…We prayed that he would give us a safe journey
and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.
For I was ashamed to ask the king
for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us
and protect us from enemies along the way.
After all, we had told the king,
“Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him,
but his fierce anger rages
against those who abandon him.”
So we fasted and earnestly
prayed that our God would take care of us,
and he heard our prayer.
