以斯拉到达耶路撒冷

这些事以后,波斯王亚达薛西年间,以斯拉从巴比伦上到耶路撒冷。以斯拉是西莱雅的儿子,西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子,亚撒利雅是希勒迦的儿子, 希勒迦是沙龙的儿子,沙龙是撒督的儿子,撒督是亚希突的儿子, 亚希突是亚玛利雅的儿子,亚玛利雅是亚撒利雅的儿子,亚撒利雅是米拉约的儿子, 米拉约是西拉希雅的儿子,西拉希雅是乌西的儿子,乌西是布基的儿子, 布基是亚比书的儿子,亚比书是非尼哈的儿子,非尼哈是以利亚撒的儿子,以利亚撒是大祭司亚伦的儿子。 这以斯拉是位律法教师,精通以色列的上帝耶和华赐下的摩西律法。他的上帝耶和华帮助他,使王批准他的一切要求。

亚达薛西王第七年,一些以色列人、祭司、利未人、歌乐手、殿门守卫和殿役来到耶路撒冷。 8-9 这年一月一日,以斯拉从巴比伦启程去耶路撒冷,五月一日就到达那里,因为他的上帝施恩帮助他。 10 以斯拉定意研读、遵行耶和华的律法,并在以色列教导律例和典章。

亚达薛西王给以斯拉的谕旨

11 以斯拉是祭司和律法教师,精通耶和华赐给以色列的诫命和律例。亚达薛西王降旨给以斯拉,内容如下:

12 “王中之王亚达薛西降旨给精通天上上帝律法的教师以斯拉祭司,愿你平安!

13 “我现在降旨,我国中的以色列人、祭司和利未人,凡愿意上耶路撒冷的都可以与你同去。 14 我和七位谋士派你去按照你手中上帝的律法察看犹大和耶路撒冷的情况, 15 并带去我和谋士们自愿献的金银,献给住在耶路撒冷的以色列的上帝, 16 还要带去你在巴比伦省得到的金银,以及民众和祭司为耶路撒冷的上帝之殿自愿奉献的祭物。 17 你一定要用这些金银购买公牛、公绵羊和绵羊羔,以及素祭和奠祭用品,把这一切献在耶路撒冷上帝殿的祭坛上。 18 至于余下的金银,你和你的弟兄可以按你们上帝的心意妥善使用。 19 那些交托给你、用来在你上帝的殿里敬拜的器皿,你要带到耶路撒冷的上帝面前。 20 如果你们上帝的殿还需要什么,你可以从国库支取费用。

21 “我亚达薛西王降旨给河西所有的财政大臣,精通天上上帝律法的律法教师以斯拉祭司无论向你们要什么,都要速速办理, 22 可以给他银子三点四吨、麦子两万二千升、酒两千二百升、油两千二百升,盐可以随意取用。 23 不论天上的上帝为祂的殿有何要求,都要认真办理,以免祂的烈怒临到王及众王子的国。 24 我们也通知你们不可向这座上帝殿的祭司、利未人、歌乐手、殿门守卫、殿役或其他工人征收赋税。

25 “你以斯拉要运用上帝赐给你的智慧委派官员和审判官,让他们治理河西省的人民,就是明白你上帝律法的人。你要教导那些不明白你上帝律法的人。 26 凡不遵行你上帝的律法和王法的,要对他严加治罪,或处死,或发配,或抄家,或监禁。”

以斯拉赞美上帝

27 以斯拉说:

“我们祖先的上帝耶和华当受赞美!因为祂使王有这样的心意尊崇耶路撒冷耶和华的殿。 28 祂又在王及其谋士和所有权贵面前施恩于我。因为我的上帝耶和华帮助我,我便有勇气召集以色列的首领与我一同上去。”

Llegada de Esdras a Jerusalén

Pasadas estas cosas, en el reinado de Artajerjes, rey de Persia, Esdras hijo de Seraía hijo de Azarías, hijo de Hilcías, hijo de Salum, hijo de Sadoc, hijo de Ahitob, hijo de Amarías, hijo de Azarías, hijo de Meraiot, hijo de Zeraías, hijo de Uzi, hijo de Buqui, hijo de Abisúa, hijo de Finees, hijo de Eleazar, hijo de Aarón, primer sacerdote, subió de Babilonia. Esdras era un escriba diligente en la ley de Moisés, que Jehová, Dios de Israel había dado; y le concedió el rey todo lo que pidió, porque la mano de Jehová, su Dios, estaba sobre Esdras. En el séptimo año del rey Artajerjes, subieron también con él a Jerusalén algunos de los hijos de Israel, sacerdotes, levitas, cantores, porteros y sirvientes del Templo, Éste llegó a Jerusalén en el quinto mes del séptimo año del rey. El primer día del primer mes había dispuesto su partida de Babilonia, y el primero del mes quinto llegaba a Jerusalén. ¡La buena mano de Dios estaba con él! 10 Porque Esdras había preparado su corazón para estudiar la ley de Jehová y para cumplirla, y para enseñar en Israel sus estatutos y decretos.

Carta del rey Artajerjes

11 Ésta es la copia de la carta que dio el rey Artajerjes al sacerdote Esdras, escriba versado en los mandamientos de Jehová y en sus estatutos dados a Israel:

12 «Artajerjes, rey de reyes, a Esdras, sacerdote y escriba erudito en la ley del Dios del cielo: Paz.

