Nehemiah 2:3-5

Christian Standard Bible

³ and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I^[a] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ^(A)

⁴ Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of the heavens^{(B) 5} and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,^[b](C) so that I may rebuild it.”^(D)