The Book of Ezra of the Christian Holy Bible

Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that  the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be  fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of  Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his  kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 

Ezra 1:2 Thus  saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath  given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged  me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  

Ezra 1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God  be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in  Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he  is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 

Ezra 1:4 And whosoever  remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of  his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with  goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the  house of God that is in Jerusalem.  

Ezra 1:5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and  Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them  whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of  the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 

Ezra 1:6 And all they that  were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of  silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with  precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.  

Ezra 1:7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the  house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought  forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his  gods; 

Ezra 1:8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth  by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them  unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 

Ezra 1:9 And this is  the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand  chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, 

Ezra 1:10 Thirty  basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred  and ten, and other vessels a thousand. 

Ezra 1:11 All the  vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four  hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them  of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto  Jerusalem.  

          

Chapter 2

Ezra 2:1 Now these are the children of the province that  went up out of the captivity, of those which had been  carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon  had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto  Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; 

Ezra 2:2 Which  came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,  Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum,  Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:  

Ezra 2:3 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred  seventy and two. 

Ezra 2:4 The children of Shephatiah, three  hundred seventy and two. 

Ezra 2:5 The children of Arah, seven  hundred seventy and five. 

Ezra 2:6 The children of Pahathmoab,  of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand  eight hundred and twelve. 

Ezra 2:7 The children of Elam, a  thousand two hundred fifty and four. 

Ezra 2:8 The children of  Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. 

Ezra 2:9 The children of  Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 

Ezra 2:10 The children  of Bani, six hundred forty and two. 

Ezra 2:11 The children of  Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. 

Ezra 2:12 The children of  Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. 

Ezra 2:13 The  children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. 

Ezra 2:14  The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. 

Ezra 2:15  The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. 

Ezra 2:16  The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 

Ezra 2:17  The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.  

Ezra 2:18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.  

Ezra 2:19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and  three. 

Ezra 2:20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.  

Ezra 2:21 The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and  three. 

Ezra 2:22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six. 

Ezra 2:23  The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 

Ezra 2:24  The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. 

Ezra 2:25 The  children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven  hundred and forty and three. 

Ezra 2:26 The children of Ramah  and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 

Ezra 2:27 The men of  Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. 

Ezra 2:28 The men of  Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. 

Ezra 2:29 The  children of Nebo, fifty and two. 

Ezra 2:30 The children of  Magbish, an hundred fifty and six. 

Ezra 2:31 The children of  the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.  

Ezra 2:32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.  

Ezra 2:33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred  twenty and five. 

Ezra 2:34 The children of Jericho, three  hundred forty and five. 

Ezra 2:35 The children of Senaah,  three thousand and six hundred and thirty.  

Ezra 2:36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house  of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 

Ezra 2:37 The  children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 

Ezra 2:38 The  children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.  

Ezra 2:39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.  

Ezra 2:40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel,  of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.  

Ezra 2:41 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred  twenty and eight.  

Ezra 2:42 The children of the porters: the children of  Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the  children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of  Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.  

Ezra 2:43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children  of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 

Ezra 2:44 The children  of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,  

Ezra 2:45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah,  the children of Akkub, 

Ezra 2:46 The children of Hagab, the  children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 

Ezra 2:47 The  children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of  Reaiah, 

Ezra 2:48 The children of Rezin, the children of  Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 

Ezra 2:49 The children of  Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 

Ezra 2:50  The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the  children of Nephusim, 

Ezra 2:51 The children of Bakbuk, the  children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 

Ezra 2:52 The  children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of  Harsha, 

Ezra 2:53 The children of Barkos, the children of  Sisera, the children of Thamah, 

Ezra 2:54 The children of  Neziah, the children of Hatipha.  

Ezra 2:55 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children  of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,  

Ezra 2:56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the  children of Giddel, 

Ezra 2:57 The children of Shephatiah, the  children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the  children of Ami. 

Ezra 2:58 All the Nethinims, and the children  of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and  two. 

Ezra 2:59 And these were they which went up from Telmelah,  Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they  could not shew their father’s house, and their seed, whether  they were of Israel: 

Ezra 2:60 The children of Delaiah, the  children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred  fifty and two.    

Ezra 2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of  Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai;  which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the  Gileadite, and was called after their name: 

Ezra 2:62 These  sought their register among those that were reckoned by  genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as  polluted, put from the priesthood. 

Ezra 2:63 And the Tirshatha  said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy  things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with  Thummim.  

Ezra 2:64 The whole congregation together was forty and  two thousand three hundred and threescore, 

Ezra 2:65 Beside  their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven  thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were  among them two hundred singing men and singing women.  

Ezra 2:66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six;  their mules, two hundred forty and five; 

Ezra 2:67 Their  camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six  thousand seven hundred and twenty.  

