21 As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honor and good will. Returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:
22 not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.
23 But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries, appointed a successor,
24 to the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:
25 again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbors unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son An-ti´ochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:
26 therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son.
27 For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favorably and graciously yield to your desires.