11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king, Artaxerxes, gave to Ezra, the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel: 12“Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra, the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and so forth. 13I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with you. 14Forasmuch as you are sent by the king his seven counselors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand; 15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, Whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16And all the silver and gold that you can 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; 17That you may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18And whatever shall seem good to you, and to your brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. 19The vessels, also, that are given you for the service of the house of your God, those deliver you before the God of Jerusalem. 20And whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 21And I, even I, Artaxerxes, the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra, the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, be it done speedily, 22Up to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23Whatever 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? 24Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom (tax) upon them. 25And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those that do not know them. 26And whoever will not obey the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment”.

27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, Who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counselors, 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 out of Israel chief men to go up with me.