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.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 8:21 Lit smooth way
  2. Ezra 8:22 Lit help
  3. Ezra 8:22 Lit upon all...for good
  4. Ezra 8:23 Lit was entreated by us

21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey[a] for us, our children, and all our property. 22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy[b] along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger[c] is against everyone who forsakes him.” 23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 8:21 tn Heb “a straight way.”
  2. Ezra 8:22 tn A number of modern translations regard this as a collective singular and translate “from enemies” (also in v. 31).
  3. Ezra 8:22 tn Heb “his strength and his anger.” The expression is a hendiadys (one concept expressed through two terms).