Ezra Sent to Teach the People

Now after this, (A)in the reign of (B)Artaxerxes king of Persia, (C)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 (D)skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, (E)for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and (F)some of the priests and (G)Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple (H)servants. And Ezra[a] 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 to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, (I)for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it (J)and to (K)teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 12 “Artaxerxes, (L)king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the (M)scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace.[b] (N)And now 13 (O)I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king (P)and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king (Q)and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, (R)whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 (S)with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and (T)with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and (U)you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.

21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22 up to 100 talents[c] of silver, 100 cors[d] of wheat, 100 baths[e] of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. 24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose (V)tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, (W)appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. (X)And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”

27 (Y)Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, (Z)who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 (AA)and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Genealogy of Those Who Returned with Ezra

These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of (AB)Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, (AC)Hattush. Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of (AD)Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men. (AE)Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men. Of the sons of Zattu,[f] Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men. Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men. Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men. Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men. Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men. 10 Of the sons of Bani,[g] Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men. 11 (AF)Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men. 12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men. 13 Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men. 14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.

Ezra Sends for Levites

15 I gathered them to the river that runs to (AG)Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there (AH)none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and (AI)Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight, 17 and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and[h] the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And (AJ)by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of (AK)Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; 19 also (AL)Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of (AM)the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20; 20 (AN)besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all (AO)mentioned by name.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 7:8 Aramaic he
  2. Ezra 7:12 Aramaic Perfect (probably a greeting)
  3. Ezra 7:22 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  4. Ezra 7:22 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
  5. Ezra 7:22 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters
  6. Ezra 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks of Zattu
  7. Ezra 8:10 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Bani
  8. Ezra 8:17 Hebrew lacks and

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.

List of the Family Heads Returning With Ezra

These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:(AH)

of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom;

of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;

of the descendants of David, Hattush of the descendants of Shekaniah;(AI)

of the descendants of Parosh,(AJ) Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;

of the descendants of Pahath-Moab,(AK) Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;

of the descendants of Zattu,[f] Shekaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;

of the descendants of Adin,(AL) Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;

of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;

of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;

of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;

10 of the descendants of Bani,[g] Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;

11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;

12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

13 of the descendants of Adonikam,(AM) the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;

14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, and with them 70 men.

The Return to Jerusalem

15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava,(AN) and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites(AO) there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants(AP) in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us,(AQ) they brought us Sherebiah,(AR) a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants(AS)—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

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.
  6. Ezra 8:5 Some Septuagint manuscripts (also 1 Esdras 8:32); Hebrew does not have Zattu.
  7. Ezra 8:10 Some Septuagint manuscripts (also 1 Esdras 8:36); Hebrew does not have Bani.

The Ministry of Apostles

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and (A)stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (B)For I am not aware of anything against myself, (C)but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore (D)do not pronounce judgment before the time, (E)before the Lord comes, (F)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (G)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may (H)be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? (I)What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, (J)like men sentenced to death, because we (K)have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 (L)We are fools for Christ's sake, but (M)you are wise in Christ. (N)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour (O)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and (P)buffeted and (Q)homeless, 12 and we (R)labor, working with our own hands. (S)When reviled, we bless; (T)when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. (U)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, (V)the refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things (W)to make you ashamed, but to admonish you (X)as my beloved children. 15 For (Y)though you have countless[b] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For (Z)I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, (AA)be imitators of me. 17 That is why (AB)I sent[c] you Timothy, (AC)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,[d] (AD)as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are (AE)arrogant, (AF)as though I were not coming to you. 19 But (AG)I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For (AH)the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? (AI)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:15 Greek you have ten thousand
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Or am sending
  4. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus

The Nature of True Apostleship

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(A) of Christ and as those entrusted(B) with the mysteries(C) God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience(D) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(E) It is the Lord who judges me.(F) Therefore judge nothing(G) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(H) He will bring to light(I) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(J)

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(K) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(L) For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(M) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(N) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(O) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(P) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(Q) but you are so wise in Christ!(R) We are weak, but you are strong!(S) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(T) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(U) When we are cursed, we bless;(V) when we are persecuted,(W) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(X) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(Y) but to warn you as my dear children.(Z) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(AA) through the gospel.(AB) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(AC) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(AD) Timothy,(AE) my son(AF) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(AG)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(AH) as if I were not coming to you.(AI) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(AJ) if the Lord is willing,(AK) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(AL) talk but of power.(AM) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(AN) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

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Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of (A)the temple.

30 I will (B)extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes (C)rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I (D)cried to you for help,
    and you have (E)healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from (F)Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who (G)go down to the pit.[a]

Sing praises to the Lord, O you (H)his saints,
    and (I)give thanks to his holy name.[b]
(J)For his anger is but for a moment,
    and (K)his favor is for a lifetime.[c]
(L)Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but (M)joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my (N)prosperity,
    “I shall never be (O)moved.”
By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my (P)mountain stand strong;
you (Q)hid your face;
    I was (R)dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and (S)to the Lord I plead for mercy:
“What profit is there in my death,[d]
    if I go down to the pit?[e]
Will (T)the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 (U)Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into (V)dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my (W)glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 30:3 Or to life, that I should not go down to the pit
  2. Psalm 30:4 Hebrew to the memorial of his holiness (see Exodus 3:15)
  3. Psalm 30:5 Or and in his favor is life
  4. Psalm 30:9 Hebrew in my blood
  5. Psalm 30:9 Or to corruption

Psalm 30[a]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.

I will exalt(A) you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths(B)
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.(C)
Lord my God, I called to you for help,(D)
    and you healed me.(E)
You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;(F)
    you spared me from going down to the pit.(G)

Sing(H) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;(I)
    praise his holy name.(J)
For his anger(K) lasts only a moment,(L)
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;(M)
weeping(N) may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.(O)

When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”(P)
Lord, when you favored me,
    you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,(Q)
    I was dismayed.

To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
“What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?(R)
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?(S)
10 Hear,(T) Lord, and be merciful to me;(U)
    Lord, be my help.(V)

11 You turned my wailing(W) into dancing;(X)
    you removed my sackcloth(Y) and clothed me with joy,(Z)
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise(AA) you forever.(AB)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 30:1 In Hebrew texts 30:1-12 is numbered 30:2-13.
  2. Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
  3. Psalm 30:7 That is, Mount Zion

28 (A)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his (B)throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    but (C)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (D)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean (E)the innermost parts.

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28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(A) his throne is made secure.(B)

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(C)

30 Blows and wounds scrub(D) away evil,
    and beatings(E) purge the inmost being.

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