Whosoever Shall Read This Inscription Hereafter: From the Behistun Inscription
Original title: Behistun inscription, Old Persian text, column IV, §§ 56–60, 65–66 (Old Persian)
Darius I, king of Persia Dārayavauš (reigned 522–486 BCE)
Translated by L. W. King and R. C. Thompson (1869–1919; 1876–1941), 1907
c. 520–518 BCE

Cold Library · Open Stacks · S-008213 · https://coldlibrary.com/s/008213
Rights: The inscription dates from about 520 BCE. King and Thompson's translation was published in 1907; King died in 1919 and Thompson in 1941. Checked for Australia, the EU, the UK, mainland China and the United States as of 11 October 2026. Guidance, not legal advice.
Source: Internet Archive, sculpturesinscri00brituoft (British Museum, 1907), https://archive.org/details/sculpturesinscri00brituoft (retrieved 2026-10-11)
Generated 2026-10-14 from https://coldlibrary.com/en/open-stacks/darius-behistun-to-the-reader-hereafter

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§ LVI. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: This is what I have done, by the grace of Auramazda have I always acted. Whosoever shall read this inscription hereafter, let that which I have done be believed; thou shalt not hold it to be lies.

§ LVII. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: I call Auramazda to witness that it is true (and) not lies; all of it have I done.

§ LVIII. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: By the grace of Auramazda there is also much else that hath been done by me which is not graven in this inscription; on this account it hath not been inscribed lest he who shall read this inscription hereafter should then hold that which hath been done by me to be too much and should not believe it, (but) should take it to be lies.

§ LIX. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: It was not done by the former kings during their time, as it hath always been done by me through the favour of Auramazda.

§ LX. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: Now may that appear true unto thee which hath been done by me; so ... conceal thou not. If thou shalt not conceal this edict (but) shalt publish it to the world, then may Auramazda be thy friend, may thy house be numerous, and mayest thou thyself be long-lived.

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§ LXV. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: Thou who shalt hereafter see this tablet, which I have written, or these sculptures, destroy them not, (but) preserve them so long as thou livest!

§ LXVI. (Thus) saith Darius, the king: If thou shalt behold this tablet or these sculptures, and shalt not destroy them, but shalt preserve them as long as thy line endureth, then may Auramazda be thy friend, (and) may thy house be numerous. Live long, and may Auramazda make [fortunate] whatsoever thou doest.