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¶ Se konsa wa Dariyis bay lòd pou yo fè chache nan tout depo kote yo te sere achiv yo ak trezò yo nan peyi Babilòn.

Epi yo jwenn yon woulo papye nan fò Achmeta, yon fòtrès ki te nan pwovens Medi a. Men sa ki te ekri nan woulo papye a:

-Nan premye lanne rèy li, wa Siris te bay lòd sa a sou tanp Bondye a nan lavil Jerizalèm: Se pou yo rebati tanp lan pou l' ka sèvi kote yo ka touye bèt ak boule ofrann nan dife pou Bondye. Tanp lan va gen trant mèt wotè, trant mèt lajè.

Y'a moute miray yo an bwa ak wòch, yonn sou lòt, twa ranje wòch pou chak ranje bwa. Y'a pran lajan nan kès wa a pou peye tout depans ki va fèt pou travay la.

Konsa tou, y'a renmèt yo tout veso an lò ak an ajan Nèbikadneza te pran nan tanp Bondye a lavil Jerizalèm pou l' te pote isit lavil Babilòn, pou tout bagay tounen nan plas yo nan tanp Bondye a lavil Jerizalèm.

Lè sa a, wa Dariyis voye repons sa a: -Pou Tatenayi, gouvènè pwovens lòt bò larivyè Lefrat la, Cheta-Boznayi ak lòt kòlèg yo ki otorite nan Afasak la. Pa pwoche bò tanp lan.

Kite yo travay nan tanp Bondye a. Se pou gouvènè pèyi Jida a ak chèf fanmi yo rebati tanp lan sou menm anplasman kote l' te ye anvan an.

Okontrè, men ki jan pou nou boule ak chèf fanmi pèp jwif yo nan travay y'ap fè pou rebati tanp Bondye sa a: N'a pran lajan nan kès wa ki nan men nou an, ki vle di nan lajan kontribisyon n'a ranmase nan pwovens la, n'a renmèt yo kòb tout depans y'a fè, san wete senk, pou travay la pa rete.

N'a bay prèt Jerizalèm yo tou sa y'a bezwen pou fè ofrann bèt pou yo boule nèt nan dife pou Bondye ki nan syèl la. Chak jou, dapre sa prèt lavil Jerizalèm yo va di nou, n'a ba yo jenn ti towo, belye, ti mouton ansanm ak ble, sèl, diven, lwil y'a bezwen pou boule pou Seyè a. Pa pote okenn neglijans nan sa.

10 Konsa, y'a ka ofri sakrifis santi bon ki va fè Seyè a plezi. Y'a lapriyè pou wa a ak pou pitit li yo.

11 Men yon lòd mwen bay ankò: si yon moun refize fè anyen nan sa m' mande la a, y'a rache yon poto bwa nan kay li, y'a fè yon pwent li, y'a pèse moun lan pak an pak ak li. Pou kay li a menm, y'a fè l' tounen yon pil fatra, poutèt sa li fè a.

12 Se pou Bondye ki chwazi lavil Jerizalèm pou se la yo bati kay li a jete tout wa, kraze tout nasyon ki ta konprann pou yo pa koute lòd mwen bay la a, epi ki ta detwi tanp Bondye a ki lavil Jerizalèm. Se mwen menm, Dariyis, ki bay lòd sa a. Se pou yo fè sa mwen bay lòd fè a san wete san mete.

13 ¶ Tatenayi, gouvènè pwovens ki lòt bò larivyè Efrat la, Cheta-Boznayi ak lòt chèf yo fè sa wa Dariyis te bay lòd fè a san wete san mete.

14 Chèf fanmi jwif yo menm rebati tanp lan san pwoblèm, avèk ankourajman Aje, pwofèt Bondye a, ak Zakari, pitit gason Ido a, t'ap ba yo ak mesaj Bondye yo. Se konsa yo fin rebati tanp lan jan Bondye pèp Izrayèl la te ba yo lòd la, ak jan Dariyis, Siris ak Atagzèsès, tou twa wa peyi Pès la, te ba yo lòd la tou.

15 Travay la fini sou twazyèm jou nan mwa Ada a, nan sizyèm lanne rèy wa Dariyis.

16 Lè sa a, tout pèp Izrayèl la, prèt yo, moun Levi yo ak tout rès moun ki te tounen yo fè fèt, yo fè gwo seremoni pou mete tanp lan apa pou sèvis Bondye.

17 Yo ofri san (100) towo, desan (200) belye mouton, katsan (400) ti mouton pou yo touye pou mete tanp lan apa pou sèvis Bondye. Yo ofri tou douz bouk kabrit, yonn pou chak branch fanmi pèp Izrayèl la, pou mande Bondye padon pou peche pèp la.

18 Apre sa, yo òganize sèvis tanp Bondye a lavil Jerizalèm. Yo separe prèt yo an divès kategori, yo separe moun Levi yo an divès klas, chak gwoup ak travay pa yo pou yo fè, jan sa ekri nan liv Moyiz la.