Ezra 2:68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they  came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem,  offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:  

Ezra 2:69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the  work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five  thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests garments.  

Ezra 2:70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the  people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims,  dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.  

          

Chapter 3

Ezra 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the  children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered  themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 

Ezra 3:2 Then  stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the  priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his  brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer  burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses  the man of God. 

Ezra 3:3 And they set the altar upon his bases;  for fear was upon them because of the people of those  countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the  LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 

Ezra 3:4  They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and  offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to  the custom, as the duty of every day required; 

Ezra 3:5 And  afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the  new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were  consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a  freewill offering unto the LORD. 

Ezra 3:6 From the first day  of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings  unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the  LORD was not yet laid. 

Ezra 3:7 They gave money also unto  the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and  oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar  trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the  grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.  

Ezra 3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the  house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began  Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of  Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and  the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity  unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty  years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house  of the LORD. 

Ezra 3:9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and  his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah,  together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God:  the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the  Levites. 

Ezra 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation  of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their  apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph  with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of  David king of Israel. 

Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by  course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD;  because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever  toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout,  when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the  house of the LORD was laid. 

Ezra 3:12 But many of the  priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were  ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the  foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept  with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 

Ezra 3:13  So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of  joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the  people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard  afar off.   

          

Chapter 4

Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin  heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple  unto the LORD God of Israel; 

Ezra 4:2 Then they came to  Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto  them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye  do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon  king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 

Ezra 4:3  But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the  fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with  us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves  together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king  Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 

Ezra 4:4 Then  the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of  Judah, and troubled them in building, 

Ezra 4:5 And hired  counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the  days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius  king of Persia. 

Ezra 4:6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the  beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation  against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.  

Ezra 4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam,  Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto  Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was  written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian  tongue. 

Ezra 4:8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the  scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the  king in this sort: 

Ezra 4:9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor,  and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions;  the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the  Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the  Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 

Ezra 4:10 And  the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper  brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest  that are on this side the river, and at such a time.  

Ezra 4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto  him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men  on this side the river, and at such a time. 

Ezra 4:12 Be it  known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from  thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious  and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and  joined the foundations. 

Ezra 4:13 Be it known now unto the  king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again,  then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so  thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 

Ezra 4:14 Now  because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and  it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore  have we sent and certified the king; 

Ezra 4:15 That search may  be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt  thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city  is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces,  and that they have moved sedition within the same of old  time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 

Ezra 4:16 We  certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the  walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no  portion on this side the river.   

Ezra 4:17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the  chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of  their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest  beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 

Ezra 4:18 The  letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before  me. 

Ezra 4:19 And I commanded, and search hath been made,  and it is found that this city of old time hath made  insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition  have been made therein. 

Ezra 4:20 There have been mighty  kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all  countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom,  was paid unto them. 

Ezra 4:21 Give ye now commandment to  cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded,  until another commandment shall be given from me.  

Ezra 4:22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why  should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?  

Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter  was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their  companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the  Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 

Ezra 4:24  Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at  Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of  Darius king of Persia.  

          

Chapter 5

Ezra 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and  Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that  were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of  Israel, even unto them. 

Ezra 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the  son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began  to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with  them were the prophets of God helping them.  

Ezra 5:3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on  this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their  companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath  commanded you to build this house, and to make up this  wall? 

Ezra 5:4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What  are the names of the men that make this building? 

Ezra 5:5 But  the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that  they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to  Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning  this matter.  

Ezra 5:6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this  side the river, and Shethar- boznai, and his companions the  Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto  Darius the king: 

Ezra 5:7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein  was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. 

Ezra 5:8 Be  it known unto the king, that we went into the province of  Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with  great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work  goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. 

Ezra 5:9 Then  asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who  commanded you to build this house, and to make up these  walls? 

Ezra 5:10 We asked their names also, to certify thee,  that we might write the names of the men that were the  chief of them. 

Ezra 5:11 And thus they returned us answer,  saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth,  and build the house that was builded these many years ago,  which a great king of Israel builded and set up. 

Ezra 5:12 But  after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto  wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the   king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house,  and carried the people away into Babylon. 

Ezra 5:13 But in the  first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king  Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 

Ezra 5:14  And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God,  which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in  Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon,  those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon,  and they were delivered unto one, whose name was  Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 

Ezra 5:15 And  said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the  temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be  builded in his place. 

Ezra 5:16 Then came the same  Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God  which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now  hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. 

Ezra 5:17  Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be  search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at  Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of  Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and  let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.   

          

Chapter 6

Ezra 6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search  was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were  laid up in Babylon. 

