1King Ptolemy Philopator to the Egyptian garrisons, greeting and prosperity!
2We are well, as are our children; the great God has directed our affairs according to our desire.
3Some of our friends, out of malice, persuaded us to gather the Jews of the kingdom and subject them to extraordinary tortures.
4They alleged that the affairs of our kingdom would never prosper because of the hostility they harbored against all nations.
5It was thus that they were brought in irons and chains, treated as slaves or even as traitors.
6They tried, without any examination or investigation, to exterminate them with a cruelty more savage than Scythian law.
7We, however, were gravely irritated against them and could barely spare them, in accordance with the benevolence we have toward all men.
8Observing unequivocally that the heavenly God is certainly the defender of the Jews.
9As a father, he always fights in defense of his children.
10Considering also the unchanging benevolence they have toward us and toward our ancestors.
11With justice we acquit them of all accusation of any nature.
12We order that all return to their homes, and that no one anywhere harm them.
13Let no one molest them for any of the events that took place without reason.
14Know that if we plot any evil against them or in any way afflict them, we shall have before us not a man, but the Most High God.
15He, as lord of all power, will be our inevitable adversary, punishing us according to our deeds.
16The Jews, having received this letter, did not depart immediately.
17They asked the king to allow them to punish with their own hands those of their people who had voluntarily transgressed the holy God.
18The king granted them permission, and they executed more than three hundred men that day.
19Then they celebrated for seven days a festival of joy at the place where they should have been killed.
20They determined that these festivities should be celebrated annually.
21The Jews, thus freed from all accusation of death, praised God, their holy Deliverer.
22The king offered them a banquet and restored to them all that had been confiscated.
23Thus they departed joyfully to their homes.
24May the almighty God of Israel be blessed forever. Amen.