Ezra 8:21-23

New American Standard Bible

Protection of God Invoked

²¹ Then I proclaimed ^(A)a fast there at ^(B)the river of Ahava, to ^(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 who seek Him, but ^(E)His power and His anger are against all those who ^(F)abandon Him.” ²³ So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He ^[d](G)listened to our pleading.