5 Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites arose, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. 6 Everyone encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods, cattle and valuables, besides a freewill offering. 7 King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had put in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus had Mithredath the treasurer put them in the charge of Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 There were 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 knives, 10 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles. 11 All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. When the exiles left Babylon Sheshbazzar brought these things to Jerusalem.

Ezra 2 - RWB Paraphrase (70 V)
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A List of Those Who Returned to Judah
1 Here is a list of the people of the province who came out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon. These returned to Jerusalem and Judah. 2 These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172, 4 the sons of Shephatiah, 372, 5 the sons of Arah, 775, 6 the sons of Pahathmoab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812, 7 the sons of Elam, 1,254, 8 the sons of Zattu, 945, 9 the sons of Zaccai, 760, 10 the sons of Bani, 642, 11 the sons of Bebai, 623, 12 the sons of Azgad, 1,222, 13 the sons of Adonikam, 666, 14 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056, 15 the sons of Adin, 454, 16 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98, 17 the sons of Bezai, 323, 18 the sons of Jorah, 112, 19 the sons of Hashum, 223, 20 the sons of Gibbar, 95, 21 the men of Bethlehem, 123, 22 the men of Netophah, 56, 23 the men of Anathoth, 128, 24 the sons of Azmaveth, 42, 25 the sons of Kirjatharim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743, 26 the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621, 27 the men of Michmas, 122, 28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223, 29 the sons of Nebo, 52, 30 the sons of Magbish, 156, 31 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254, 32 the sons of Harim, 320, 33 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725, 34 the men of Jericho, 345, 35 the sons of Senaah, 3,630. 36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973, 37 the sons of Immer, 1,052, 38 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247, 39 the sons of Harim, 1,017. 40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all 139. 43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. 55 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Ami. 58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392. 59 Now these came up from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addan and Immer, but they were not able to give evidence of their fathers' households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name. 62 These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located, therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 63 The governor said that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim. 64 The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337, and they had 200 singing men and women. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules, 245, 67 their camels, 435, their donkeys, 6,720.

68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of fathers' households offered willingly to restore the house of God on its foundation. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.

70 Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Ezra 3 - RWB Paraphrase (13 V)
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They Lay the Foundation of the House of the Lord
1 When the seventh month came and the children of Israel were in the cities of Judah, the people gathered together as one man in Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3 They set up the altar on its foundation. They were afraid of the peoples of the land, and offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, morning and evening. 4 They celebrated the Feast of Booths, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance required on each day. 5 Then there was the continual burnt offering, and offerings for new moons and all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, besides everyone's freewill offering to the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not yet been laid. 7 They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had been granted by Cyrus king of Persia.

8 In the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work, appointing the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God. 10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD as King David had directed. 11 They sang, praised and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. 12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid as they watched, while many others were shouting for joy, 13 so that it was hard to distinguish between the shouts of joy and the sound of weeping. And the sound of it was heard far away.

Ezra 4 - RWB Paraphrase (24 V)
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The Enemies Of Judah And Benjamin Want To Help Build The Temple
1 The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel. 2 They came to Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said, "Let us build with you, for we seek the LORD like you do, and have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' households of Israel said to them, "You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God. We will build to the LORD God of Israel on our own, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us."

4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah from building. 5 They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate the command of Cyrus king of Persia. This went on until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Enemies Of The Jews Write A Letter To Ahasuerus King Of Persia
6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. It was in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows. 9 It was written by Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations which the great and honorable Asnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the region beyond the River. 11 This is the copy of the letter which they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the men in the region beyond the River." 12 "Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations." 13 "Let it be known to the king that if the city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom or toll. The king's revenue will suffer." 14 "We do not wish to see the king dishonored and so we have sent this message." 15 "We recommend a search of the record in the books of your fathers and you will discover that this has been a rebellious city inciting revolt in days past. That is why it was laid waste." 16 "We wish to inform the king that if the city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will have no possession beyond the river."

Ahasuerus Sends Word to Halt the Building
17 The king sent an answer to Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces beyond the River: "Peace." 18 "The document which you sent has been translated and before me." 19 "I have issued a decree, and a search has been made. It has been discovered that this city has risen up against the kings in past days, and rebellion and revolt have been part of its history." 20 "Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem, governing all the provinces beyond the River, and tribute, custom and toll were paid to them." 21 "So for the present, issue a decree to these men to stop work until further notice from me." 22 "Do not be negligent in carrying out this matter. Why should things get any worse to the detriment of the kings?"

