Nehemiah 2:2-4

Holman Christian Standard Bible

² so the king said to me, “Why are you^[a] sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.”^[b](A)

I was overwhelmed with fear ³ and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I^[c] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”^(B)

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

So I prayed to the God of heaven^(C)