1. Ke kaloku, bakuva ababandezeli bamaYuda nabamaBhenjamin, ukuba oonyana basemfudusweni bamakhela itempile uYehova uThixo wakwaSirayeli,
2. beza kuZerubhabheli, nakwiintloko zezindlu zooyise, bathi kubo, Masakhe nani, ngokuba siquqela uThixo wenu njengani; sibingelela kuye kususela kwimihla kaEsar-hadon, ukumkani waseAsiriya, owasinyusela apha.
3. Wathi uZerubhabheli, noYeshuwa, nabanye abaziintloko zezindlu zooyise bakwaSirayeli kubo, Ànithe ni nathi ekumakheleni uThixo wethu indlu; somakhela sedwa uYehova, uThixo wakwaSirayeli, njengoko wasiwisela umthetho ngako ukumkani onguKoreshi, ukumkani wasePersi.
4. Abantu belo zwe bamana ukubaphelisa amandla abantu bakwaYuda, beboyikisa ekwakheni;
5. bebaqeshela amagqwetha, ukuba alishitshise iqhinga labo, yonke imihla kaKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi, kwada kwezisa ebukumkanini bukaDariyo ukumkani wasePersi.
6. Nasebukumkanini buka-Ahaswerose, ekuqalekeni kobukumkani bakhe, babhala, bebancetheza abemi bakwaYuda nabaseYerusalem.
7. Nangemihla ka-Artashashta kwabhala uBhish-lam, noMitredati, noTabheli, nabanye abalingane babo, kuArtashashta ukumkani wasePersi; incwadi yabhalwa ngentetho yesiAram,* yakhunyushwa ngesiAram.