Again in the reign of Emperor Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their associates wrote a letter to the emperor. The letter was written in Aramaic and was to be translated when read.

"From Rehum, the governor, from Shimshai, secretary of the province, from their associates, the judges, and from all the other officials, who are originally from Erech, Babylon, and Susa in the land of Elam,

"To Emperor Darius, may you rule in peace.

"From Emperor Artaxerxes to the priest Ezra, scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven.

Whenever you go into a house, first say, 'Peace be with this house.'

"Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

And so I write to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his own people: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

together with the other peoples whom the great and powerful Ashurbanipal moved from their homes and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in West-of-Euphrates Province."

This is the text of the letter: "To Emperor Artaxerxes from his servants who live in West-of-Euphrates.