Nehemiah 2:2-4

New American Standard Bible 1995

² So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? ^(A)This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. ³ I said to the king, “^(B)Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad ^(C)when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” ⁴ Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” ^(D)So I prayed to the God of heaven.