⁶ The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time,^(A) and it pleased the king to send me.

⁷ I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River,^(B) so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.^{(C) 8} And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress,^(D) the city wall, and the home where I will live.”^[a](E) The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God.^[b](F)