11. Now this is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the kohen, the scribe, a teacher of matters pertaining to the mitzvot of Adonai and His statutes over Israel:
12. “Artaxerxes, king of kings, “To Ezra the kohen, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven.
13. “I have now issued a decree that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel—even the kohanim and Levites—who wish to go up to Jerusalem with you may go.
14. For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand,
15. and to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16. together with all the silver and gold that you find in the whole province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and the kohanim for the House of their God in Jerusalem.
17. Furthermore, with this silver you should be sure to buy bulls, rams and lambs, along with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and offer them on the altar of the House of your God in Jerusalem.
18. You may do whatever seems good to you and your brothers with the remaining silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
19. “The vessels that are entrusted to you for the service of the House of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20. The rest of the needs for the House of your God that you may have occasioned to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.