Nehemiah 2:2-4

New International Version

² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!^(A) Why should my face not look sad when the city^(B) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?^(C)”

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven,