wine, 100 baths of olive oil.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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