Nehemiah 2:1-8

1And it came to pass in the monthH2320 NisanH5212, in the twentieth yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, when wineH3196 wasH1961 before him, that I tookH5375 up the wineH3196, and gaveH5414 it unto the kingH4428. Now I had not beenH1961 beforetime sad in his presenceH6440. 2And the kingH4428 saidH559 unto me, WhyH4069 is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sickH2470? this is nothingH369 else but sorrow of heartH3820. Then I was veryH3966 sore afraidH3372. 3And I saidH559 unto the kingH4428, Let the kingH4428 liveH2421 for everH5769: whyH4069 should not my countenance be sad, whenH834 the cityH5892, the place of my fathers’H1 sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gatesH8179 thereof are consumedH398 with fireH784? 4Then the kingH4428 saidH559 unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayedH6419 to the GodH430 of heavenH8064. 5And I saidH559 unto the kingH4428, If it please the kingH4428, and if thy servantH5650 have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest sendH7971 me unto JudahH3063, unto the cityH5892 of my fathers’H1 sepulchres, that I may buildH1129 it. 6And the kingH4428 saidH559 unto me (the queen also sittingH3427 by him), For how long shall thy journeyH4109 beH1961? and when wilt thou returnH7725? So it pleased the kingH4428 to sendH7971 me; and I setH5414 him a timeH2165. 7Moreover I saidH559 unto the kingH4428, If it please the kingH4428, let lettersH107 be givenH5414 me to the governorsH6346 beyond the RiverH5104, that they may let me passH5674 through till I comeH935 unto JudahH3063; 8and a letterH107 unto AsaphH623 the keeperH8104 of the king’sH4428 forest, that he may giveH5414 me timber to makeH5414 beams for the gatesH8179 of the castle which appertaineth to the houseH1004, and for the wallH2346 of the cityH5892, and for the houseH1004 that I shall enter into. And the kingH4428 granted me, according to the goodH2896 handH3027 of my GodH430 upon me.