1以斯拉的家世這些事以後，波斯王亞達薛西在位的時候，有位以斯拉，是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子，
1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2希勒家是沙龍的兒子，沙龍是撒督的兒子，撒督是亞希突的兒子，
2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3亞希突是亞瑪利雅的兒子，亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子，
3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子，西拉希雅是烏西的兒子，烏西是布基的兒子，
4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5布基是亞比書的兒子，亞比書是非尼哈的兒子，非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子，以利亞撒是大祭司亞倫的兒子。
5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;
6以斯拉從巴比倫回歸這位以斯拉是一位經學家，精通耶和華以色列的 神賜給摩西的律法；因為耶和華他 神的手幫助他，所以王賜他所求的一切，他就從巴比倫上來。
6this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.
7在亞達薛西王第七年，一些以色列人和一些祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的和作殿役的，和他一起上耶路撒冷去。
7There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8王第七年五月來到耶路撒冷。
8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9正月初一，以斯拉開始從巴比倫上來；五月初一來到耶路撒冷，他 神施恩的手幫助他，
9For on 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 on him.
10因為以斯拉專心尋求研究耶和華的律法，並且遵行，在以色列中教導律例和典章。
10For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
11亞達薛西王給以斯拉的諭旨亞達薛西王頒發諭旨給以斯拉；以斯拉是一位祭司和經學家，精通耶和華的誡命和賜給以色列之律例；諭旨內容是這樣：
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:
12“諸王之王亞達薛西賜諭旨給以斯拉祭司，精通天上 神律法的經學家，願你平安。
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.
13現在我下令：住在我國中的以色列人中，願意上到耶路撒冷去的祭司和利未人，他們都可以與你同去。
13I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
14你既然是王和他七位顧問所派去的，就要照著你手中 神的律法書，查察猶大和耶路撒冷的情況。
14Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
15你要把王和他顧問甘心獻的金銀帶去，奉獻給住在耶路撒冷之以色列的 神；
15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16也要帶著你在巴比倫全省所得的金銀，連同人民和祭司甘心樂意獻給在耶路撒冷 神的殿的禮物，
16and all the silver and gold that you shall 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使你可以用這些銀子審慎地購買公牛、公綿羊、綿羊羔，以及與祭牲同獻的素祭和奠祭，獻在耶路撒冷你們 神的殿的祭壇上。
17therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18剩餘的金銀，你和你的族人看怎麼辦好，就怎麼用；只要照著你們 神的旨意去作就是了。
18Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.
19至於交給你為你 神殿中事奉用的器皿，你要放在耶路撒冷的 神面前。
19The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20如果你需要支付你 神的殿其餘的費用，你可以從王的庫房裡支付。
20Whatever 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.
21我亞達薛西王下令給在河西那邊所有的庫官：無論以斯拉祭司，這位精通天上 神律法的經學家，向你們要求甚麼，你們都要審慎照辦。
21I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,
22他可以要銀子三千四百公斤，麥子一百公斤，酒二千二百公升，油二千二百公升，鹽卻不受限制。
22to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23天上的 神命令的，就要為天上 神的殿熱心去作，免得忿怒臨到王和王的子孫的國。
23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24我要你們知道，凡是祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的，作殿役的和在這 神的殿裡作僕人的，都不可以向他們徵收稅款、貢物和糧食。
24Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
25至於你以斯拉，你要照著你手中 神的智慧書，委任法官和官吏，治理在河西那邊所有明白你 神的律法的人民，那些不曉得律法的人，你要教導他們。
25You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
26不遵守你 神的律法和王的律法的，就要審慎地判決處分，或是處死、或是放逐、或是沒收家產、或是囚禁。”
26Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27以斯拉稱頌 神以斯拉說：“耶和華我們列祖的 神是應該稱頌的，因為他把這樣的意念放在君王的心裡，使他修飾那在耶路撒冷的耶和華的殿；
27Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;
28又使我在王和謀士，以及王手下有權勢的領袖面前蒙恩。因為耶和華我 神的手幫助我，我就有勇氣，召集以色列中一些首領，與我一同上來。”
28and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.