23 As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and used force to stop any further building. 24 Work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 5 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
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Work Is Halted on the Building Project and They They Go Ahead Anyway
1 When Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, 2 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were supporting them. 3 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shetharboznai and their companions came to them and said, "Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this wall?" 4 We gave them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building. 5 And the eye of God was on the elders of the Jews, and they could not stop them until a report should come to Darius, and then a written reply be sent back concerning the matter.

6 This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shetharboznai and his companions the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 This is what their letter said: "To Darius the king, all peace." 8 "Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones. Beams are being laid on the walls, and the work is progressing with great care at their hands." 9 "We asked their elders, 'Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish these walls?'" 10 "And we also asked for their names so as to inform you of who was at their head." 11 "They answered, saying, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago by a great king of Israel." 12 "But our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, and He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and removed the people to Babylon." 13 "However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God." 14 "King Cyrus sent back to Jerusalem the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought to his temple in Babylon. King Cyrus removed these from the temple of Babylon and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor of Jerusalem." 15 "Cyrus told him to take these utensils, to go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place." 16 "So Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from then until now it has been under construction and is not yet finished." 17 "If it pleases the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house for a record of the decree issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king send his decision to us concerning this matter."

Ezra 6 - RWB Paraphrase (22 V)
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Their Enemies Tried to Stop the Building of the Temple
1 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 In Ecbatana in the fortress, which is in the province of Media, a scroll was found and this is what was written in it: 3 "in the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits," 4 "with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost be paid from the royal treasury." 5 "Let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned to their places in the house of God in Jerusalem." 6 "Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shetharboznai and your companions, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, keep away from the building site." 7 "Leave the work on the house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild the house of God on its site." 8 "Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God. The full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River. Do this without delay." 9 "Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request it, is to be given to them daily without fail," 10 "that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons." 11 "And I issue a decree that any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be drawn from his house and he shall be impaled on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap." 12 "May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to change it, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carried out with all diligence!"

13 Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shetharboznai and their companions carried out the decree with all care, just as King Darius had directed. 14 And the Jews were successful in continuing to build because of the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 17 They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. 20 The priests and the Levites purified themselves together. They slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 The children of Israel who had returned from exile and separated themselves from the impurity of the nations around them, sought the LORD God of Israel and ate the Passover. 22 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7 - RWB Paraphrase (28 V)
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Ezra Prepares To Go To Jerusalem With The King Of Persia's Blessing
1 After this, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra went up to Jerusalem. He was 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 He had been in Babylon and was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses which had been given by God. The king granted him everything he asked for because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7 Some of the children of Israel, some priests, and Levites, some singers, gatekeepers and temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king. 9 He departed Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because God was with him. 10 Ezra had made it his goal in life to study and practice the law of the LORD, and to teach the LORD's statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Artaxerxes' Decree Carried by Ezra
11 Here is a copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, schooled in the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel: 12 "Artaxerxes, King of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven. Perfect peace." 13 "I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you." 14 "Since you have been sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand," 15 "and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, Whose dwelling is in Jerusalem," 16 "with all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the freewill offerings of the people and of the priests, who offered willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem," 17 "with this money, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem." 18 "You are to do whatever seems good to you and to your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God." 19 "Take all the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God." 20 "Provide from the royal treasury for the rest of the needs for the house of your God." 21 "I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the provinces beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done quickly," 22 "up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt as needed." 23 "Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons." 24 "We also inform you that you are not to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or ministers of this house of God." 25 "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, those who know the laws of your God, and teaching anyone who does not know of them." 26 "Whoever does not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of goods or imprisonment."

Ezra's Reaction to This Decree From the King of Persia
27 "Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to adorn the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem," 28 "and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes.

Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me. And I have gathered leading men from Israel to go to Jerusalem with me."

Ezra 8 - RWB Paraphrase (36 V)
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Ezra Takes a Group to Jerusalem From Persia
1 Here is a list of the heads of their fathers' households and the genealogical enrollment of those who went up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom, of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel, of the sons of David, Hattush, 3 of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah and with him 150 males who were in the genealogical list, 4 of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 males with him, 5 of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him, 6 and of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him, 7 and of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and 70 males with him, 8 and of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael and 80 males with him, 9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel and 218 males with him, 10 and of the sons of Bani, Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah and 160 males with him, 11 and of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai and 28 males with him, 12 and of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan and 110 males with him, 13 and of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, these being their names, Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and 60 males with them, 14 and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and 70 males with them.

