11. Now this the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of יְהוָ֥ה, and of his statutes to Israel.

12. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the Elohim of heaven, perfect, and at such a time.

13. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy Elohim which in thine hand;

15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the Elohim of Israel, whose habitation in Jerusalem,

16. And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their Elohim which in Jerusalem:

17. That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your Elohim which in Jerusalem.

18. And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your Elohim.

19. The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy Elohim, deliver thou before the Elohim of Jerusalem.

20. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy Elohim, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow out of the king's treasure house.

21. And I, I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the Elohim of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22. Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing.

23. Whatsoever is commanded by the Elohim of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the Elohim of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24. Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of Elohim, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy Elohim, that in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy Elohim; and teach ye them that know not.

26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy Elohim, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27. Blessed יְהוָ֥ה Elohim of our fathers, which hath put as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of יְהוָ֥ה which in Jerusalem:

28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of יְהוָ֥ה my Elohim upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.