Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes ¹  of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. ²  Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah,

and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites – 220 of them. They were all designated by name.

“You are the LORD God who chose Abram and brought him forth from Ur of the Chaldeans. You changed his name to Abraham.

I mention Rahab ¹  and Babylon to my followers. ²  Here are ³  Philistia and Tyre, ⁴  along with Ethiopia. ⁵  It is said of them, “This one was born there.” ⁶ 

The leech ¹  has two daughters: ²  “Give! Give!” ³  There are three things that are never satisfied, four ⁴  that never say, “Enough” ⁵  –

Those remaining in Zion, ¹  those left in Jerusalem, ²  will be called “holy,” ³  all in Jerusalem who are destined to live. ⁴ 

everyone who belongs to me, ¹  whom I created for my glory, whom I formed – yes, whom I made!

“Sit silently! Go to a hiding place, ¹  O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, ²  you will no longer be called ‘Queen of kingdoms.’

Indeed, they live in the holy city; ¹  they trust in ²  the God of Israel, whose name is the Lord who commands armies.

Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I summoned! I am the one; I am present at the very beginning and at the very end. ¹ 

I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves surge. The Lord who commands armies is his name!

We existed from ancient times, ¹  but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects. ² 

Under his rule ¹  Judah will enjoy safety ²  and Israel will live in security. ³  This is the name he will go by: ‘The Lord has provided us with justice.’ ⁴ 

So I said to them, What is this high place you go to?’” (So it is called “High Place” ¹  to this day.)

On the east side, one and one-half miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan.

On the south side, one and one-half miles by measure, there will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun.

On the west side, one and one-half miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali.

Then I took my staff “Pleasantness” and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people.

Then I cut the second staff “Binders” in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

“All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in ¹  a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.