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.