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1. After these things, during the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah.
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1. Now after H310 these H428 things H1697 , in the reign H4438 of Artaxerxes H783 king H4428 of Persia H6539 , Ezra H5830 the son H1121 of Seraiah H8304 , the son H1121 of Azariah H5838 , the son H1121 of Hilkiah H2518 ,
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2. Hilkiah was the son of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Ahitub.
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2. The son H1121 of Shallum H7967 , the son H1121 of Zadok H6659 , the son H1121 of Ahitub H285 ,
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3. Ahitub was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Meraioth.
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3. The son H1121 of Amariah H568 , the son H1121 of Azariah H5838 , the son H1121 of Meraioth H4812 ,
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4. Meraioth was the son of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the son of Uzzi. Uzzi was the son of Bukki.
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4. The son H1121 of Zerahiah H2228 , the son H1121 of Uzzi H5813 , the son H1121 of Bukki H1231 ,
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5. Bukki was the son of Abishua. Abishua was the son of Phinehas. Phinehas was the son of Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron the high priest.
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5. The son H1121 of Abishua H50 , the son H1121 of Phinehas H6372 , the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 , the son H1121 of Aaron H175 the chief H7218 priest H3548 :
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6. Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon. He was a teacher and knew the Law of Moses very well. The Law of Moses was given by the Lord, the God of Israel. King Artaxerxes gave Ezra everything he asked for because the Lord was with Ezra.
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6. This H1931 Ezra H5830 went up H5927 from Babylon H4480 H894 ; and he H1931 was a ready H4106 scribe H5608 in the law H8451 of Moses H4872 , which H834 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 had given H5414 : and the king H4428 granted H5414 him all H3605 his request H1246 , according to the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 his God H430 upon H5921 him.
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7. Among the people who came with Ezra were Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants. They arrived in Jerusalem during the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
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7. And there went up H5927 some of the children H4480 H1121 of Israel H3478 , and of H4480 the priests H3548 , and the Levites H3881 , and the singers H7891 , and the porters H7778 , and the Nethinims H5411 , unto H413 Jerusalem H3389 , in the seventh H7651 year H8141 of Artaxerxes H783 the king H4428 .
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8. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.
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8. And he came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 in the fifth H2549 month H2320 , which H1931 was in the seventh H7637 year H8141 of the king H4428 .
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9. Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. The Lord God was with Ezra.
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9. For H3588 upon the first H259 day of the first H7223 month H2320 began H3246 he H1931 to go up H4609 from Babylon H4480 H894 , and on the first H259 day of the fifth H2549 month H2320 came H935 he to H413 Jerusalem H3389 , according to the good H2896 hand H3027 of his God H430 upon H5921 him.
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10. Ezra gave all his time and attention to studying and obeying the law of the Lord. He wanted to teach the rules and commandments of the Lord to the Israelites. And he also wanted to help the people follow these laws in Israel.
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10. For H3588 Ezra H5830 had prepared H3559 his heart H3824 to seek H1875 H853 the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 , and to do H6213 it , and to teach H3925 in Israel H3478 statutes H2706 and judgments H4941 .
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11. Ezra was a priest and teacher. He knew much about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the teacher:
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11. Now this H2088 is the copy H6572 of the letter H5406 that H834 the king H4428 Artaxerxes H783 gave H5414 unto Ezra H5830 the priest H3548 , the scribe H5608 , even a scribe H5608 of the words H1697 of the commandments H4687 of the LORD H3068 , and of his statutes H2706 to H5921 Israel H3478 .
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12. From King Artaxerxes. To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of Heaven. Greetings!
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12. Artaxerxes H783 , king H4430 of kings H4430 , unto Ezra H5831 the priest H3549 , a scribe H5613 of the law H1882 of H1768 the God H426 of heaven H8065 , perfect H1585 peace , and at such a time H3706 .
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13. I give this order: Any of the Israelites living in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who want to go with you to Jerusalem, may go.
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13. I make H7761 a decree H2942 , that H1768 all H3606 they of H4481 the people H5972 of Israel H3479 , and of his priests H3549 and Levites H3879 , in my realm H4437 , which are minded of their own freewill H5069 to go up H1946 to Jerusalem H3390 , go H1946 with H5974 thee.
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14. I and my seven advisors send you to Judah and Jerusalem. Go and see how your people are doing in obeying the law of your God. You have that law with you.
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14. Forasmuch H3606 H6903 H1768 as thou art sent H7972 of H4481 H6925 the king H4430 , and of his seven H7655 counselors H3272 , to inquire H1240 concerning H5922 Judah H3061 and Jerusalem H3390 , according to the law H1882 of thy God H426 which H1768 is in thine hand H3028 ;
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15. I and my advisors are giving gold and silver to the God of Israel. God lives in Jerusalem. You must take this gold and silver with you.
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15. And to carry H2987 the silver H3702 and gold H1722 , which H1768 the king H4430 and his counselors H3272 have freely offered H5069 unto the God H426 of Israel H3479 , whose H1768 habitation H4907 is in Jerusalem H3390 ,
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16. You must also go through all the provinces of Babylonia. Collect the gifts from your people, from the priests, and from the Levites. The gifts are for their God's Temple in Jerusalem.
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16. And all H3606 the silver H3702 and gold H1722 that H1768 thou canst find H7912 in all H3606 the province H4083 of Babylon H895 , with H5974 the freewill offering H5069 of the people H5974 , and of the priests H3549 , offering willingly H5069 for the house H1005 of their God H426 which H1768 is in Jerusalem H3390 :
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17. Use this money to buy bulls, rams, and male lambs. Buy the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with these sacrifices. Then sacrifice them on the altar in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.
