Nehemiah 2:1-3

New Century Version

Nehemiah Is Sent to Jerusalem

2 It was the month of Nisan in the twentieth year Artaxerxes was king. He wanted some wine, so I took some and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before. ² So the king said, “Why does your face look sad even though you are not sick? Your heart must be sad.”

Then I was very afraid. ³ I said to the king, “May the king live forever! My face is sad because the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”