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Ezra Returns From Babylon
7 Now after these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the kohen gadol— 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Torah of Moses that Adonai the God of Israel had given. The king granted him everything he requested, because the hand of Adonai his God was upon him. 7 Some of Bnei-Yisrael and some of the kohanim, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the sanctuary servants also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 He arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He began his aliyah from Babylon on the first day of the first month and entered Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the Torah of Adonai, to observe and to teach its statues and ordinances in Israel.
King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra
11 Now this is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the kohen, the scribe, a teacher of matters pertaining to the mitzvot of Adonai and His statutes over Israel:
12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings,
“To Ezra the kohen, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven.
13 “I have now issued a decree that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel—even the kohanim and Levites—who wish to go up to Jerusalem with you may go. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold that you find in the whole province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and the kohanim for the House of their God in Jerusalem. 17 Furthermore, with this silver you should be sure to buy bulls, rams and lambs, along with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and offer them on the altar of the House of your God in Jerusalem. 18 You may do whatever seems good to you and your brothers with the remaining silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
19 “The vessels that are entrusted to you for the service of the House of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 The rest of the needs for the House of your God that you may have occasioned to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
21 “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue a decree to all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to diligently provide all that Ezra the kohen, scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without limit. 23 Everything that the God of heaven has required, let it be done with diligence for the House of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 We also notify you that you have no authority to impose tribute, tax or duty on any of the kohanim, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, sanctuary servants, or attendants at this House of God.
25 “Now you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint judges and magistrates who may administer justice to all the people in Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach those who do not know them. 26 Let anyone who does not observe the Law of your God and the law of the king, be punished with due diligence, whether it is death or banishment, confiscation of goods or imprisonment.”
27 Blessed be Adonai, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the heart of the king to beautify the House of Adonai in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and all the king’s mighty princes. I gained strength, as the hand of Adonai my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
A Holy People and Their Witness
8 Now these are the patriarchal leaders, and the genealogical records of those who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 from the sons of Phinehas—Gershom;
from the sons of Ithamar—Daniel;
from the sons of David—Hattush;
3 from the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh—Zechariah and with him were 150 males were enrolled by genealogy;
4 from the sons of Pahath-moab—Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and with him were 200 males enrolled by genealogy;
5 from the sons of Shechaniah—the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him.
6 from the sons of Adin—Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him;
7 from the sons of Elam—Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 males with him;
8 from the sons of Shephatiah—Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 males with him;
9 from the sons of Joab—Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 128 males with him;
10 from the sons of Shelomith—the son of Josiphiah and 160 males with him;
11 from the sons of Bebai—Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 males with him;
12 from the sons of Azgad—Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 males with him;
13 from the sons of Adonikam (they came later, but these are their names)—Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah and 60 males with them;
14 from the sons of Bigvai—Uthai and Zaccur and 70 males with him.
15 I assembled them at the river that flows toward Ahava. We camped there for three days, and I observed the people and the kohanim, but I did not find any Levites there. 16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders and for Joiarib and Elnatan who were men of learning. 17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader at the place Casiphia. I put words in their mouths to speak to Iddo and his brother, who were sanctuary servants at Casiphia, in order to bring us ministers for the House of our God.
18 Now as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah, a man of insight from the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, along with his sons and his brothers, 18 men. 19 Also Hashabiah together with Jeshaiah from the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, 20 men. 20 Also from the sanctuary servants, whom David and his officials had given for the work of the Levites, 220 sanctuary servants, all of them designated by name.
Learning to Imitate Messiah’s Emissary
4 So let each one think of us in this way—as Messiah’s helpers and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, what is required of stewards is to be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it matters very little to be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not judge anything before the time—wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and also make clear the motives of the hearts. Then the praise for each one will come from God.
6 Now I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so you might learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against the other. 7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
8 Already you are full! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish you were kings, so we also might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us, the emissaries, on display last of all—like men sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we are both hungry and thirsty, dressed in rags and mistreated and homeless. 12 We toil, working with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure. 13 When we are slandered, we speak kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the dregs of all things—even to this moment.
14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to warn you as my dearly loved children. 15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Messiah, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Messiah Yeshua, I became your father through the Good News. 16 I urge you therefore—be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I have sent you Timothy, my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Messiah, just as I teach everywhere in every community.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing; and I will find out not the talk of those who are puffed up, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
Joy Comes in the Morning
Psalm 30
1 A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple, of David.
2 I will exalt You, Adonai,
for You have lifted me up,
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 Adonai my God, I cried to You for help,
and You healed me.
4 Adonai, You brought my soul up from Sheol.
You kept me alive, so I would not go down to the Pit.
5 Sing praise to Adonai, His faithful ones,
and praise His holy name.
6 For His anger lasts for only a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
7 When I felt secure, I said:
“I will never be shaken.”
8 Adonai, in Your favor
You made my mountain stand strong.
When You hid Your face,
I was terrified.
9 To You, Adonai, I called,
and to my Lord I made my plea:
10 “What gain is there in my blood,
in my going down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
11 Hear, Adonai, and be gracious to me.
Adonai, be my help.”
12 You turned my mourning into dancing.
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
13 So my glory will sing to You and not be silent.
Adonai my God, I will praise You forever.
28 Lovingkindness and truth preserve the king,
but his throne is upheld by lovingkindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
30 Blows that wound scour away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost being.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.