Nehemiah 2:2-4

New International Version - UK

² so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’

I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’

⁴ The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’

Then I prayed to the God of heaven,