15 Now I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. I observed that there were priests, but no Levites. 16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, all teachers. 17 I sent them to Iddo the leading man at Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, in order to bring ministers to us for the house of our God. 18 God blessed us when they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. His name was Sherebiah, and 18 of his sons and brothers. 19 They also brought Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 220 of the temple servants, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name. 21 Then I proclaimed a fast at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God seeking a safe journey for ourselves, our little ones, and our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is upon those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this and He heard our request.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and with them ten of their brothers, 25 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered. 26 Thus I placed in their hands 650 talents of silver, silver utensils worth 100 talents, 100 gold talents, 27 20 gold basins worth 1,000 darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold.

28 Then I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the utensils are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers." 29 "Keep a careful watch over them until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites and the heads of the fathers' households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the LORD's house." 30 So the priests and the Levites accepted the weighed out silver, gold and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 We traveled to Jerusalem from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month, and the hand of God was over us. He delivered us from the ambush of all enemies. 32 We came to Jerusalem and waited three days. 33 On the fourth day the silver, the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The numbering and weighing of everything was recorded at that time. 35 The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 Then they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps and to the governors in the provinces beyond the River, and these supported the people and the house of God.

Ezra 9 - RWB Paraphrase (15 V)
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Ezra Pleads with God Because the People Have Married Women From Surrounding Nations
1 When these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites." 2 "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands. The princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness."

3 When I heard this, I tore my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard. I sat down appalled. 4 Those among the exiles who trembled at this unfaithfulness gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 At the time of the evening sacrifice I arose from my humiliation, even with my torn robe as I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God. 6 I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens." 7 "Since the days of our fathers what we have done has been considered a great sin. Our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the other lands, to the sword and captivity, to be plundered and open to shame." 8 "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, letting this remnant escape to have a firm place in His holy place, so that God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little revival from our bondage." 9 "For though we have been slaves, our God has not forsaken us, but has extended His lovingkindness in the sight of the kings of Persia, that we may rebuild the house of our God, to restore it and give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem." 10 "Now, O our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments," 11 "which You gave by Your servants the prophets, when You said that the land we entered to possess is unclean with abominations which have filled it with impurity from one end to the other." 12 "You said that we were not to take their daughters for our sons, or give our daughters to their sons, and to never seek their peace or wealth, so that we might be strong and eat the good things of the land leave an inheritance for our sons forever." 13 "After everything that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and great guilt, You, our God, have not treated us as we deserve, but have given this remnant an escape." 14 "Shall we once again break your commandments by committing these abominations? Will You destroy us again?" 15 "O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous. You have let us escape our captivity, and now we stand before You in our guilt."

Ezra 10 - RWB Paraphrase (44 V)
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Those Who Had Married Foreign Wives Had to Put Them Away
1 When Ezra prayed, confessing, weeping and casting himself before the house of God, a very great assembly gathered to him, men, women and children, with much weeping. 2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this." 3 "Let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law." 4 "Arise! This matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you. Be courageous and act." 5 Then Ezra rose and made the leading priests, the Levites and all Israel, take an oath that they would do according what had been proposed. So they took the oath.

6 Then Ezra rose from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. He came he did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. 7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the exiles, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 and that whoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and the elders, all his possessions should be forfeited and he should be excluded from the assembly of the exiles. 9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter. A heavy rain was falling. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives. This has added to the guilt of Israel." 11 "Now make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land from your foreign wives." 12 And all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "This is right! As you have said, so it is our duty." 13 "But there are many people, it is the rainy season and we are not able to stand in the open. Nor can the task be done in one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter." 14 "Let our leaders represent the whole assembly and let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the matter is settled and the fierce anger of our God is turned away from us."

15 "Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them."

16 So the exiles did as had been proposed. And Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of fathers' households for each of their father's households by name. And they came together on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter. 17 And they finished investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first day of the first month.

18 Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign wives were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. 19 They promised to put away their wives, and because they were guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their offense. 20 Of the sons of Immer there were Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah. 22 And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah. 23 Of Levites there were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers there was Eliashib, and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri. 25 Of Israel, of the sons of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah and Benaiah. 26 And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah. 27 And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza. 28 And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai. 29 And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch and Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Ramoth. 30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui and Manasseh. 31 And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu, 38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah. 44 All these had married foreign wives, and some of them had children by these wives.

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