⁷ I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,^(A) so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

³⁶ They also delivered the king’s orders^(A) to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,^(B) who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.^(C)

⁹ So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry^(A) with me.

²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(A) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(B) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(C)”