1. Ke kaloku umshumayeli uHagayi *nomshumayeli uZakariya umzukulwana kaIdo babeshumayela kwaJuda naseJerusalem egameni likaThixo kaSirayeli ophezu kwabo.
2. Ke uZerubhabheli unyana kaShelatiyeli noYeshuwa unyana kaJozadaki baphinda bawuqhubela phambili umsebenzi wokwakha indlu kaThixo eJerusalem. Babekunye nabashumayeli bakaThixo bebancedisa.
3. Ngelo thuba ke uTatenayi umlawuli kwelentshona ye-Efrati, kunye noSheta-bhozenayi namahlakani abo, baya kubo, babuza bathi: “Nigunyaziswe ngubani ukuba niyakhe le ndlu, nisivuse esi sakhiwo?”
4. Baqhuba bathi: “Khona ngoobani amagama abakhi bale ndlu?”
5. Kambe ke iliso likaThixo wawo lawalusa loo madoda makhulu akwaJuda, awade amiswe, kwada kwakhutshwa ingxelo yasiwa kuDariyo, waza ke waphendula.
6. Nantsi ikopi yeleta kaDariyo awayibhalelwa nguTatenayi umlawuli welentshona ye-Efrati, noSheta-bhozenayi namahlakani abo namagosa elentshona ye-Efrati.
7. Ingxelo leyo bayikhuphayo yayisithi:“Kumkani uDariyo,“Makube hele kube chosi kuwe!
8. “Siyakwazisa, kumkani, ukuba sikhe satyelela isithili sakwaJuda nendlu yoThixo omkhulu. Phaya ke sifike abantu beyakha ngamatye amakhulu, bemisa namaplanga ezindongeni zayo. Umsebenzi lowo ke wenziwa ngengqiqo, waye uhambela phambili phantsi kwesikhokelo sabo.