Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra, the scribe of the law of the Lord God of heaven, Let the order and the answer be accomplished.

A decree is made by me, that everyone who is willing in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, [be permitted] to go with you.

We therefore declare to the king, that if this city is rebuilt, and its walls are set up, you shall have no peace.

And there were powerful kings in Jerusalem, and they ruled over all the [country] beyond the river, and abundant revenues and tribute were given to them.

Now, you rulers beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachaeans, who [are] on the other side of the river, give [these things], keeping far from that place.

this Ezra came up out of Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him [leave], for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in all things which he sought.

For Ezra had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.

And this [is] the copy of the order which Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, of the book of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His ordinances to Israel.