Nehemiah 2:1-5

Christian Standard Bible

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

2 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,^(A) when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, ² so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad,^(B) when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”^(C)

I was overwhelmed with fear ³ and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I^[a] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ^(D)

⁴ Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of the heavens^{(E) 5} and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,^[b](F) so that I may rebuild it.”^(G)