And I saidto the king,"Ifit pleasethe king,let lettersbe givenme for the governors[of the provinces] beyondthe River,that they may allow me to passthroughuntilI cometo Judah,
"Now[therefore], Tattenai,governorof [the province] beyondthe River,Shethar-bozenaiand your colleagues,the officialsof [the provinces] beyondthe River,keepawayfrom there.
"I, even I, KingArtaxerxes,issuea decreeto allthe treasurerswhoare [in the provinces] beyondthe River,that whateverEzrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,may requireof you, it shall be donediligently,
For I was ashamedto requestfrom the kingtroopsand horsemento protectus from the enemyon the way,becausewe had saidto the king,"The handof our Godis favorablydisposedto allthose who seekHim, but His powerand His angerare againstallthose who forsakeHim."
Then they deliveredthe king'sedictsto the king'ssatrapsand to the governors[in the provinces] beyondthe River,and they supportedthe peopleand the houseof God.
Then I cameto the governors[of the provinces] beyondthe Riverand gavethem the king'sletters.Now the kinghad sentwith me officersof the armyand horsemen.
Nextto them Melatiahthe Gibeoniteand Jadonthe Meronothite,the menof Gibeonand of Mizpah,also maderepairsfor the officialseatof the governor[of the province] beyondthe River.
