1. Ke iintshaba zikaJuda noBhenjamin zithe zakuva ukuba abo babuyileyo ekuthinjweni nâbo besakha indlu *kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli,
2. zasuka zeza kuZerubhabheli neenkulu zezindlu, zathi kubo: “Nathi sifuna ukunincedisa ekwakheni, kuba nathi kwanjengani siyamlangazelela lo Thixo wenu. Nangoku sasoloko simenzela amadini, kusukela kwixesha likakumkani waseAsiriya uEsaradon, lo wasizisa apha.”
3. Ke uZerubhabheli noYeshuwa neenkulu zezindlu zikaSirayeli baphendula bathi: “Aninalo ilungelo lokwakhela uThixo wethu indlu. Sithi sodwa abaza kuyakha le ndlu kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, ngokomyalelo kakumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya.”
4. Zasuka ke ezo ntlanga zazibangqongile zabatyhafisa abantu bakwaJuda, zabenza boyika ukuwuqhuba umsebenzi wokwakha.
5. Zathenga amagosa awazidodobalisayo izicwangciso ngalo lonke ithuba lolawulo lukaKoreshi ukumkani wasePeshiya yada yalulawulo lukaDariyo ukumkani wasePeshiya.
6. Ke kaloku ekuqaleni kolawulo luka-Asuwerosi bababeka isityholo esibhaliweyo abantu bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalem.
7. Ke ngemihla ka-Atashasta ukumkani wasePeshiya uBhish-lam, uMitredati, noTabheli, namahlakani abo, babhala ileta, bayithumela kuAtashasta. Le leta ke yayibhalwe ngesiAram ngokwendlela isiAram esibhalwa ngayo.
8. URehum igosa eliphetheyo noShimshayi unobhala babhala ileta echasene neJerusalem, bayithumela kuAtashasta ukumkani. Bayibhala ngolu hlobo,
9. yaye iphuma kuRehum igosa eliphetheyo, noShimshayi unobhala, nawo onke amahlakani abo, abagwebi, abalawuli abongamele abantu, amagosa asePeshiya, e-Ereki naseBhabheli, ama-Alam aseSusa,
10. nabo bonke abantu abeziswa apho ngohloniphekileyo umhlekazi uOsnapare, abo wabafudusa wabamisa kwisixeko saseSamariya nakwezinye iindawo kwelentshona ye-Efrati.
11. Le ke yikopi yeleta abamthumelela yona:“Kumkani uAtashasta,“Le leta ivela kwizicaka zakho ezikwelentshona ye-Efrati.