13 »He dado la siguiente orden: Todo aquel que en mi reino pertenezca al pueblo de Israel, a sus sacerdotes y levitas, que quiera ir contigo a Jerusalén, que vaya. 14 Porque de parte del rey y de sus siete consejeros eres enviado a visitar a Judea y a Jerusalén, conforme a la ley de tu Dios que está en tus manos; 15 y a llevar la plata y el oro que el rey y sus consejeros voluntariamente ofrecen al Dios de Israel, cuya morada está en Jerusalén, 16 así como toda la plata y el oro que logres reunir en toda la provincia de Babilonia, con las ofrendas voluntarias que el pueblo y los sacerdotes entreguen voluntariamente para la casa de su Dios, la cual está en Jerusalén. 17 Comprarás, pues, diligentemente con este dinero becerros, carneros y corderos, con sus ofrendas y sus libaciones, y los ofrecerás sobre el altar de la casa de vuestro Dios, la cual está en Jerusalén. 18 Y lo que a ti y a tus hermanos os parezca hacer con la otra plata y el oro, hacedlo conforme a la voluntad de vuestro Dios. 19 Los utensilios que te son entregados para el servicio de la casa de tu Dios, los restituirás delante de Dios en Jerusalén.

20 »Todo lo que se requiere para la casa de tu Dios, que te sea necesario dar, lo darás de la casa de los tesoros del rey. 21 Yo mismo, el rey Artajerjes, doy esta orden a todos los tesoreros que están al otro lado del río, que todo lo que os pida el sacerdote Esdras, escriba de la ley del Dios del cielo, se le conceda puntualmente, 22 hasta cien talentos de plata, cien coros de trigo, cien batos de vino, cien batos de aceite, y sal sin medida.

23 »Todo lo que es mandado por el Dios del cielo, sea hecho puntualmente para la casa del Dios del cielo; pues, ¿por qué habría de caer su ira contra el reino del rey y de sus hijos? 24 A vosotros os hacemos saber que a los sacerdotes y levitas, cantores, porteros, sirvientes del Templo y ministros de la casa de Dios, ninguno podrá imponerles tributo, contribución ni renta.

25 »Y tú, Esdras, conforme a la sabiduría que tienes de tu Dios, pon jueces y gobernadores que gobiernen a todo el pueblo que está al otro lado del río, a todos los que conocen las leyes de tu Dios; y al que no las conoce, enséñaselas. 26 Y todo aquel que no cumpla la ley de tu Dios, y la ley del rey, será castigado rigurosamente, ya sea a muerte, a destierro, a pena de multa, o prisión.»

27 Bendito Jehová, Dios de nuestros padres, que puso tal cosa en el corazón del rey, para honrar la casa de Jehová que está en Jerusalén, 28 y me favoreció con su misericordia delante del rey, de sus consejeros y de todos los poderosos príncipes del rey. Así yo, fortalecido por la protección de mi Dios, reuní a los principales de Israel para que subieran a Jerusalén conmigo.

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezra’s Arrival and Work

After these things during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, , son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh the God of Israel gave. The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of Yahweh was upon him.

Some of the Israelites,[a] some priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began the journey from Babylonia; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, to do it, and to teach the regulations and judgments in Israel.

Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the scroll of the words of the commands of Yahweh and his statutes for Israel: 12 “Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of the heavens. Peace. And now 13 I issue forth a decree that any of the people of Israel, their priests, or their Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem may go with you. 14 For you are sent from the king and his seven counselors to enquire about Judah and Jerusalem concerning the law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Also, bring the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely offered to the God of Israel whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 and all of the silver and gold that you will find in the whole province of Babylonia, with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests giving willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, with diligence you must buy young bulls, young rams, lambs, and their offerings and libations. You must offer them on the altar that is in the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18 You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers to do with the remainder of the silver and gold according to the desire of your God. 19 And the vessels that were given to you for the service of the house of your God you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And the remainder of the needs for the house of your God that falls to you to provide, you may provide from the house of the king’s treasury.”

21 “I, even I, King Artaxerxes, issue forth a decree to all the treasurers who are in the province Beyond the River. Whatever the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may ask of you, let it be done with diligence, 22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred measures of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited salt.[b] 23 All that is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, otherwise wrath will come on the kingdom of the king and his sons. 24 You also should be aware that it is not permitted to place tax, tribute, or duty upon all of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, and other servants of the house of God.

25 “You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that you possess, appoint magistrates and judges who can judge all of the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God. And you will teach those who do not know. 26 All who do not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods and for imprisonment.”

27 Blessed be Yahweh the God of our ancestors,[c] who put this in the heart of the king to glorify the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem 28 and who extended to me loyal love before the king and his counselors, and before all of the mighty officials of the king. I took courage, for the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:7 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  2. Ezra 7:22 Literally, “salt that is not specified”
  3. Ezra 7:27 Or “fathers”

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(A) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(B) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(C) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(D) the son of Ahitub,(E) the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas,(F) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(G) came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted(H) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(I) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(J)

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.(K) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(L) its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,(M)

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers(N) to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given(O) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(P) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(Q) you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.(R) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(S) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(T) and sacrifice(U) them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver(V) to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.(W)

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[a] of silver, a hundred cors[b] of wheat, a hundred baths[c] of wine, a hundred baths[d] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?(X) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(Y) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(Z)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(AA) magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach(AB) any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[e](AC)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(AD) to bring honor(AE) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(AF) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,(AG) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  2. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  3. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  4. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  5. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.