Nehemiah 2:1-3

Contemporary English Version

Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem

2 During the month of Nisan^[a] in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was king, I served him his wine, as I had done before. But this was the first time I had ever looked depressed. ² So the king said, “Why do you look so sad? You're not sick. Something must be bothering you.”

Even though I was frightened, ^3 (A) I answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! I feel sad because the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and its gates have been burned down.”