Nehemiah 2:3-5

Complete Jewish Bible

³ as I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why shouldn’t I look sad, when the city, the place where my ancestors’ tombs are, lies in ruins; and its gates are completely burned up?” ⁴ The king asked me, “What is it that you want?” I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ then said to the king, “If it pleases the king, if your servant has won your favor, send me to Y’hudah, to the city of my ancestors’ tombs, so that I can rebuild it.”