1. Many years later, when Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, a man named Ezra came from Babylon. He traced his ancestry back to Aaron, the High Priest, as follows: Ezra was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum,
2. son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron.
3-4. Ezra was a scholar with a thorough knowledge of the Law which the God of Israel had given to Moses. The emperor had a high regard for him and approved all the requests he made. Ezra set out from Babylonia
5. for Jerusalem with a group of Israelites which included priests, Levites, Temple musicians, Temple guards, and workmen.
6. They left Babylonia on the first day of the first month in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes. God gave them a safe journey, and they arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month.
7. Ezra had a thorough knowledge of the Law of the Lord and neglected none of its details. As a result he could teach all its laws and regulations to all the people of Israel.
8. The following is a copy of the decree that Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law of the Lord:
9. “From Artaxerxes the emperor to Ezra the priest, scholar of the Law of the Lord, greetings.
10. “In my generosity I have decided to decree that throughout my empire any of the Jews who so desire, including priests and Levites, may go with you to Jerusalem.
11. I and the seven counsellors who hold the title ‘Friends of the Emperor’ have decided that all who wish to do so may go with you.
12. Let them investigate the conditions in Jerusalem and Judah to see how well the Law of the Lord is being obeyed.
13. Let them also take with them to Jerusalem the gifts which I and my counsellors have vowed to give to the Lord of Israel, including all the silver and gold belonging to the Lord which may be found in Babylonia,
14. and all that is given by the people of Israel for the temple of their Lord. The silver and gold are to be collected to buy bulls, rams, lambs, and everything else that is necessary,
15. so that sacrifices may be offered on the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem.
16. “You may use the silver and gold for whatever you and your fellow-Israelites desire, in accordance with the will of God.
17-18. You may obtain from the royal treasury the sacred vessels of the Lord that are being entrusted to you for use in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem, as well as anything else you may need for the Temple service.
19. “I command all the treasury officials in Greater Syria and Phoenicia to provide promptly for Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law of God Most High, everything he asks for,
20. up to a limit of 3.4 tonnes of silver, ten tonnes of wheat, 2,000 litres of wine, and as much salt as may be needed.
21. You must be careful to do everything that the Law requires in order to honour God Most High and so make sure that he is never angry with me or with those who reign after me.