^9 (A)For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this ^(B)you have done foolishly; therefore from now on ^(C)you shall have wars.”

⁶ this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was ^(A)a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, ^(B)according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

²⁸ and ^(A)has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes.

So I was encouraged, as ^(B)the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.