Verse 1: Kwathi lapho izitha zakwaJuda nezakwaBenjamini sezizwile ukuthi abathunjwa bakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli,
Verse 2: zasondela kuZerubabele nakuzo izinhloko zawoyise, zathi kubo: “Masakhe nani, ngokuba sifuna uNkulunkulu wenu njengani, sinikela kuye kwasemihleni ka-Esari Hadoni inkosi yase-Asiriya owasikhuphulela lapha.”
Verse 3: Kepha oZerubabele noJeshuwa nensali yezinhloko zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuzo: “Aninandaba nathi yokwakhela uNkulunkulu wethu indlu, kepha thina sodwa siyakumakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli njengokusiyala kwenkosi uKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya.”
Verse 4: Abantu balelo zwe base bedangalisa izandla zabantu bakwaJuda, babesabisa ekwakheni,
Verse 5: babaqashela abeluleki, bashafisa amasu abo zonke izinsuku zikaKoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, kwaze kwaba sekubuseni kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.
Verse 6: Ekubuseni kuka-Ahashiveroshi, ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, baloba bamangalela abakhileyo kwaJuda naseJerusalema.
Verse 7: Emihleni ka-Aritahishashita oBishilamu, noMithiredati, noThabeyeli, nabanye abangane bakhe baloba ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yasePheresiya; okulotshiweyo kwakunjengokulotshwa kwesi-Aramu, kwachazwa ngesi-Aramu.
Verse 8: URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, babhala incwadi enje ku-Aritahishashita inkosi ngeJerusalema ngokuthi:
Verse 9: URehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi, umbhali, nabanye abangane babo, amaDinayi, nama-Afarisathiki, namaTharipheli, nama-Afarisi, nama-Arikhevi, nabaseBabele, namaShushaniki, namaDehavi, nama-Elamu,
Verse 10: nezinye izizwe ezathunjwa ngu-Osinaphari omkhulu nodumileyo, zahlaliswa emzini waseSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula, nokuthi nokuthi.
Verse 11: Nansi impinda yencwadi abayithuma ku-Aritahishashita inkosi yokuthi: “Izinceku zakho, abantu abaphesheya koMfula, nokuthi nokuthi.
Verse 12: “Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi abaJuda abakhuphuka kuwe sebefikile kithi eJerusalema; bayawakha umuzi ohlubukileyo nonengekayo; sebeyakuqeda izingange, bahlanganise izisekelo.
Verse 13: “Makwazeke enkosini, kalokhu, ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange, abayikuthela intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela, okuyakulimaza amakhosi ekugcineni.
Verse 14: Njengokuba manje sidla usawoti wendlu yenkosi, kungasifanele ukuba sibone ihlazo lenkosi, ngalokho sithumele sayazisa inkosi
Verse 15: ukuba kucingwe encwadini yezindaba yawoyihlo; uyakufumana encwadini yezindaba, wazi ukuthi lo muzi ungumuzi ohlubukayo, olimaza amakhosi namazwe, nokuthi benzile ukwambuka phakathi kwawo kwasendulo; ngalokho lo muzi wachithwa.
Verse 16: Siyazisa inkosi ukuthi uma lo muzi wakhiwa, ziqedwe izingange zawo, ngalokho awusayikuba nasiqephu phesheya koMfula.”
Verse 17: Inkosi yayisithuma incwadi kuRehumi unqamulajuqu noShimshayi umbhali nabanye abangane babo ababehlala eSamariya nakwelinye phesheya koMfula yokuthi: “Ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.
Verse 18: “Incwadi enayithuma kithina ifundwe kahle phambi kwami.
Verse 19: Ngayaleza, kwacingwa, kufumanisekile ukuthi lowo muzi uziphakamisele amakhosi kwasendulo nokuthi ukuhlubuka nokwambuka kwenziwe phakathi kwawo.
Verse 20: Kade kwakukhona amakhosi anamandla naphezu kweJerusalema, ayebusa lonke elingaphesheya koMfula; aphiwa intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela.
Verse 21: Makuyalezwe ukuba labo bantu bathiywe, ungakhiwa lowo muzi, ngize ngiyaleze mina.
Verse 22: Xwayani ukuba ningayekethisi kulokho; kungase kwande ukonakala, kulimaze amakhosi, na?”
Verse 23: Lapho impinda yencwadi yenkosi u-Aritahishashita isifundiwe phambi kwawoRehumi noShimshayi umbhali nabangane babo, bashesha baya eJerusalema kubaJuda, babathiya ngezikhwepha nangamandla.
Verse 24: Wawusuthiywa umsebenzi wendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema. Wathiywa kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaDariyu inkosi yasePheresiya.