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Ezra 1:1-3
New Catholic Bible
Ezra 1:1-3
New Catholic Bible
The Return from the Exile
Chapter 1
The Decree of Cyrus. 1 In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue the following proclamation throughout his kingdom and also have it put in writing:
2 “King Cyrus of Persia says this: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and in addition he has designated me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 May God be with all those among you who belong to his people.[a] They are to go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
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- Ezra 1:3 Belong to his people: it seems strange that someone who is not a Jew is entrusted with the responsibility to return God’s people to their homeland. Cyrus, who ruled over what was formerly Assyria and Babylon offers immunity to the entire 12 tribes; however, his invitation to rebuild God’s temple is only acknowledged by Judah and Benjamin.
Ezra 1:1-3
New International Version
Ezra 1:1-3
New International Version
Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return(A)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,(B) the Lord moved the heart(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(D) me to build(E) a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
New International Version (NIV) 
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