Nehemiah 2:1-9

1And it came to pass in the monthH2320 NisanH5212, in the twentieth yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, [that] wineH3196 wasH1961 before him, and I tookH5375 up the wineH3196 and gaveH5414 it to the kingH4428. Now, I had never beenH1961 sad in his presenceH6440.

2And the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, WhyH4069 is thy faceH6440 sad, seeing thou art not sickH2470? this is nothingH369 else but sadnessH7455 of heartH3820. And I was veryH3966 sore afraidH3372.

3And I saidH559 to the kingH4428, Let the kingH4428 liveH2421 for everH5769! WhyH4069 should not my countenance be sad, whenH834 the cityH5892, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lies waste, and its gatesH8179 are consumedH398 with fireH784?

4And the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayedH6419 to the 1GodH430 of the heavensH8064.

5And I saidH559 to the kingH4428, If it please the kingH4428, and if thy servantH5650 have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest sendH7971 me to JudahH3063, to the cityH5892 of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may buildH1129 it.

6And the kingH4428 saidH559 to me — the queen also sittingH3427 by him, — For how long shall thy journeyH4109 beH1961, and when wilt thou returnH7725? And it pleased the kingH4428 to sendH7971 me; and I setH5414 him a timeH2165.

7And I saidH559 to the kingH4428, If it please the kingH4428, let lettersH107 be givenH5414 me to the governorsH6346 beyond the riverH5104, that they may setH5414 me forward till I comeH935 into JudahH3063;

8and a letterH107 to AsaphH623 the keeperH8104 of the king's forest, that he may giveH5414 me timber to makeH5414 beams for the gatesH8179 of the palace which [appertains] 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 2GodH430 upon me.

9And I cameH935 to the governorsH6346 beyond the riverH5104, and gaveH5414 them the king's lettersH107. Now the kingH4428 had sentH7971 captains of a force and horsemenH6571 with me.