9
For upon the first day of the firstmonthbegan he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifthmonthcame he to Jerusalem, according to the goodhand of his God upon him.
11
Now this is the copy of the letter that the kingArtaxerxesgave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
13
Imake 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.
14
Forasmuch*as thou art sentoftheking, and of his sevencounsellors, to enquireconcerningJudah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
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:
17
Thatthou mayest buyspeedily with thismoneybullocks,rams,lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offerthemupon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.