⁶ this Ezra^(A) 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^(B) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.^(C)

²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(A) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(B) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(C)”

²⁸ and who has extended his good favor^(A) 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,^(B) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

³¹ On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal^(A) to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us,^(B) and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.

²⁰ and teaching^(A) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(B) always, to the very end of the age.”^(C)

¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me^(A) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel^(A) by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me,^(B) the king granted my requests.^(C)

¹⁸ Because the gracious hand of our God was on us,^(A) they brought us Sherebiah,^(B) a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all;

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: