以斯拉記 7

¹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，Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

²希勒家是沙龍的兒子，沙龍是撒督的兒子，撒督是亞希突的兒子，the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

³亞希突是亞瑪利雅的兒子，亞瑪利雅是亞撒利雅的兒子，亞撒利雅是米拉約的兒子，the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

⁴米拉約是西拉希雅的兒子，西拉希雅是烏西的兒子，烏西是布基的兒子，the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

⁵布基是亞比書的兒子，亞比書是非尼哈的兒子，非尼哈是以利亞撒的兒子，以利亞撒是大祭司亞倫的兒子。the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—

⁶這以斯拉從巴比倫上來，他是敏捷的文士，通達耶和華─以色列　神所賜摩西的律法書。王允准他一切所求的，是因耶和華─他　神的手幫助他。this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

⁷亞達薛西王第七年，以色列人、祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的、尼提寧，有上耶路撒冷的。So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.

⁸王第七年五月，以斯拉到了耶路撒冷。Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.

⁹正月初一日，他從巴比倫起程；因他　神施恩的手幫助他，五月初一日就到了耶路撒冷。He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.

¹⁰以斯拉定志考究遵行耶和華的律法，又將律例典章教訓以色列人。For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

¹¹祭司以斯拉是通達耶和華誡命和賜以色列之律例的文士。亞達薛西王賜給他們諭旨，上面寫著說：This is the text of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and scribe, an expert in the commandments and statutes of the LORD to Israel:

¹²「諸王之王亞達薛西，達於祭司以斯拉通達天上　神律法大德的文士，云云。Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.

¹³住在我國中的以色列人、祭司、利未人，凡甘心上耶路撒冷去的，我降旨准他們與你同去。I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.

¹⁴王與七個謀士既然差你去，照你手中　神的律法書察問猶大和耶路撒冷的景況；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 hand.

¹⁵又帶金銀，就是王和謀士甘心獻給住耶路撒冷、以色列　神的，Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

¹⁶並帶你在巴比倫全省所得的金銀，和百姓、祭司樂意獻給耶路撒冷─他們　神殿的禮物。together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.

¹⁷所以你當用這金銀，急速買公牛、公綿羊、綿羊羔，和同獻的素祭奠祭之物，獻在耶路撒冷─你們　神殿的壇上。With this money, therefore, you are to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as needed, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem.

¹⁸剩下的金銀，你和你的弟兄看著怎樣好，就怎樣用，總要遵著你們　神的旨意。You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

¹⁹所交給你　神殿中使用的器皿，你要交在耶路撒冷　神面前。You must deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles given to you for the service of the house of your God.

²⁰你　神殿裡若再有需用的經費，你可以從王的府庫裡支取。And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.

²¹「我─亞達薛西王又降旨與河西的一切庫官，說：『通達天上　神律法的文士祭司以斯拉，無論向你們要甚麼，你們要速速地備辦，I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,

²²就是銀子直到一百他連得，麥子一百柯珥，酒一百罷特，油一百罷特，鹽不計其數，也要給他。up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.

²³凡天上之　神所吩咐的，當為天上　神的殿詳細辦理。為何使忿怒臨到王和王眾子的國呢？Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?

²⁴我又曉諭你們，至於祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的，和尼提寧，並在　神殿當差的人，不可叫他們進貢，交課，納稅。』And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

²⁵「以斯拉啊，要照著你　神賜你的智慧，將所有明白你　神律法的人立為士師、審判官，治理河西的百姓，使他們教訓一切不明白　神律法的人。And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.

²⁶凡不遵行你　神律法和王命令的人就當速速定他的罪，或治死，或充軍，或抄家，或囚禁。」If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

²⁷以斯拉說：「耶和華─我們列祖的　神是應當稱頌的！因他使王起這心意修飾耶路撒冷耶和華的殿，Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put into the heart of the king to so honor the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,

²⁸又在王和謀士，並大能的軍長面前施恩於我。因耶和華─我　神的手幫助我，我就得以堅強，從以色列中招聚首領，與我一同上來。」and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me.