23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, aso that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
24 We also make known to you that ait is not allowed to impose tribute, custom, or toll bon any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, aappoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and to anyone who does not know the laws, you shall bmake them known.
26 aWhoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be done to him with all diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”
Yahweh Put This in the King’s Heart
27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, awho has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, 28 and ahas extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to bthe hand of Yahweh my God upon me, and I gathered chief men from Israel to go up with me.