22 And kept the Feaft of unleavened Bread feven Days with Joy: for the LORD had made them joyful: and turned the Heart of the King of Affyria unto them, to strengthen their Hands in the Work of the Houfe of GOD, the GOD of Ifrael.

CHA P. VII.

1 Ezra goeth up to Jerufalem. 11 The gracious Commiffion of Artaxerxes to him. 27 Ezra bleffeth God for his Favour.

Ver. 1

OW after thefe Things, in the Reign of Artaxerxes King of Perfia, Ezra, whofe Defcent is reckoned from Aaron the High Prieft.

2 The Son of Shallum, the Son of Zadock, the Son of Ahitub,

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

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

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a ready Scribe in the Law of Mofes: and the King granted him all his Requeft, according to the Hand of the LORD his GOD upon him.

7 And there went up fome of the Children of Ifrael, and of the Priests, and Levites, and Singers, and the Porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerufalem, in the feventh Year of Artaxerxes the King.

8 And he came to Jerufalem in the fifth Month, which was in the seventh Year of the King.

9 For upon the first Day of the first Month, began he to go up from Babylon, and on the firft Day of the fifth Month, came he to Jerufalem, according to the good Hand of his GoD upon him.

10 For Ezra had PREPARED his HEART to SEEK the LAW of the LORD, and to DO IT, and to TEACH in Ifrael Statutes and Judgments.

II Now this is the Copy of the Letter that the King Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra.

12 Artaxerxes King of Kings, Unto Ezra the Priest, a Scribe of the Law of the GoD of HEAVEN, perfect PEACE, and at such a Time.

13 I make a DECREE, that all they of the People of If

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rael,

racl, and of his Priefts, and Levites in my Realm, which are minded of their own free Will to go up to Jerufalem, go with thee.

14 Forafmuch as thou art fent of the King, and of his feven Counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerufalem, according to the Law of thy God which is in thine HAND.

15 And to carry the Silver and Gold, which the King and his Counsellors have freely offered unto the GOD of Ifrael, whofe Habitation is in Jerufalem.

16 And all the Silver and Gold that thou canft find in all the Province of Babylon, with the Free-will-offering of the People, and of the Priefts, offering willingly for the House of their GOD, which is in Jerufalem.

17 That thou mayft buy fpeedily with this Money, Bullocks, Rams, Lambs, with their Meat-offerings, and their Drink-offerings, and offer them upon the Altar of the Houfe of your GoD which is in Jerufalem.

18 And whatsoever fhall feem good to thee, and to thy Brethren, to do with the reft of the Silver and Gold, that do after the Will of your God.

19 The Veffels alfo that are given thee, for the Service of the House of thy God, thofe DELIVER thou before the GOD of Jerufalem.

20 And whatfoever more fhall be needful for the House of thy God, which thou shalt have Occafion to bestow, beftow it out of the King's Treasure House.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the King, do make a DɛCREE to all the Treafurers which are beyond the River, That what foever Ezra the Prieft, the Scribe of the LAW of the GOD of HEAVEN, fhall require of you, it be done speedily;

22 Unto 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 Oyl, and Salt without prefcribing how much.

23 Whatsoever is COMMANDED by the GOD of HEAVEN, let it be diligently done, for the Houfe of the GOD of HEAVEN: for why fhould there be WRATH against the King and his Sons?

24 Alfo we certify you, that touching any of the Priests and Levites, Singers, Porters, Nethinims, or Minifters of this Houfe of GOD, it fhall not be lawful to impofe Toll, Tribute, or Cuftom upon them.

25 And thou Ezra, after the WISDOM of thy God, that is in thine Hand, fet Magiftrates and Judges, which may judge all the People that are beyond the River, and all fuch as know the Laws of thy GOD; and TEACH ye them that know them not.

26 And whofoever will not do the LAW of thy God, and the Law of the King, let Judgment be executed fpeedily upon him, whether it be unto DEATH, or to BANISHMENT, or to Confifcation of Goods, or to IMPRISON

MENT.

27 BLESSED be the LORD GOD of our Fathers, which hath put fuch a Thing as this in the King's HEART, to beautify the House of the LORD which is in Jerufalem.

28 And hath extended Mercy unto me, before the King, and his Counsellors, and before all the Kings mighty Princes: and I was ftrengthened as the Hand of the LORD my GOD was upon me, and I gathered together out of Ifrael, chief Men to go up with me.

CHAP. VIII.

1 Ezra's Companions, who returned from Babylon. 15 He Jendeth to Iddo for Minifters for the Temple. 21 He keepeth a Faft. 24 He committeth the Treasures to the Custody of the Priests. 31 From Ahava they come to Jerufalem. 33 The Treafure is weighed in the Temple. 36 The Commiffion is delivered.

Ver. 21

TH

HENI Ezra proclaimed a Faft at the River Ahava, that we might AFFLICT ourselves before our GOD, to SEEK of him a right Way for us, and for our little ones, and for all Subftance.

22 For as I was afhamed to require of the King a Band of Soldiers and Horfemen, to help us against the Enemy in the Way: because we had fpoken unto the King, faying, The HAND of our GoD is upon all them for GooD, that SEEK him, but his POWER and his WRATH is against all them that FORSAKE him.

23 So we fafted and BESOUGHT our God for this, and he was INTREATED of us.

24 Then I feparated twelve of the chief of the Priests, Sherebiah, Hafhabiah, and ten of their Brethren with them, 25 And weighed unto them the Silver, and the Gold, Mmm m 2

and

and the Veffels, even the Offering of the Houfe of our GOD, which the King and his Counsellors, and his Lords, and all Ifrael there prefent, had offered.

28 And I faid unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD, the Veffels are holy alfo.

29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the Priefts, and the Levites, and chief of the Fathers of Ifrael at Jerufalem, in the Chambers of the Houfe of the LORD.

31 Then we departed from the River Ahava, on the twelfth Day of the first Month, to go unto Jerufalem; and the Hand of our GOD was upon us, and he delivered us from the Hand of the Enemy, and of fuch as lay in Wait by the Way.

32 And we came to Jerufalem, and abode there three Days.

36 And they delivered the King's Commiflions unto the King's Lieutenants, and to the Governors on this Side the River, and they furthered the People, and the House of GOD.

CHA P. IX.

1 Ezra mourneth for the Affinity of the People with Strangers: 5 He prayeth unto God with Confeffion of Sins.

Ver. 1

WOW when thefe Things were done, the Prin

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and the Priefts, and the Levites have not feparated themfelves from the People of the Lands, doing according to their ABOMINATIONS.

2 For they have taken of their Daughters for themselves, and for their Sons: fo that the holy Seed have mingled themselves with the People of thofe Lands: yea, the Hand of the Princes and Rulers hath been chief in this Trefpafs.

3 And when I heard this Thing, I rent my Garment and my Mantle, and pluckt off the Hair of my Head, and of my Beard, and fat down aftonied.

4 Then were affembled unto me every one that TREMBLED at the Words of the GOD of Ifrael, because of the Tranfgreffion of thofe that had been carried away, and I fat aftonied until the Evening Sacrifice.

5 And at the Evening Sacrifice, I arofe up from my Heavinefs, and having rent my Garment and my Mantle, I fell

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upon my KNEES, and fpread out my Hands unto the LORD my GOD.

6 And faid, O MY GOD, I am ASHAMED, and blush to lift up my Face to thee, my GoD: Our Iniquities are increased over our Heads, and our Trefpaffes is grown up unto the Heavens.

7 Since the Days of our Fathers, have we been in a great Trespass unto this Day, and for our INIQUITIES have we, our Kings, and our Priests been delivered into the Hand of the Kings of the Lands, to the Sword, to Captivity, and to a Spoil, and to Confufion of Face, as it is this Day.

8 And now for a little Space GRACE hath been fhewed from the LORD our GOD, to leave us a Remnant to escape, and to give us a Nail in his holy Place, that our GOD may LIGHTEN OUR EYES, and give us a little Reviving in our Bondage.

9 For we were Bondmen, yet our God hath not FORSAKEN us in our Bondage, but hath extended MERCY unto us in the Sight of the Kings of Perfia, to give us a Reviving, to fet up the Houfe of our GOD, and to repair the Defolations thereof, and to give us a Wall in Judah and Jerufalem.

10 And now, O our GOD, what fhall we fay after this? for we have forfaken thy Commandments.

II Which thou haft commanded by thy Servants the Prophets, faying, The Land unto which ye go to poffefs it, is an UNCLEAN LAND with the Filthinefs of the People of the Lands, with their ABOMINATIONS, which have filled it from one End to another, with their Uncleannefs.

12 Now therefore give not your Daughters unto their Sons, neither take their Daughters unto your Sons, nor feek their PEACE, or their Wealth for ever: that ye may be ftrong, and eat the Good of the Land, and leave it for an Inheritance to your Children for ever.

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13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil Deeds, and for our great Trefpafs, feeing that thou our God haft PUNISHED us lefs than our Iniquities DESERVE, and haft given us fuch Deliverance as this.

14 Should we again break thy Commandments, and join in AFFINITY with the People of thefe ABOMINATIONS? wouldeft thou not be angry with us, till thou hadst confumed us, fo that there fhould be no Remnant nor efcaping?

15 O LORD GOD of Ifracl, thou art RIGHTEOUS, for

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