27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King An-ti´ochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:
28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.
29 Menela´us declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:
30 wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xan´thicus with security.
31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.
32 I have sent also Menela´us, that he may comfort you.
33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xan´thicus.