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.