Nehemiah 2:2-4

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

² so the king said to me, ‘Why do you look so sad,^(A) when you aren’t ill? This is nothing but sadness of heart.’^(B)

I was overwhelmed with fear ³ and replied to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! Why should I^[a] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire? ’^(C)

⁴ Then the king asked me, ‘What is your request? ’

So I prayed to the God of the heavens^(D)