Protection of God Invoked

²¹ Then I proclaimed ^(A)a fast there at ^(B)the river of Ahava, that we might ^(C)humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a ^[a]safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to ^[b]protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “^(D)The hand of our God is ^[c]favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but ^(E)His power and His anger are against all those who ^(F)forsake Him.” ²³ So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He ^[d](G)listened to our entreaty.

³¹ Then we journeyed from ^(A)the river Ahava on ^(B)the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and ^(C)the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.

^32 (A)Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.