1. Emva kwalokho esabusa u-Aritahishashita, inkosi yasePheresiya, u-Ezra kaSeraya ka-Azariya kaHilikiya,
2. kaShalumi kaSadoki ka-Ahithubi
3. ka-Amariya ka-Azariya kaMerayoti
4. kaZeraya ka-Uzi kaBuki
5. ka-Abishuwa kaFinehasi ka-Eleyazare ka-Aroni umpristi omkhulu,
6. u-Ezra lo wakhuphuka eBabele; wayengumbhali echwepheshile emthethweni kaMose awunikiweyo nguJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; inkosi yamnika konke akucelayo ngokwesandla sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe esasiphezu kwakhe.
7. Kwakhuphuka nabanye abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nabapristi, namaLevi, nabahlabeleli, nabalindisango, namaNethini,* baya eJerusalema ngomnyaka wesikhombisa ka-Aritahishashita inkosi.
8. Wafika eJerusalema ngenyanga yesihlanu ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wenkosi.
9. Ngokuba ngolokuqala lwenyanga yokuqala waqala ukukhuphuka eBabele; ngolokuqala lwenyanga yesihlanu wafika eJerusalema ngokwesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wakhe esasiphezu kwakhe,
10. ngokuba u-Ezra wayebhekise inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwa-Israyeli.
11. Lokhu kuyimpinda yencwadi inkosi u-Aritahishashita eyamnika yona u-Ezra umpristi nombhali, umbhali wamazwi emiyalo kaJehova nawezimiso zakhe ku-Israyeli, yokuthi:
12. “U-Aritahishashita, inkosi yamakhosi ku-Ezra, umpristi nombhali womthetho kaNkulunkulu wezulu; ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.