1. "Artaxerxes, the great king from India all the way to Ethiopia, to the generals and leaders of the one hundred twenty-seven provinces that obey our command: greetings, he says.
2. In arrogance, many have abused the goodness of leaders and the honor that has been bestowed on them,
3. and they strive, not only to oppress the king's subjects, but, not acting according to the glory given to them, set in motion a plan to ambush those very ones who gave it.