1 1 The Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, To their Jewish brethren in Egypt, Greeting, and good peace.
1 2 May God do good to you, and may he remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants. 1 3 May he give you all a heart to worship him and to do his will with a strong heart and a willing spirit. 1 4 May he open your heart to his law and his commandments, and may he bring peace. 1 5 May he hear your prayers and be reconciled to you, and may he not forsake you in time of evil. 1 6 We are now praying for you here.
1 7 In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you, in the critical distress which came upon us in those years after Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom 1 8 and burned the gate and shed innocent blood. We besought the Lord and we were heard, and we offered sacrifice and cereal offering, and we lighted the lamps and we set out the loaves. 1 9 And now see that you keep the feast of booths in the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.