[Then] the kingsentan answerto Rehumthe commander,to Shimshaithe scribe,and to the restof their colleagueswholivein Samariaand in the restof [the provinces] beyondthe River:"Peace.And now
"We informthe kingthat ifthat cityis rebuiltand the wallsfinished,as a resultyou will havenopossessionin [the province] beyondthe River."
the documentwhichyou sentto us has been translatedand readbeforeme.
And in the daysof Artaxerxes,Bishlam,Mithredath,Tabeeland the restof his colleagueswroteto Artaxerxeskingof Persia;and the textof the letterwas writtenin Aramaicand translated[from] Aramaic.
They senta reportto him in which it was writtenthus:"To Dariusthe king,allpeace.
"Artaxerxes,kingof kings,to Ezrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,perfect[peace]. And now
Nebuchadnezzarthe kingto allthe peoples,nations,and [men of every] languagethat livein allthe earth:"May your peaceabound!
ThenDariusthe kingwroteto allthe peoples,nationsand [men of every] languagewhowere livingin allthe land:"May your peaceabound!
"Whateverhouseyou enter,firstsay,'Peace[be] to thishouse.'
"ClaudiusLysias,to the most excellentgovernorFelix,greetings.
to allwho are belovedof Godin Rome,called[as] saints:Graceto you and peacefrom Godour Fatherand the LordJesusChrist.
