Nehemiah 2:2-4

Lexham English Bible

² So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad since you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” And I was very much afraid. ³ I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad when the city of my ancestors’^[a] burial site^[b] is ruined and her gates are consumed by fire?” ⁴ Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens.