Nehemiah 2:3-5

New Century Version

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. ⁵ Then I answered the king, “If you are willing and if I have pleased you, send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so I can rebuild it.”