Esdras 7
Dios Habla Hoy
Esdras y sus compañeros llegan a Jerusalén
7 Tiempo después, durante el reinado de Artajerjes, rey de Persia, hubo un hombre llamado Esdras, descendiente en línea directa de Seraías, Azarías, Hilquías, 2 Salum, Sadoc, Ahitub, 3 Amarías, Azarías, Meraiot, 4 Zeraías, Uzí, Buquí, 5 Abisúa, Finees, Eleazar y Aarón, el primer sacerdote. 6 Este Esdras era un maestro instruido en la ley que el Señor, Dios de Israel, había dado por medio de Moisés, y contaba con la ayuda del Señor, así que el rey Artajerjes le concedió todo lo que él pidió. De esta manera, Esdras regresó de Babilonia 7 a Jerusalén con un grupo de israelitas compuesto de sacerdotes, levitas, cantores, porteros y sirvientes del templo, en el séptimo año del reinado de Artajerjes. 8-9 Contando Esdras con la bondadosa ayuda de Dios, inició el regreso de Babilonia el día primero del mes primero del séptimo año del reinado de Artajerjes, y llegó a Jerusalén el día primero del mes quinto de ese mismo año. 10 Y Esdras tenía el firme propósito de estudiar y de poner en práctica la ley del Señor, y de enseñar a los israelitas sus leyes y decretos.
11 Ésta es la copia de la carta que el rey Artajerjes entregó a Esdras, sacerdote y maestro instruido en todos los mandamientos y leyes del Señor para Israel:
12 «El emperador Artajerjes saluda a Esdras, sacerdote y maestro instruido en la ley del Dios del cielo.
13 »He ordenado que todo israelita que se encuentre en mi reino y que quiera irse a Jerusalén contigo, pueda hacerlo, incluso si es levita o sacerdote. 14 Porque el rey y sus siete consejeros te envían a estudiar la situación en Judá y Jerusalén, conforme a la ley de tu Dios que tienes en la mano. 15 Lleva contigo la plata y el oro que el rey y sus consejeros ofrecen voluntariamente al Dios de Israel, que habita en Jerusalén, 16 y toda la plata y el oro que puedas conseguir en toda la provincia de Babilonia, más los donativos que el pueblo y los sacerdotes ofrezcan voluntariamente para el templo de Dios en Jerusalén. 17 Con ese dinero deberás comprar becerros, carneros y corderos, junto con sus ofrendas de cereales y de vino, para ofrecerlos sobre el altar del templo del Dios de ustedes, en Jerusalén. 18 En cuanto al oro y la plata restantes, hagan tú y tus compañeros lo que les parezca mejor, conforme a la voluntad de Dios. 19 Pero los utensilios que se te han entregado para el culto en el templo de tu Dios, entrégalos tú mismo al Dios de Jerusalén.
20 »Cualquier otra cosa que debas proporcionar para el templo de tu Dios, puedes conseguirla en los almacenes reales. 21 Y yo, el rey Artajerjes, ordeno a todos los tesoreros al oeste del río Éufrates que, sin falta, entreguen a Esdras, sacerdote y maestro instruido en la ley del Dios del cielo, todo lo que él pida, 22 hasta tres mil trescientos kilos de plata, veintidós mil litros de trigo, dos mil doscientos litros de vino, dos mil doscientos litros de aceite y toda la sal que pida.
23 »Todo lo que pida el Dios del cielo para su templo, debe ser entregado rápidamente, para que no venga ningún castigo sobre los hijos del rey y sobre sus dominios. 24 Han de saber también que está prohibido imponer tributo, impuestos o derechos a cualquiera de los sacerdotes, levitas, cantores, porteros, sirvientes del templo o cualquier otra persona que sirva en el templo de Dios.
25 »En cuanto a ti, Esdras, de acuerdo con los conocimientos que tu Dios te ha dado, nombra jueces y gobernantes que hagan justicia a toda la gente de la provincia al oeste del río Éufrates, o sea, a todos los que conocen la ley de tu Dios; y a los que no la conozcan, enséñasela. 26 Y a todo el que no cumpla la ley de tu Dios y las leyes del rey, que se le condene inmediatamente a muerte, a destierro, al pago de una multa o a prisión.»
Oración de Esdras
27 Entonces Esdras oró: «Bendito sea el Señor, Dios de nuestros padres, porque impulsó al rey a honrar el templo del Señor en Jerusalén, 28 y porque me demostró su bondad ante el rey y sus consejeros y los hombres más importantes de la corte, y me dio ánimo, pues con su ayuda pude reunir a los israelitas más importantes para que regresaran conmigo.»
Ezra 7
King James Version
7 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,
2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, 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,
5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem 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 first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, 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 Israel statutes and judgments.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.
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 Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, 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 Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall 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 oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Ezra 7
English Standard Version
Ezra Sent to Teach the People
7 Now after this, (A)in the reign of (B)Artaxerxes king of Persia, (C)Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe (D)skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, (E)for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and (F)some of the priests and (G)Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple (H)servants. 8 And Ezra[a] came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, (I)for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it (J)and to (K)teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel:[b] 12 “Artaxerxes, (L)king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the (M)scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace.[c] (N)And now 13 (O)I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king (P)and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king (Q)and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, (R)whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 (S)with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and (T)with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and (U)you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.
21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22 up to 100 talents[d] of silver, 100 cors[e] of wheat, 100 baths[f] of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. 24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose (V)tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, (W)appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. (X)And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”
27 (Y)Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, (Z)who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 (AA)and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Dios habla hoy ®, © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1996.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
