Nehemiah Is Sent to Jerusalem

2 It was the month of Nisan [^Cearly spring] in the twentieth year Artaxerxes was king [^C445 bc]. Wine was brought ·for him [or to me]. I took some and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before. ² So the king said, “Why does your face look sad even though you are not sick? ·Your heart must be sad [You must be very troubled].”

Then I was very afraid. ³ I said to the king, “May the king live forever! ·My face is sad because [^LWhy should my face not look sad/dejected when…?] the city ·where my ancestors are buried [of my fathers’ tombs] lies in ruins, and its gates have been ·destroyed [^Ldevoured] by fire.”

⁴ Then the king said to me, “What do you ·want [seek; request]?”

·First [Then; So] I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I answered the king, “If ·you are willing [it pleases/is good to you] and if I have ·pleased you [found favor in your sight], send me to Judah, to the city ·where my ancestors are buried [of my fathers’ tombs; ^CJerusalem] so I can rebuild it.”

⁶ The queen was sitting next to the king. He asked me, “How long will your ·trip [journey] take, and when will you get back?” It ·pleased [^Lwas good to] the king to send me, so I set a time.