After all these things had happened, Ezra came up to Jerusalem from Babylon. It was during the rule of Artaxerxes. He was king of Persia. Ezra was the son of Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah.

这事以后，波斯王亚达薛西年间，有个以斯拉，他是西莱雅的儿子，西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子，亚撒利雅是希勒家的儿子，

这些事以后，波斯王亚达薛西在位的时候，有个人叫以斯拉，他是西莱雅的儿子，西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子，亚撒利雅是希勒家的儿子，

这些事以后，波斯王亚达薛西在位的时候，有个人叫以斯拉，他是西莱雅的儿子，西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子，亚撒利雅是希勒家的儿子，

这些事以后，波斯王亚达薛西年间，以斯拉从巴比伦上到耶路撒冷。以斯拉是西莱雅的儿子，西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子，亚撒利雅是希勒迦的儿子，

这些事以后，波斯王亚达薛西在位的时候，有位以斯拉，是西莱雅的儿子，西莱雅是亚撒利雅的儿子，亚撒利雅是希勒家的儿子，

這事以後，波斯王亞達薛西年間，有個以斯拉，他是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子，

這些事以後，波斯王亞達薛西在位的時候，有個人叫以斯拉，他是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子，

這些事以後，波斯王亞達薛西在位的時候，有個人叫以斯拉，他是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子，

這些事以後，波斯王亞達薛西年間，以斯拉從巴比倫上到耶路撒冷。以斯拉是西萊雅的兒子，西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒迦的兒子，

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，

這些事以後、當波斯王亞達薛西執掌國政的時候、有個以斯拉，是西萊雅的子孫：西萊雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是希勒家的兒子，

厥後、波斯王亞達薛西時、有以斯拉、以斯拉乃西萊亞子、西萊亞乃亞撒利雅子、亞撒利雅乃希勒家子、

巴西王亞達泄西時、有以士喇以士喇父西勑亞、西勑亞父亞薩哩亞、亞薩哩亞父希勒家、

斯事以後、巴西王亞達薛西在位時、有以斯拉、以斯拉乃西萊雅子、西萊雅乃亞薩利雅子、亞薩利雅乃希勒家子、

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra— Seraiah’s son, Azariah’s son, Hilkiah’s son,

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra went up to Jerusalem; Ezra was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra— Seraiah’s son, Azariah’s son, Hilkiah’s son,

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah,

Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Wine was brought in for King Artaxerxes. It was the month of Nisan in the 20th year of his rule. I got the wine and gave it to him. I hadn’t been sad in front of him before. But now I was.

Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua.Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi.Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan.Johanan was the father of Azariah. Azariah served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum.Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.Azariah was the father of Seraiah. And Seraiah was the father of Jozadak.

I, King Artaxerxes, also give this order. It applies to all those who are in charge of the treasures west of the Euphrates River. Make sure you provide anything Ezra the priest might ask you to give. He is the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven.

The elders of the Jews continued to build the temple. They enjoyed great success because of the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo. The people finished building the temple. That’s what the God of Israel had commanded them to do. Cyrus and Darius had given orders allowing them to do it. Later, Artaxerxes supplied many things that were needed in the temple. Those three men were kings of Persia.

I, Artaxerxes, am writing this letter. I am the greatest king of all. I have given it to Ezra the priest. He is the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven. I give you my greetings.

“ Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Have him add up the money that has been brought into the Lord’ s temple. The men who guard the doors have collected it from the people.

Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men, women, and children old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read.He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, the women, and the children old enough to understand. And all the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Book of the Law.Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him. That’s because he was standing above them. As he opened the book, the people stood up.Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said,“ Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground and worshiped the Lord.The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read.Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law. They spoke up. So did the Levites who were teaching the people. All these men said to the people,“ This day is set apart to honor the Lord your God. So don’t weep. Don’t be sad.” All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

These men went to Hilkiah the high priest. They gave him the money that had been brought into God’s temple. The Levites who guarded the gates had collected it. They had received some of the money from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim. They had also received some from the other people who remained in Israel. The rest of the money came from other people. It came from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the people living in Jerusalem.

Hilkiah spoke to Shaphan the secretary. Hilkiah said,“ I’ve found the Book of the Law in the Lord’ s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

There was also Seraiah. He was the son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Meraioth. Meraioth was the son of Ahitub. Ahitub was the official in charge of God’s house.

The commander of the guard took many prisoners. They included Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the priest who reported to him. They also included the three men who guarded the temple doors.Some people were still left in the city. The commander took as a prisoner the officer in charge of the fighting men. He took the seven men who gave advice to the king. He also took the secretary who was the chief officer in charge of getting the people of the land to serve in the army. There were 60 people of the land still in the city.The commander Nebuzaradan took all of them away. He brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.There the king had them put to death. Riblah was in the land of Hamath. So the people of Judah were taken as prisoners. They were taken far away from their own land.

The commander of the guard took some prisoners. They included Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the priest who was next in rank. They also included the three men who guarded the temple doors.

Hilkiah the high priest spoke to Shaphan the secretary. Hilkiah said,“ I’ve found the Book of the Law in the Lord’ s temple.” Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan, who read it.

Ezra had committed himself to study and obey the Law of the Lord. He also wanted to teach the Lord’ s rules and laws in Israel.

Many family leaders came up to Jerusalem with me from Babylon. So did others who were listed with them. It was during the time when Artaxerxes was king. Here is a list of those who came.Gershom came from the family line of Phinehas. Daniel came from the family line of Ithamar. Hattush came from the family line of David.Hattush also belonged to the family of Shekaniah. Zechariah came from the family line of Parosh. The total number of men who were listed with him was 150.Eliehoenai came from the family line of Pahath- Moab. Eliehoenai was the son of Zerahiah. The total number of men with him was 200.Shekaniah came from the family line of Zattu. Shekaniah was the son of Jahaziel. The total number of men with him was 300.Ebed came from the family line of Adin. Ebed was the son of Jonathan. The total number of men with him was 50.Jeshaiah came from the family line of Elam. Jeshaiah was the son of Athaliah. The total number of men with him was 70.Zebadiah came from the family line of Shephatiah. Zebadiah was the son of Michael. The total number of men with him was 80.Obadiah came from the family line of Joab. Obadiah was the son of Jehiel. The total number of men with him was 218.Shelomith came from the family line of Bani. Shelomith was the son of Josiphiah. The total number of men with him was 160.

It also included Azariah. He was the son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Meraioth. Meraioth was the son of Ahitub. Azariah was the official who was in charge of the house of God.