Ezra

Describes the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

Chapter 7

1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

*Then, following these events, during the time when Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, there was a person named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah.

2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

*The child of Shallum, the child of Zadok, the child of Ahitub,

3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

*The child of Amariah, the child of Azariah, the child of Meraioth,

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

*The descendant of Zerahiah, the descendant of Uzzi, the descendant of Bukki.

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

*This is a lineage description: Aaron's grandson through Eleazar, Phinehas, and Abishua. Simplified version: Descendant of Aaron, through Eleazar, Phinehas, and Abishua.

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

*Ezra traveled from Babylon and was skilled in writing Moses' laws given by God. The king agreed to everything Ezra asked for, because God's power was with him.

7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

*Some Israelite kids, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinims went to Jerusalem during King Artaxerxes' seventh year.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

*He arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month during the seventh year of the king's reign.

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

*On the first day of the first month, he started his journey from Babylon. Then, on the first day of the fifth month, he arrived in Jerusalem, because his God gave him a good hand to guide him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

*Ezra was ready in his heart to find and follow God's rules, put them into practice, and teach these laws and decisions in Israel.

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

*Here is the easy-to-understand version of the verse: This is the copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and writer. Ezra was an expert in the LORD's commands and rules for Israel.

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

*King Artaxerxes, to Ezra the priest, says hello. Ezra is good at reading God's rules from heaven. He wishes you peace and this is happening at just the right time.

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

*I decide that anyone from the people of Israel, along with their priests and Levites living in my land who want to go to Jerusalem will join you.

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 God which is in thine hand;

*Since you were sent by the king and his seven advisors to investigate Judah and Jerusalem, following the laws that you have with you from your god.

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

*And to transport the silver and gold that the king and his advisors have freely given to the God of Israel, who lives 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 God which is in Jerusalem:

*And all the silver and gold you can find in Babylon, along with the voluntary gifts from the people and the priests, given happily for the temple of their God 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 God which is in Jerusalem.

*So that you can quickly purchase with this money cattle, sheep, and lambs, along with their offerings for both food and drink, and then offer them on the altar at the temple of your God 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 God.

*"And whatever seems good to you and your brothers, do with the remaining silver and gold, following the will of your God."

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

*Give the temple tools to God in Jerusalem.

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

*And whatever else is needed for your God's house, take it from the king's treasury.

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

*I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers in the lands beyond the river. Whatever Ezra, the priest and scribe of God's law, asks for, you must provide quickly.

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 how much.

*To a hundred times the amount of silver, and a hundred times the amount of wheat, and a hundred times the amount of wine in baths, and a hundred times the amount of oil in baths, and as much salt as you want, without saying exactly how much.

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

*Do whatever the heaven's God commands for His house, because why would we want anger towards the king and his children?

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

*We confirm that if you touch any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, or assistants in God's house, you cannot charge them with taxes, fees, or customs.

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

*And you, Ezra, using the wisdom given by God to you, choose leaders and judges for the people living beyond the river. These leaders should understand and follow God's laws. Also, teach those who don't know these laws.

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

*If someone doesn't follow the laws of God and the king, they should be judged quickly, with punishments like death, exile, taking away their belongings, or jail time.

27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

*Praised is the Lord, our ancestors' God, for putting this idea in the king's mind to make the Lord's house in Jerusalem more beautiful.

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 the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

*The verse says that God showed kindness to me in front of the king, his advisors, and all the powerful leaders. Because of this, I became strong and, with the help of God, brought important people from Israel to join me on our journey.

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