Nehemiah 2:2-4

New Century Version

² So the king said, “Why does your face look sad even though you are not sick? Your heart must be sad.”

Then I was very afraid. ³ I said to the king, “May the king live forever! My face is sad because the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

⁴ Then the king said to me, “What do you want?”

First I prayed to the God of heaven.