8. Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king.
9. He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him.
10. Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11. This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in matters of the Lord’s commands and statutes for Israel:
12. Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, an expert in the law of the God of heaven:Greetings.
13. I issue a decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who want to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14. You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your possession.
15. You are also to bring the silver and gold the king and his counselors have willingly given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16. and all the silver and gold you receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the freewill offerings given by the people and the priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.
17. Then you are to buy with this money as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, along with their grain and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18. You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.
19. You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.
20. You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.