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17. That H3606 H6903 H1836 thou mayest buy H7066 speedily H629 with this H1836 money H3702 bullocks H8450 , rams H1798 , lambs H563 , with their meat offerings H4504 and their drink offerings H5261 , and offer H7127 them H1994 upon H5922 the altar H4056 of H1768 the house H1005 of your God H426 which H1768 is in Jerusalem H3390 .
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18. Then you and the other Jews may spend the silver and gold left over any way you want to. Use it in a way that is pleasing to your God.
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18. And whatsoever H4101 H1768 shall seem good H3191 to H5922 thee , and to H5922 thy brethren H252 , to do H5648 with the rest H7606 of the silver H3702 and the gold H1722 , that do H5648 after the will H7470 of your God H426 .
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19. Take all these things to the God of Jerusalem. They are for the worship in the Temple of your God.
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19. The vessels H3984 also that H1768 are given H3052 thee for the service H6402 of the house H1005 of thy God H426 , those deliver H8000 thou before H6925 the God H426 of Jerusalem H3390 .
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20. And you may get any other things that you need for the Temple of your God. Use the money in the king's treasury to buy anything you need.
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20. And whatsoever more H7606 shall be needful H2819 for the house H1005 of thy God H426 , which H1768 thou shalt have occasion H5308 to bestow H5415 , bestow H5415 it out of H4481 the king H4430 's treasure H1596 house H1005 .
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21. Now I, King Artaxerxes, give this order: I order all the men who keep the king's money in the area west of the Euphrates River to give Ezra anything he wants. Ezra is a priest and a teacher of the Law of the God of Heaven. Do this quickly and completely.
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21. And I, even I H576 Artaxerxes H783 the king H4430 , do make H7761 a decree H2942 to all H3606 the treasurers H1490 which H1768 are beyond H5675 the river H5103 , that H1768 whatsoever H3606 H1768 Ezra H5831 the priest H3549 , the scribe H5613 of the law H1882 of H1768 the God H426 of heaven H8065 , shall require H7593 of you , it be done H5648 speedily H629 ,
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22. Give this much to Ezra: 3?tons of silver, 600 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of olive oil, and as much salt as Ezra wants.
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22. Unto H5705 a hundred H3969 talents H3604 of silver H3702 , and to H5705 a hundred H3969 measures H3734 of wheat H2591 , and to H5705 a hundred H3969 baths H1325 of wine H2562 , and to H5705 a hundred H3969 baths H1325 of oil H4887 , and salt H4416 without H1768 H3809 prescribing H3792 how much .
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23. Anything that the God of Heaven has ordered for Ezra to get, you must give to Ezra quickly and completely. Do this for the Temple of the God of Heaven.We don't want God to be angry with my kingdom or my sons.
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23. Whatsoever H3606 H1768 is commanded H2941 by H4481 the God H426 of heaven H8065 , let it be diligently H149 done H5648 for the house H1005 of the God H426 of heaven H8065 : for H1768 why H4101 should there be H1934 wrath H7109 against H5922 the realm H4437 of the king H4430 and his sons H1123 ?
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24. I want you men to know that it is against the law to make the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants, and other workers in God's Temple pay taxes. They don't have to pay taxes, money to honor the king, or any customs fees.
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24. Also we certify H3046 you, that H1768 touching any H3606 of the priests H3549 and Levites H3879 , singers H2171 , porters H8652 , Nethinims H5412 , or ministers H6399 of this H1836 house H1005 of God H426 , it shall not H3809 be lawful H7990 to impose H7412 toll H4061 , tribute H1093 , or custom H1983 , upon H5922 them.
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25. Ezra, I give you the authority to use the wisdom you have from your God and choose civil and religious judges. These men will be judges for all the people living in the area west of the Euphrates River. They will judge all the people who know the laws of your God and they will teach those who don't know those laws.
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25. And thou H607 , Ezra H5831 , after the wisdom H2452 of thy God H426 , that H1768 is in thine hand H3028 , set H4483 magistrates H8200 and judges H1782 , which H1768 may H1934 judge H1780 all H3606 the people H5972 that H1768 are beyond H5675 the river H5103 , all H3606 such as know H3046 the laws H1882 of thy God H426 ; and teach H3046 ye them that H1768 know H3046 them not H3809 .
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26. Anyone who does not obey the law of your God, or the law of the king, must be punished. Depending on the crime, they must be punished with death, or sent away to another country, or their property taken away, or put into prison.
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26. And whosoever H3606 H1768 will H1934 not H3809 do H5648 the law H1882 of H1768 thy God H426 , and the law H1882 of H1768 the king H4430 , let H1934 judgment H1780 be executed H5648 speedily H629 upon H4481 him, whether H2006 it be unto death H4193 , or H2006 to banishment H8332 , or H2006 to confiscation H6065 of goods H5232 , or to imprisonment H613 .
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27. Blessed is the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He put the idea into the king's heart to honor the Lord's Temple in Jerusalem.
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27. Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of our fathers H1 , which H834 hath put H5414 such a thing as this H2063 in the king H4428 's heart H3820 , to beautify H6286 H853 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 which H834 is in Jerusalem H3389 :
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28. The Lord showed his faithful love to me in front of the king, his advisors, and the king's important officials. The Lord God was with me, so I was brave. I gathered together the leaders of Israel to go with me to Jerusalem.
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28. And hath extended H5186 mercy H2617 unto H5921 me before H6440 the king H4428 , and his counselors H3289 , and before all H3605 the king H4428 's mighty H1368 princes H8269 . And I H589 was strengthened H2388 as the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 my God H430 was upon H5921 me , and I gathered together H6908 out of Israel H4480 H3478 chief men H7218 to go up H5927 with H5973 me.
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