Nehemiah 2:1-9

1And it came to pass in the monthH2320 NisanH5212, in the twentiethH6242 yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, that wineH3196 was beforeH6440 him: and I took upH5375 the wineH3196, and gaveH5414 it to the kingH4428. Now I had not in times past been sadH7451 in his presenceH6440. 2Therefore the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, Why is thy countenanceH6440 sadH7451, seeing thou art not sickH2470? this is nothing but sorrowH7455 of heartH3820. Then I was veryH3966 greatlyH7235 afraidH3372, 3And saidH559 to the kingH4428, Let the kingH4428 liveH2421 for everH5769: why should not my countenanceH6440 be sadH3415, when the cityH5892, the placeH1004 of my fathersH1’ sepulchresH6913, lieth wasteH2720, and its gatesH8179 are consumedH398 with fireH784? 4Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, For what dost thou make requestH1245? So I prayedH6419 to the GodH430 of heavenH8064. 5And I saidH559 to the kingH4428, If it should pleaseH2895 the kingH4428, and if thy servantH5650 hath found favourH3190 in thy sightH6440, that thou wouldest sendH7971 me to JudahH3063, to the cityH5892 of my fathersH1’ sepulchresH6913, that I may buildH1129 it. 6And the kingH4428 saidH559 to me, (the queenH7694 also sittingH3427 by himH681,) For how long shall thy journeyH4109 be? and when wilt thou returnH7725? So it pleasedH3190H6440 the kingH4428 to sendH7971 me; and I setH5414 him a timeH2165.1 7Moreover I saidH559 to the kingH4428, If it should pleaseH2895 the kingH4428, let lettersH107 be givenH5414 me to the governorsH6346 beyondH5676 the riverH5104, that they may let me pass throughH5674 till I comeH935 into JudahH3063; 8And a letterH107 to AsaphH623 the keeperH8104 of the king’sH4428 forestH6508, that he may giveH5414 me timberH6086 to make beamsH7136 for the gatesH8179 of the palaceH1002 which is near to the houseH1004, and for the wallH2346 of the cityH5892, and for the houseH1004 that I shall enterH935. And the kingH4428 grantedH5414 me, according to the goodH2896 handH3027 of my GodH430 upon me.

9Then I cameH935 to the governorsH6346 beyondH5676 the riverH5104, and gaveH5414 them the king’sH4428 lettersH107. Now the kingH4428 had sentH7971 captainsH8269 of the armyH2428 and horsemenH6571 with me.