"Artaxerxes,kingof kings,to Ezrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,perfect[peace]. And now
Now Ben-hadadkingof Aramgatheredallhis army,and there [were] thirty-twokingswith him, and horsesand chariots.And he wentup and besiegedSamariaand foughtagainst it.
For he haddominionover everythingwestof the River,from Tiphsaheven to Gaza,over allthe kingswestof the River;and he hadpeaceon allsidesaroundabouthim.
"ThussaysCyruskingof Persia,'The LORD,the Godof heaven,has givenme allthe kingdomsof the earthand He has appointedme to buildHim a housein Jerusalem,whichis in Judah.
[Then] the kingsentan answerto Rehumthe commander,to Shimshaithe scribe,and to the restof their colleagueswholivein Samariaand in the restof [the provinces] beyondthe River:"Peace.And now
Now afterthesethings,in the reignof Artaxerxeskingof Persia,[there went up] Ezrasonof Seraiah,sonof Azariah,sonof Hilkiah,
Now thisis the copyof the decreewhichKingArtaxerxesgaveto Ezrathe priest,the scribe,learnedin the wordsof the commandmentsof the LORDand His statutesto Israel:
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
For it says,"Are not my princesallkings?
For thussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,I will bringupon Tyrefrom the northNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,kingof kings,with horses,chariots,cavalryand a greatarmy.
"You, O king,are the kingof kings,to whomthe Godof heavenhas giventhe kingdom,the power,the strengthand the glory;
The kingansweredDanieland said,"Surelyyour Godis a Godof godsand a Lordof kingsand a revealerof mysteries,sinceyou have beenableto revealthismystery."
whichHe will bringabout at the propertime--He who is the blessedand onlySovereign,the Kingof kingsand Lordof lords,
"Thesewill wage waragainstthe Lamb,and the Lambwill overcomethem, becauseHe is Lordof lordsand Kingof kings,and thosewhoare with Him [are the] calledand chosenand faithful."
And on His robeand on His thighHe hasa namewritten,"KINGOF KINGS,AND LORDOF LORDS."