Ezra 6:2 And there was found at  Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the  Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 

Ezra 6:3  In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king  made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem,  Let the house be builded, the place where they offered  sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid;  the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth  thereof threescore cubits; 

Ezra 6:4 With three rows of great  stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be  given out of the king’s house: 

Ezra 6:5 And also let the golden  and silver vessels of the house of God, which  Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at  Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and  brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every  one to his place, and place them in the house of God.  

Ezra 6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,  Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites,  which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 

Ezra 6:7  Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of  the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God  in his place. 

Ezra 6:8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall  do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house  of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute  beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these  men, that they be not hindered. 

Ezra 6:9 And that which they  have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for  the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine,  and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which  are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without  fail: 

Ezra 6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours  unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king,  and of his sons. 

Ezra 6:11 Also I have made a decree, that  whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down  from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon;  and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 

Ezra 6:12 And  the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all  kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to  destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius  have made a decree; let it be done with speed.  

Ezra 6:13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river,  Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that  which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 

Ezra 6:14  And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered  through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and  Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished  it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel,  and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius,  and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 

Ezra 6:15 And this house was  finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in  the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.   

Ezra 6:16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the  Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the  dedication of this house of God with joy, 

Ezra 6:17 And  offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred  bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a  sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the  number of the tribes of Israel. 

Ezra 6:18 And they set the  priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for  the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written  in the book of Moses. 

Ezra 6:19 And the children of the  captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the  first month. 

Ezra 6:20 For the priests and the Levites were  purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the  passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their  brethren the priests, and for themselves. 

Ezra 6:21 And the  children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity,  and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the  filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God  of Israel, did eat, 

Ezra 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened  bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them  joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto  them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of  God, the God of Israel.  

          

Chapter 7

Ezra 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, 

Ezra 7:2 The son of Shallum, the son of  Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 

Ezra 7:3 The son of Amariah, the  son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 

Ezra 7:4 The son of  Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 

Ezra 7:5 The son  of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son  of Aaron the chief priest: 

Ezra 7:6 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 7:7 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. 

Ezra 7:8  And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was  in the seventh year of the king. 

Ezra 7:9 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.  

Ezra 7:10 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 7:11 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. 

Ezra 7:12 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. 

Ezra 7:13 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. 

Ezra 7:14  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;  

Ezra 7:15 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, 

Ezra 7:16 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: 

Ezra 7:17 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. 

Ezra 7:18 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. 

Ezra 7:19 The vessels also that are given  thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver  thou before the God of Jerusalem. 

Ezra 7:20 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. 

Ezra 7:21 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, 

Ezra 7:22 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. 

Ezra 7:23 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? 

Ezra 7:24 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. 

Ezra 7:25 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. 

Ezra 7:26 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.   

Ezra 7:27 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: 

Ezra 7:28 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.  

          

Chapter 8

Ezra 8:1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this  is the genealogy of them that went up with me from  Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 

Ezra 8:2 Of the  sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel:  of the sons of David; Hattush. 

Ezra 8:3 Of the sons of  Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with  him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred  and fifty. 

Ezra 8:4 Of the sons of Pahath- moab; Elihoenai the  son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 

Ezra 8:5 Of  the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him  three hundred males. 

Ezra 8:6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed  the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 

Ezra 8:7 And of  the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with  him seventy males. 

Ezra 8:8 And of the sons of Shephatiah;  Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.  

Ezra 8:9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and  with him two hundred and eighteen males. 

Ezra 8:10 And of  the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an  hundred and threescore males. 

Ezra 8:11 And of the sons of  Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and  eight males. 

Ezra 8:12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.   

Ezra 8:13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names  are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them  threescore males. 

Ezra 8:14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai,  and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.  

Ezra 8:15 And I gathered them together to the river than  runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days:  and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there  none of the sons of Levi. 

Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for  Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for  Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for  Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan,  men of understanding. 

Ezra 8:17 And I sent them with  commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia,  and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his  brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they  should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.  

Ezra 8:18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they  brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the  son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons  and his brethren, eighteen; 

Ezra 8:19 And Hashabiah, and with  him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their  sons, twenty; 

Ezra 8:20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David  and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites,  two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were  expressed by name.  

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of  Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to  seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and  for all our substance. 

Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to require  of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us  against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto  the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for  good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against  all them that forsake him. 

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and besought  our God for this: and he was intreated of us.  

Ezra 8:24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,  Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,  

Ezra 8:25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and  the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God,  which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all  Israel there present, had offered: 

Ezra 8:26 I even weighed  unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and  silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred  talents; 

Ezra 8:27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand  drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.  

Ezra 8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD;  the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are  a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.  

Ezra 8:29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them  before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of  the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the  house of the LORD. 

