10 And king Cyrus brought out the holy vessels of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and set up in his temple.

11 And when Cyrus king of Persia had brought them out, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurekeeper,

12 and through him they were delivered to Samanassar, prince of Judah.

13 And their number was: a thousand liquors of gold, and a thousand liquors of silver, twenty-nine cups of silver, thirty cups of gold, two thousand four hundred and ten of silver, and a thousand other vessels.

14 All the vessels of gold and silver were brought five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine.

15 And they were brought by Samanassar, and those who returned with him from the captivity of Babylon to Jerusalem.

16 And in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Belem, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Raphim, and Beeltethmus, and Samellius the scribe, and others who agreed with them, and dwelt in Samaria and other places, wrote him the following letter:

17 To king Artaxerxes, my lord, your servants Raphim, the writer of events, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.

18 Let it now be known to the lord the king that the Jews who have come out from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, that apostate and treacherous city, are building its squares, rebuilding the walls, and laying the foundation of the temple.

19 Therefore if this city be rebuilt and its walls finished, they will not only refuse to pay taxes, but will also rebel against the kings.

20 And when the building of the temple had already begun, we declared it good not to despise it,

21 But to inform the lord king, whether it is not good for thee to look in the books of thy fathers.

22 And thou shalt find a record of it in the books of remembrance, and thou shalt know that this city was a traitor, and troubled kings and cities,

23 but the Jews are apostates, who have always conspired in it, for which reason this city was laid waste.