50. All the land that they acquired was to be exempt from taxation, and the Edomites were to surrender the villages they had taken from the Jews.
51. Each year 680 kilogrammes of silver would be given for the construction of the Temple until it was finished.
52. In addition, 340 kilogrammes of silver would be given each year to provide for the seventeen burnt offerings to be offered in the Temple each day.
53. All the Jews who left Babylonia to build the city of Jerusalem would be granted their freedom, together with their children and the priests.
54. The emperor's orders gave specific instructions, as follows: the priests were to be supported, their robes for the Temple services were to be provided,
55. the Levites were to be supported until the Temple and Jerusalem were completely rebuilt,
56. and land and wages were to be provided for all the guards of the city.
57. He also reaffirmed Cyrus' instructions that all the small utensils and Temple treasures that Cyrus had set aside should be returned to Jerusalem.
58. Then the young man Zerubbabel left the council chamber, turned towards Jerusalem, looked up to heaven, and praised the King of Heaven:
59. “Lord, all praise belongs to you; you are the source of all victory and wisdom,
60. and I thank you, O Lord of our ancestors, for giving wisdom to me, your servant.”
61. Zerubbabel took the emperor's letters and went to Babylon, where he told his fellow-Jews everything that had happened.