Nehemiah 2:1-7

1And it cameH1961 about in the monthH2320 NisanH5212, 1in the twentiethH6242 yearH8141 of KingH4428 2ArtaxerxesH783, that wineH3196 was beforeH6440 him, and 3I tookH5375 up the wineH3196 and gaveH5414 it to the kingH4428. Now I had not beenH1961 sadH7451 in his presenceH6440.

2So the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, “WhyH4069 is your faceH6440 sadH7451 though you are not sickH2470? 4ThisH2088 is nothingH369 but sadnessH7455 of heartH3820.” Then I was veryH3966 muchH7235 afraidH3372.

3I saidH559 to the kingH4428, “5Let the kingH4428 liveH2421 foreverH5769. WhyH4069 should my faceH6440 not be sadH7489 6whenH834 the cityH5892, the placeH1004 of my fathers’H1 tombsH6913, lies desolateH2720 and its gatesH8179 have been consumedH398 by fireH784?”

4Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, “WhatH4100 would you requestH1245?” 7So I prayedH6419 to the GodH430 of heavenH8064.

5I saidH559 to the kingH4428, “IfH518 it pleaseH2895 the kingH4428, and ifH518 your servantH5650 has foundH3190 favorH3190 beforeH6440 you, sendH7971 me to JudahH3063, to the cityH5892 of my fathers’H1 tombsH6913, that I may rebuildH1129 it.”

6Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, the queenH7694 sittingH3427 besideH681 him, “HowH4970 longH5704H4970 will your journeyH4109 be, and whenH4970 will you returnH7725?” So it pleasedH3190 the kingH4428 to sendH7971 me, and 8I gaveH5414 him a definiteH2165 timeH2165.

7And I saidH559 to the kingH4428, “IfH518 it pleaseH2895 the kingH4428, let lettersH107 be givenH5414 me 9for the governorsH6346 of the provinces beyondH5676 the RiverH5104, that they may allow me to passH5674 throughH5674 untilH5704H834 I comeH935 to JudahH3063,