⁹ He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.^(A)

²⁸ and who has extended his good favor^(A) to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me,^(B) I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

¹⁸ Because the gracious hand of our God was on us,^(A) they brought us Sherebiah,^(B) a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all;

²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(A) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(B) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(C)”

³¹ On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal^(A) to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us,^(B) and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.

⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel^(A) by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me,^(B) the king granted my requests.^(C)

¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me^(A) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

⁵ But the eye of their God^(A) was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.