以斯拉记 7
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
以斯拉的家世
7 這些事以後，波斯王亞達薛西在位的時候，有位以斯拉，是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子， 2 希勒家是沙龍的兒子，沙龍是撒督的兒子，撒督是亞希突的兒子， 3 亞希突是亞瑪利雅的兒子，亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子， 4 米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子，西拉希雅是烏西的兒子，烏西是布基的兒子， 5 布基是亞比書的兒子，亞比書是非尼哈的兒子，非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子，以利亞撒是大祭司亞倫的兒子。
以斯拉從巴比倫回歸
6 這位以斯拉是一位經學家，精通耶和華以色列的 神賜給摩西的律法；因為耶和華他 神的手幫助他，所以王賜他所求的一切，他就從巴比倫上來。 7 在亞達薛西王第七年，一些以色列人和一些祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的和作殿役的，和他一起上耶路撒冷去。 8 王第七年五月來到耶路撒冷。 9 正月初一，以斯拉開始從巴比倫上來；五月初一來到耶路撒冷，他 神施恩的手幫助他， 10 因為以斯拉專心尋求研究耶和華的律法，並且遵行，在以色列中教導律例和典章。
亞達薛西王給以斯拉的諭旨
11 亞達薛西王頒發諭旨給以斯拉；以斯拉是一位祭司和經學家，精通耶和華的誡命和賜給以色列之律例；諭旨內容是這樣： 12 “諸王之王亞達薛西賜諭旨給以斯拉祭司，精通天上 神律法的經學家，願你平安。 13 現在我下令：住在我國中的以色列人中，願意上到耶路撒冷去的祭司和利未人，他們都可以與你同去。 14 你既然是王和他七位顧問所派去的，就要照著你手中 神的律法書，查察猶大和耶路撒冷的情況。 15 你要把王和他顧問甘心獻的金銀帶去，奉獻給住在耶路撒冷之以色列的 神； 16 也要帶著你在巴比倫全省所得的金銀，連同人民和祭司甘心樂意獻給在耶路撒冷 神的殿的禮物， 17 使你可以用這些銀子審慎地購買公牛、公綿羊、綿羊羔，以及與祭牲同獻的素祭和奠祭，獻在耶路撒冷你們 神的殿的祭壇上。 18 剩餘的金銀，你和你的族人看怎麼辦好，就怎麼用；只要照著你們 神的旨意去作就是了。 19 至於交給你為你 神殿中事奉用的器皿，你要放在耶路撒冷的 神面前。 20 如果你需要支付你 神的殿其餘的費用，你可以從王的庫房裡支付。 21 我亞達薛西王下令給在河西那邊所有的庫官：無論以斯拉祭司，這位精通天上 神律法的經學家，向你們要求甚麼，你們都要審慎照辦。 22 他可以要銀子三千四百公斤，麥子一百公斤，酒二千二百公升，油二千二百公升，鹽卻不受限制。 23 天上的 神命令的，就要為天上 神的殿熱心去作，免得忿怒臨到王和王的子孫的國。 24 我要你們知道，凡是祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的，作殿役的和在這 神的殿裡作僕人的，都不可以向他們徵收稅款、貢物和糧食。 25 至於你以斯拉，你要照著你手中 神的智慧書，委任法官和官吏，治理在河西那邊所有明白你 神的律法的人民，那些不曉得律法的人，你要教導他們。 26 不遵守你 神的律法和王的律法的，就要審慎地判決處分，或是處死、或是放逐、或是沒收家產、或是囚禁。”
以斯拉稱頌 神
27 以斯拉說：“耶和華我們列祖的 神是應該稱頌的，因為他把這樣的意念放在君王的心裡，使他修飾那在耶路撒冷的耶和華的殿； 28 又使我在王和謀士，以及王手下有權勢的領袖面前蒙恩。因為耶和華我 神的手幫助我，我就有勇氣，召集以色列中一些首領，與我一同上來。”
Ezra 7
New Century Version
Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
7 After these things[a] during the rule of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest. 6 This Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon. He was a teacher and knew well the Teachings of Moses that had been given by the Lord, the God of Israel. Ezra received everything he asked for from the king, because the Lord his God was helping him. 7 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes more Israelites came to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants.
8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of Artaxerxes’ seventh year as king. 9 Ezra had left Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because God was helping him. 10 Ezra had worked hard to know and obey the Teachings of the Lord and to teach his rules and commands to the Israelites.
Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
11 King Artaxerxes had given a letter to Ezra, a priest and teacher who taught about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the letter:
12 From Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven.
Greetings.
13 Now I give this order: Any Israelite in my kingdom who wishes may go with you to Jerusalem, including priests and Levites. 14 Ezra, you are sent by the king and the seven people who advise him to ask how Judah and Jerusalem are obeying the Law of your God, which you are carrying with you. 15 Also take with you the silver and gold that the king and those who advise him have given freely to the God of Israel, whose Temple is in Jerusalem. 16 Also take the silver and gold you receive from the area of Babylon. Take the offerings the Israelites and their priests have given as gifts for the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money buy bulls, male sheep, and lambs, and the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with those sacrifices. Then sacrifice them on the altar in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18 You and your fellow Jews may spend the silver and gold left over as you want and as God wishes. 19 Take to the God of Jerusalem all the utensils for worship in the Temple of your God, 20 which we have given you. Use the royal treasury to pay for anything else you need for the Temple of your God.