Ezra 8:30 So took the priests and the  Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the  vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our  God.  

Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the  twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and  the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from  the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the  way. 

Ezra 8:32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there  three days.  

Ezra 8:33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold  and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the  hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him  was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was  Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui,  Levites; 

Ezra 8:34 By number and by weight of every one:  and all the weight was written at that time. 

Ezra 8:35 Also  the children of those that had been carried away, which  were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto  the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and  six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a  sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.   

Ezra 8:36 And they delivered the king’s commissions unto  the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the  river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.  

          

Chapter 9

Ezra 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came  to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the  Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of  the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of  the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the  Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  

Ezra 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves,  and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled  themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand  of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.  

Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and  my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my  beard, and sat down astonied. 

Ezra 9:4 Then were assembled  unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of  Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been  carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.  

Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my  heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I  fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the  LORD my God. 

Ezra 9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed  and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our  iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is  grown up unto the heavens. 

Ezra 9:7 Since the days of our  fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day;  and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests,  been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the  sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face,  as it is this day. 

Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace  hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a  remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place,  that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little  reviving in our bondage. 

Ezra 9:9 For we were bondmen; yet  our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath  extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia,  to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to  repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah  and in Jerusalem. 

Ezra 9:10 And now, O our God, what shall  we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,  

Ezra 9:11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the  prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it,  is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the  lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from  one end to another with their uncleanness. 

Ezra 9:12 Now  therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither  take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or  their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the  good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your  children for ever. 

Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us  for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that  thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities  deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;  

Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join  in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest    

Ezra Page 278   not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so  that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 

Ezra 9:15 O  LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet  escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in  our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of  this.   

          

Chapter 10

Ezra 10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had  confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the  house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very  great congregation of men and women and children: for the  people wept very sore. 

Ezra 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of  Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto  Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken  strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is  hope in Israel concerning this thing. 

Ezra 10:3 Now therefore  let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the  wives, and such as are born of them, according to the  counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the  commandment of our God; and let it be done according to  the law. 

Ezra 10:4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto  thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and  do it. 

Ezra 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests,  the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do  according to this word. And they sware.  

Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God,  and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib:  and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink  water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them  that had been carried away. 

Ezra 10:7 And they made  proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the  children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves  together unto Jerusalem; 

Ezra 10:8 And that whosoever would  not come within three days, according to the counsel of the  princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited,  and himself separated from the congregation of those that  had been carried away.  

Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered  themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It  was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month;  and all the people sat in the street of the house of God,  trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.  

Ezra 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them,  Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to  increase the trespass of Israel. 

Ezra 10:11 Now therefore make  confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his  pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the  land, and from the strange wives. 

Ezra 10:12 Then all the  congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou  hast said, so must we do. 

Ezra 10:13 But the people are  many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to  stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for  we are many that have transgressed in this thing. 

Ezra 10:14  Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all  them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at  appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and  the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this  matter be turned from us.  

Ezra 10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the  son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and  Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 

Ezra 10:16  And the children of the captivity did so. And 

Ezra the priest,  with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their  fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated,  and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine  the matter. 

Ezra 10:17 And they made an end with all the men  that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first  month.   

Ezra 10:18 And among the sons of the priests there were  found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of  Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and  Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 

Ezra 10:19 And they gave  their hands that they would put away their wives; and  being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their  trespass. 

Ezra 10:20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and  Zebadiah. 

Ezra 10:21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and  Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 

Ezra 10:22 And  of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael,  Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 

Ezra 10:23 Also of the  Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is  Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 

Ezra 10:24 Of the  singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and  Telem, and Uri. 

Ezra 10:25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of  Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin,  and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 

Ezra 10:26 And of  the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and  Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. 

Ezra 10:27 And of the sons of  Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and  Zabad, and Aziza. 

Ezra 10:28 Of the sons also of Bebai;  Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 

Ezra 10:29 And of  the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub,  and Sheal, and Ramoth. 

Ezra 10:30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab;  Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah,  Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. 

Ezra 10:31 And of the  sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah,  Shimeon, 

Ezra 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.  

Ezra 10:33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah,  Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 

Ezra 10:34  Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 

Ezra 10:35  Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 

Ezra 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth,  Eliashib, 

Ezra 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, 

Ezra 10:38  And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 

Ezra 10:39 And Shelemiah,  and Nathan, and Adaiah, 

Ezra 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai,  Sharai, 

Ezra 10:41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,  

Ezra 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 

Ezra 10:43 Of the  sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and  Joel, Benaiah. 

Ezra 10:44 All these had taken strange wives:  and some of them had wives by whom they had children.   

Politics | Entertainment | Education | Religion | Recruitment | Biography | News