4. And the king did him honor: for he found grace in hid sight in all his requests.
5. There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and Levites, and holy singers, and porters, and temple servants, to Jerusalem,
6. in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon on the new moon of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them for his sake.
7. For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.
8. Now the commission, which was written from Artaxerxes the king, came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, whereof this that follows is a copy;
9. King Artaxerxes to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting:
10. Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites, and of those within our realm, as are willing and desirous, should go with you to Jerusalem.
11. As many therefore as have a mind thereto, let them depart with you, as it has seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counselors;
12. that they may look to the affairs of Judaea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord,
13. and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed; and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord in Jerusalem,
14. with that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God that is at Jerusalem, be collected: even the gold and silver for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereto appertaining;
15. to the end that they may offer sacrifices to the Lord upon the altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.
16. And whatever you and your brethren are minded to do with gold and silver, that perform, according to the will of your God.
17. And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given you for the use of the temple of your God, which is in Jerusalem:
18. and whatever thing else you shall remember for the use of the temple of your God, you shall give it out of the king’s treasury.
19. And I king Artaxerxes have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phoenicia, that whatever Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Most High God shall send for, they should give it him with all diligence,
20. to the sum of a hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to a hundred measures, and a hundred firkins of wine, and salt in abundance.
21. Let all things be performed after the law of God diligently to the most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
22. I command you also, that no tax, nor any other imposition, be laid upon any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or temple servants, or any that have employment in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose anything upon them.
23. And you, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phoenicia all those that know the law of your God; and those that know it not you shall teach.