Nehemiah 2:2-4

Expanded Bible

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.