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,

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，

²The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

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，

³The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

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，

⁴The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

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，

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

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。

⁶This 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.

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。

⁷And 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.

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。

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

⁸王第七年五月來到耶路撒冷。

⁹For 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.

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，

¹⁰For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

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。

¹¹Now 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.

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：

¹²Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

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。

¹³I 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.

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。

¹⁴Forasmuch 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;

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。

¹⁵And 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,

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；

¹⁶And 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:

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，

¹⁷That 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.

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。

¹⁸And 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.

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。

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

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。

²⁰And 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.

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。

²¹And 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,

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。

²²Unto 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.

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。

²³Whatsoever 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?

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。

²⁴Also 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.

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。

²⁵And 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.

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。

²⁶And 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.

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。”

²⁷Blessed 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:

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；

²⁸And 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.

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。”