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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezra 7 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezra/7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/ezra/7-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Ezra 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezra/6.htm" title="Ezra 6">◄</a> Ezra 7 <a href="../ezra/8.htm" title="Ezra 8">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/ezra/7.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> there was a man named Ezra. He was the son<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a> of Meraioth, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a> of that year. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a> and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">g</span></a> for the gracious hand of his God was on him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.</p><p class="hdg">Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the LORD to Israel:</p><p class="b"/><p class="pmo"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">h</span></a>“From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>“I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>“I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">i</span></a>: ‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">j</span></a> of silver, 500 bushels<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">k</span></a> of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">l</span></a> and an unlimited supply of salt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”</p><p class="hdg">Ezra Praises the LORD</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Praise the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezra/7-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the LORD my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:1a </span><span class="ft">Artaxerxes reigned 465–424 </span><span class="sc">b.c.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:1b </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">descendant;</span><span class="ft"> see 1 Chr 6:14.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:3 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">descendant;</span><span class="ft"> see 1 Chr 6:6-10.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:5 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">the first priest.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:8 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">in the fifth month.</span><span class="ft"> This month in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred within the months of August and September 458 </span><span class="sc">b.c.</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:9a </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">on the first day of the first month,</span><span class="ft"> of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 8, 458 </span><span class="sc">b.c.</span><span class="ft">; also see note on 6:15.</span><br><span class="fn">g</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:9b </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">on the first day of the fifth month,</span><span class="ft"> of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 4, 458 </span><span class="sc">b.c.</span><span class="ft">; also see note on 6:15.</span><br><span class="fn">h</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:12 </span><span class="ft">The original text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.</span><br><span class="fn">i</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:21 </span><span class="ft">Aramaic </span><span class="it">the province beyond the river;</span><span class="ft"> also in 7:25.</span><br><span class="fn">j</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:22a </span><span class="ft">Aramaic </span><span class="it">100 talents</span><span class="ft"> [3,400 kilograms].</span><br><span class="fn">k</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:22b </span><span class="ft">Aramaic </span><span class="it">100 cors</span><span class="ft"> [22 kiloliters].</span><br><span class="fn">l</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">7:22c </span><span class="ft">Aramaic </span><span class="it">100 baths</span><span class="ft"> [2.1 kiloliters] </span><span class="it">of wine, 100 baths of olive oil.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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