^23 (A)For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, ^(B)as every day required.

⁴⁷ And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the ^(A)daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; ^(B)and they set apart that which was for the Levites; ^(C)and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

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^[a] of silver, 100 cors^[b] of wheat, 100 baths^[c] 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 ^(A)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.

⁸ Moreover, ^(A)I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. ⁹ And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail,

³³ Now these, the ^(A)singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night.