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Nehemiah 2:1-3
Contemporary English Version
Nehemiah 2:1-3
Contemporary English Version
Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem
2 During the month of Nisan[a] in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was king, I served him his wine, as I had done before. But this was the first time I had ever looked depressed. 2 So the king said, “Why do you look so sad? You're not sick. Something must be bothering you.”
Even though I was frightened, 3 (A) I answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! I feel sad because the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and its gates have been burned down.”
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- 2.1 Nisan: Or Abib, the first month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-March to mid-April.
Nehemiah 2:1-3
New International Version
Nehemiah 2:1-3
New International Version
Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(A) when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!(B) Why should my face not look sad when the city(C) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?(D)”
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New International Version (NIV) 
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