³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!^(A) Why should my face not look sad when the city^(B) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?^(C)”

¹³ By night I went out through the Valley Gate^(A) toward the Jackal^[a] Well and the Dung Gate,^(B) examining the walls^(C) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.

³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.^(A)”