21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, give this order to all the men in charge of the treasury of Trans-Euphrates: Give Ezra, a priest and a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, whatever he asks for. 22 Give him up to seventy-five hundred pounds of silver, six hundred bushels of wheat, six hundred gallons of wine, and six hundred gallons of olive oil. And give him as much salt as he wants. 23 Carefully give him whatever the God of heaven wants for the Temple of the God of heaven. We do not want God to be angry with the king and his sons. 24 Remember, you must not make these people pay taxes of any kind: priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants, and other workers in this Temple of God.
25 And you, Ezra, use the wisdom you have from your God to choose judges and lawmakers to rule the Jewish people of Trans-Euphrates. They know the laws of your God, and you may teach anyone who does not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God or of the king must be punished. He will be killed, or sent away, or have his property taken away, or be put in jail.
27 Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He caused the king to want to honor the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. 28 The Lord has shown me, Ezra, his love in the presence of the king, those who advise the king, and the royal officers. Because the Lord my God was helping me, I had courage, and I gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.
Footnotes
- 7:1 After these things There is a time period of about sixty years between chapters six and seven.
Ezra 7
Easy-to-Read Version
Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
7 After these things,[a] during the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah. 2 Hilkiah was the son of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Ahitub. 3 Ahitub was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Meraioth. 4 Meraioth was the son of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the son of Uzzi. Uzzi was the son of Bukki. 5 Bukki was the son of Abishua. Abishua was the son of Phinehas. Phinehas was the son of Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron the high priest.
6 Ezra came to Jerusalem from Babylon. He was a teacher[b] and knew the Law of Moses very well. The Law of Moses was given by the Lord, the God of Israel. King Artaxerxes gave Ezra everything he asked for because the Lord was with Ezra. 7 Among the people who came with Ezra were Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants. They arrived in Jerusalem during the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month[c] of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king. 9 Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. With God’s blessing his trip went well. 10 Ezra had always given his time and attention to studying and obeying the law of the Lord. He also loved to teach its rules and commandments to others in Israel.
King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
11 Ezra was a priest and teacher. He knew much about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the teacher:
12 [d] From King Artaxerxes,
To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the law of the God of heaven:
Greetings!
13 I give this order: Any of the Israelites living in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who want to go with you to Jerusalem, may go.
14 I and my seven advisors send you to Judah and Jerusalem. Go and see how your people are doing in obeying the law of your God. You have that law with you.
15 I and my advisors are giving gold and silver to the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. You must take this gold and silver with you. 16 You must also go through all the provinces of Babylonia. Collect the gifts from your people, from the priests, and from the Levites. The gifts are for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
17 Use this money to buy bulls, rams, and male lambs. Buy the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with these sacrifices. Then sacrifice them on the altar in the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18 Then you and the other Jews may spend the silver and gold left over any way you want to. Use it in a way that is pleasing to your God. 19 Take all these things to the God of Jerusalem. They are for the worship in the Temple of your God. 20 And you may get any other things that you need for the Temple of your God. Use the money in the king’s treasury to buy anything you need.
21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, give this order: I order all the men who keep the king’s money in the area west of the Euphrates River to give Ezra anything he wants. Ezra is a priest and a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven. Do this quickly and completely. 22 Give this much to Ezra: 3 3/4 tons[e] of silver, 600 bushels[f] of wheat, 600 gallons[g] of wine, 600 gallons of olive oil, and as much salt as Ezra wants. 23 Anything that the God of heaven has ordered for Ezra to get, you must give to Ezra quickly and completely. Do this for the Temple of the God of heaven. We don’t want God to be angry with my kingdom or my sons.
24 I want you men to know that it is against the law to make the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants, and other workers in God’s Temple pay taxes. They don’t have to pay taxes, money to honor the king, or any customs fees. 25 Ezra, I give you the authority to use the wisdom you have from your God and choose civil and religious judges. These men will be judges for all the people living in the area west of the Euphrates River. They will judge all the people who know the laws of your God and they will teach those who don’t know those laws. 26 Anyone who does not obey the law of your God, or the law of the king, must be punished. Depending on the crime, they must be punished with death, or sent away to another country, or their property taken away, or put into prison.
Ezra Praises God
27 [h] Blessed is the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He put the idea into the king’s heart to honor the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. 28 God showed his faithful love to me in front of the king, his advisors, and the king’s important officials. The Lord my God was with me, and that gave me courage. I gathered together the leaders of Israel to go with me to Jerusalem.
Footnotes
- Ezra 7:1 After these things There is a time period of 58 years between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. The story of Esther takes place at this time.
- Ezra 7:6 teacher Literally, “scribe.” This was a person who made copies of books. These men studied those books and became teachers.
- Ezra 7:8 fifth month That is, July–August, 458 B.C.
- Ezra 7:12 Here, the text changes from Hebrew to Aramaic.
- Ezra 7:22 3 3/4 tons Literally, “100 talents” (3450 kg).
- Ezra 7:22 600 bushels Literally, “100 cors” (22,000 l).
- Ezra 7:22 600 gallons Literally, “100 baths” (2200 l).
- Ezra 7:27 Here, the text changes from Aramaic back to Hebrew.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International