Nehemiah 2:1-3

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)