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.
8. OoRehum umkhumbuzi wezinto zakomkhulu, noShimshayi umbhali, babhala incwadi ngeYerusalem kuArtashashta ukumkani, ngolu hlobo.
9. Bathumela ke ooRehum umkhumbuzi wezinto zakomkhulu, noShimshayi umbhali, nabanye abalingane babo bamaDina, nabama-Afarsateki, nabamaTarpela, nabama-Afarsi, nabama-Arki, nabamaBhabheli, nabamaShushanki,
10. nabamaDehavi, nabamaElam, nezinye izizwe, awazithimbayo uOsnapare omkhulu obekekileyo, wazibeka emzini wakwaSamari, nakweminye nganeno koMlambo,* nakwezinye iindawo.
11. Yiyo le incwadi abayithumela kuArtashashta ukumkani, ithi:Abakhonzi bakho, amadoda anganeno koMlambo, njalonjalo.
12. Makwazeke kukumkani, ukuba amaYuda anyukileyo evela kuwe, afikile kuthi eYerusalem; ayawakha umzi ogwilikayo, ongendawo; ayazimisa iindonga zawo, ayazimbela iziseko.
13. Makwazeke ngoku kukumkani, ukuba óthi, xa uthe wakhiwa lo mzi, zafezwa neendonga zawo, angarholi rhafu nasithabathaba, nalunikelo, kude kuye kuxhwaleka ookumkani.
14. Kaloku, ngenxa enokuba sisidla ityuwa yasebhotwe, kwaye kungafanelekile kuthi ukubona ukumkani encitshiswa. Ngako oko siyathumela,