Ezra 6:12

6:12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation ¹  who reaches out ²  to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!”

Ezra 10:3

10:3 Therefore let us enact ³  a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, ⁴  and that of those who respect ⁵  the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.

[6:12]  ¹ tn Aram “people.”

[6:12]  ² tn Aram “who sends forth his hand.”

[10:3]  ³ tn Heb “cut.”

[10:3]  ⁴ tn The MT vocalizes this word as a plural, which could be understood as a reference to God. But the context seems to suggest that a human lord is intended. The apparatus of BHS suggests repointing the word as a singular (“my lord”), but this is unnecessary. The plural (“my lords”) can be understood in an honorific sense even when a human being is in view. Most English versions regard this as a reference to Ezra, so the present translation supplies “your” before “counsel” to make this clear.

[10:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “who tremble at”; NAB, NIV “who fear.”