Nehemiah 2:2-4

Christian Standard Bible

² so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad,^(A) when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”^(B)

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?” ^(C)

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

So I prayed to the God of the heavens^(D)