19 Katòzyèm jou mwa Nisan an, nan lanne senksankenz (515), jwif ki te tounen soti nan peyi kote yo te depòte yo a fete fèt Delivrans lan.

20 Yo te fè yon sèl sèvis pou tout prèt yo ansanm ak tout moun Levi yo pou mete yo nan kondisyon pou fè sèvis Bondye. Yo tout te nan kondisyon pou fè sèvis Bondye: yo touye bèt yo te ofri pou fèt Delivrans lan, yo fè yon sèl seremoni pou tout pèp la, pou prèt parèy yo ak pou yo menm tou.

21 Men moun ki te manje manje Delivrans lan. Se te tout jwif ki te tounen soti nan peyi kote yo te depòte yo a ansanm ak rès moun pèp Izrayèl yo ki pa t' janm kite peyi yo men ki te vire do bay vye bagay lòt moun yo t'ap fè nan peyi yo epi ki te vin mete tèt ansanm ak moun ki te tounen yo pou adore Seyè a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la.

22 Pandan sèt jou, yo fete Fèt Pen san ledven an ak kè kontan. Yo te kontan anpil dèske Seyè a te manyen kè wa peyi Lasiri a, ki te ankouraje yo anpil nan tout gwo travay yo t'ap fè a pou rebati tanp Bondye pèp Izrayèl la.

¶ Kèk tan apre tout evènman sa yo, sou rèy Atagzèsès, wa peyi Pès la, te gen yon nonm yo te rele Esdras ki te soti nan branch fanmi Arawon an. Papa l' te rele Seraja. Seraja te pitit Azarya, Azarya te pitit Ilkija.

Ilkija te pitit Chaloum, Chaloum te pitit Zadòk, Zadòk te pitit Achitoub.

Achitoub te pitit Amarya, Amarya te pitit Azarya, Azarya te pitit Merajòt.

Merajòt te pitit Zeraja, Zeraja te pitit Ouzi, Ouzi te pitit Bouki.

Bouki te pitit Abichwa, Abichwa te pitit Fineas, Fineas te pitit Eleaza, Eleaza te pitit Arawon, granprèt la.

Esdras te yon nonm save ki te fò anpil nan lalwa Seyè a, lalwa Bondye pèp Izrayèl la te bay Moyiz la. Li t'ap travay ak wa a. Wa a te bay Esdras tou sa li te mande l', paske Seyè a, Bondye li a, t'ap pwoteje l'. Se konsa li kite lavil Babilòn pou l' moute lavil Jerizalèm.

Anpil lòt moun nan pèp Izrayèl la, nan prèt yo, nan moun Levi yo, nan sanba yo, nan gad tanp yo ak lòt travayè yo, te pran wout la moute lavil Jerizalèm ansanm ak li. Lè sa a, wa Atagzèsès te nan setyèm lanne rèy li.

Yo rive Jerizalèm nan senkyèm mwa setyèm lanne rèy Atagzèsès la.

Yo te kite lavil Babilòn premye jou nan premye mwa a. Epi yo rive lavil Jerizalèm premye jou nan senkyèm mwa a, avèk pwoteksyon Bondye.

10 Esdras te pase tout tan li ap etidye lalwa Seyè a. Li t'ap swiv tou sa ki ladan l'. Li t'ap moutre pèp Izrayèl la tout lòd ak tout regleman Seyè a.

11 ¶ Men kopi lèt wa Atagzèsès te renmèt Esdras, ki te yon prèt ak yon nonm save. Li te dòktè nan zafè lalwa ak kòmandman Seyè a te bay pèp Izrayèl la.

12 Men lèt Atagzèsès, gran wa a, te ekri bay Esdras, nonm save ki fò nan lalwa Bondye ki nan syèl la! -Koulye a,

13 mwen bay lòd nan tout peyi m'ap gouvènen yo pou tout moun nan pèp Izrayèl la, nan prèt yo osinon nan moun Levi yo, ki vle ale avè ou lavil Jerizalèm, pou yo kite yo ale.

14 Se mwen menm, wa a, ansanm ak sèt konseye m' yo ki voye ou al fè enspeksyon nan peyi Jida a ak nan lavil Jerizalèm pou ou wè ki jan moun yo ap swiv liv lalwa Bondye ki nan men ou lan.

15 W'a pran avè ou ajan ak lò wa a ansanm ak konseye l' yo te fè lide bay pou Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, ki gen tanp li lavil Jerizalèm.

16 W'a pote tou tout ajan ak lò y'a ba ou nan tout pwovens Babilòn lan ansanm ak ofrann pèp la ak prèt yo te fè lide voye paske yo vle fè l' pou kay Bondye a nan lavil Jerizalèm.

17 Konsa, avèk tout ajan sa a w'a achte towo bèf, belye mouton, jenn ti mouton ansanm ak grenn jaden, grenn danre, diven ak lwil ki pou mache ak yo. Epi w'a ofri yo sou lotèl la nan tanp Bondye ou la ki lavil Jerizalèm.

