Nehemiah 2:1-3

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

2 During the month of Nisan^[a] 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 are you^[b] sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.”^[c](B)

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