Nehemiah 2:1–8

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

2During the month of Nisan ^ein the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, ^fwhen wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, ²so the king said to me, “Why are you ^gsad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.” ^hi

I was overwhelmed with fear ³and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I ^jnot be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ^k

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

So I prayed to the God of heaven ^l5and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, ^mnso that I may rebuild it.” ^o

⁶The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, ^pand it pleased the king to send me.

⁷I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River, ^qso that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. ^r8And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress, ^sthe city wall, and the home where I will live.” ^tuThe king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God. ^vw