¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings,^(A) 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.^{(B) 14} You are sent by the king and his seven counselors^(C) 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,^(D) whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,^{(E) 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.^{(F) 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.^{(G) 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.^{(H) 20} You may use the royal treasury to pay for anything else needed for the house of your God.^(I)