18 Avèk ajan ak lò ki va rete a, ou menm ak frè ou yo, n'a fè sa nou vle avè l', depi sa nou fè a dakò ak volonte Bondye nou an.

19 W'a pran tout veso yo te renmèt ou nan men pou sèvi nan tanp Bondye ou la, w'a mete yo nan tanp lan lavil Jerizalèm, devan lotèl Bondye ou la.

20 Si gen lòt bagay ou bezwen ankò pou tanp Bondye ou la, ou mèt pran nan kès wa a pou achte yo.

21 Mwen menm, wa Atagzèsès, mwen pase lòd bay tout trezorye leta ki nan pwovens lòt bò larivyè Lefrat la, pou yo bay Esdras, prèt la, nonm save ki fò nan lalwa Bondye ki nan syèl la, tou sa l'a mande yo san pran reta,

22 depi sa l' mande a pa depase an total sanvenmil ons ajan, sisansenkant (650) barik ble, sisan (600) galon diven, sisan (600) galon lwil oliv. Pou disèl la, y'a ba li valè li bezwen.

23 Se pou ou sèten yo bay tou sa Bondye ki nan syèl la mande pou tanp li a, san manke anyen, pou Bondye pa janm fache sou mwen, ni sou pitit ki va gouvènen peyi a apre m'.

24 Epi m' fè nou konnen yo pa gen dwa fè ni prèt yo, ni moun Levi yo, ni sanba yo, ni gad tanp yo, ni domestik yo, ni okenn lòt moun k'ap sèvi nan tanp Bondye a, peye okenn taks, okenn kontribisyon ni okenn dwa lese pase.

25 Ou menm menm, Esdras, avèk bon konprann Bondye ba ou a, w'a chwazi majistra ak jij pou gouvènen tout moun pèp Izrayèl yo k'ap viv dapre lalwa Bondye ou la, nan pwovens lòt bò larivyè Lefrat la. Si genyen ki pa konnen lalwa a, se pou ou fè yo aprann li.

26 Tout moun ki pa mache dapre lalwa Bondye ou la osinon dapre lòd wa a bay la, se pou yo san pitye pou yo lè y'ap pini yo pou sa yo fè a. Sa pou yo touye y'a touye. Sa pou yo depòte y'a depòte. Sa pou yo fè peye amann y'a fè peye amann. Sa pou yo mete nan prizon y'a mete nan prizon!

27 ¶ Lè sa a, Esdras di: -Lwanj pou Seyè a, Bondye zansèt nou yo! Li mete nan tèt wa a lide pou l' fè tout bèl bagay sa yo pou tanp Seyè a lavil Jerizalèm.

28 Li fè m' jwenn favè devan wa a, devan konseye l' yo ak tout lòt gwo zotobre k'ap travay ak wa a. Li te ban m' kouraj, mwen te rive sanble tout chèf fanmi pèp Izrayèl la pou yo pati avè mwen!

The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(A) stored in the treasury at Babylon. A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it:

Memorandum:

In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid.(B) It is to be sixty cubits[a] high and sixty cubits wide, with three courses(C) of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury.(D) Also, the gold(E) and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God.(F)

Now then, Tattenai,(G) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(H) and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:

Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury,(I) from the revenues(J) of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings(K) to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.(L)

11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled(M) on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble.(N) 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there,(O) overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I Darius(P) have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

13 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates(Q) carried it out with diligence. 14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching(R) of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus,(S) Darius(T) and Artaxerxes,(U) kings of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.(V)

16 Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication(W) of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of God they offered(X) a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering[b] for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they installed the priests in their divisions(Y) and the Levites in their groups(Z) for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.(AA)

The Passover

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover.(AB) 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered(AC) the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves. 21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves(AD) from the unclean practices(AE) of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord,(AF) the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(AG) because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude(AH) of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes(AI) king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah,(AJ) the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,(AK) the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok,(AL) the son of Ahitub,(AM) 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,(AN) the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— this Ezra(AO) 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(AP) him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(AQ) Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.(AR)

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.(AS) 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching(AT) 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,(AU)

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(AV) 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(AW) to the God of Israel, whose dwelling(AX) is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold(AY) 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.(AZ) 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs,(BA) together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,(BB) and sacrifice(BC) 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(BD) 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.(BE)

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[c] of silver, a hundred cors[d] of wheat, a hundred baths[e] of wine, a hundred baths[f] 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?(BF) 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty(BG) on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.(BH)

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint(BI) 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(BJ) 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.[g](BK)

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart(BL) to bring honor(BM) to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor(BN) 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,(BO) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 6:3 That is, about 90 feet or about 27 meters
  2. Ezra 6:17 Or purification offering
  3. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  4. Ezra 7:22 That is, probably about 18 tons or about 16 metric tons
  5. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  6. Ezra 7:22 That is, about 600 gallons or about 2,200 liters
  7. Ezra 7:26 The text of 7:12-26 is in Aramaic.