1And it came to pass in the month2320 Nisan5212, in the twentieth6242 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 the king4428, that wine3196 was before6440 him: and I took up5375 the wine3196, and gave5414 it unto the king4428. Now I had not been beforetime sad7451 in his presence6440.
2Wherefore the king4428 said559 unto me, Why is thy countenance6440 sad7451, seeing thou art not sick2470? this is nothing else but sorrow7455 of heart3820. Then I was very3966 sore7235 afraid3372,
3And said559 unto the king4428, Let the king4428 live2421 for ever5769: why should not my countenance6440 be sad3415, when the city5892, the place1004 of my fathers'1 sepulchres6913, lieth waste2720, and the gates8179 thereof are consumed398 with fire784?
4Then the king4428 said559 unto me, For what dost thou make request1245? So I prayed6419 to the God430 of heaven8064.
5And I said559 unto the king4428, If it please2895 the king4428, and if thy servant5650 have found favour3190 in thy sight6440, that thou wouldest send7971 me unto Judah3063, unto the city5892 of my fathers'1 sepulchres6913, that I may build1129 it.
6And the king4428 said559 unto me, (the queen7694 also sitting3427 by him681,) For how long shall thy journey4109 be? and when wilt thou return7725? So it pleased3190 6440 the king4428 to send7971 me; and I set5414 him a time2165.
7Moreover I said559 unto the king4428, If it please2895 the king4428, let letters107 be given5414 me to the governors6346 beyond5676 the river5104, that they may convey me over5674 till I come935 into Judah3063;
8And a letter107 unto Asaph623 the keeper8104 of the king's4428 forest6508, that he may give5414 me timber6086 to make beams7136 for the gates8179 of the palace1002 which appertained to the house1004, and for the wall2346 of the city5892, and for the house1004 that I shall enter into935. And the king4428 granted5414 me, according to the good2896 hand3027 of my God430 upon me.
9Then I came935 to the governors6346 beyond5676 the river5104, and gave5414 them the king's4428 letters107. Now the king4428 had sent7971 captains8269 of the army2428 and horsemen6571 with me.
10When Sanballat5571 the Horonite2772, and Tobiah2900 the servant5650, the Ammonite5984, heard8085 of it, it grieved3415 them exceedingly7451 1419 that there was come935 a man120 to seek1245 the welfare2896 of the children1121 of Israel3478.
11So I came935 to Jerusalem3389, and was there three7969 days3117.
12And I arose6965 in the night3915, I and some4592 few4592 men582 with me; neither told5046 I any man120 what my God430 had put5414 in my heart3820 to do6213 at Jerusalem3389: neither was there any beast929 with me, save the beast929 that I rode upon7392.
13And I went out3318 by night3915 by the gate8179 of the valley1516, even before6440 the dragon8577 well5869 5886, and to the dung830 port8179, and viewed7663 7665 the walls2346 of Jerusalem3389, which were broken down6555, and the gates8179 thereof were consumed398 with fire784.
14Then I went on5674 to the gate8179 of the fountain5869, and to the king's4428 pool1295: but there was no place4725 for the beast929 that was under me to pass5674.
15Then went I up5927 in the night3915 by the brook5158, and viewed7663 7665 the wall2346, and turned back7725, and entered935 by the gate8179 of the valley1516, and so returned7725.
16And the rulers5461 knew3045 not whither I went1980, or what I did6213; neither had I as yet3651 told5046 it to the Jews3064, nor to the priests3548, nor to the nobles2715, nor to the rulers5461, nor to the rest3499 that did6213 the work4399.
17Then said559 I unto them, Ye see7200 the distress7451 that we are in, how Jerusalem3389 lieth waste2720, and the gates8179 thereof are burned3341 with fire784: come3212, and let us build up1129 the wall2346 of Jerusalem3389, that we be no more a reproach2781.
18Then I told5046 them of the hand3027 of my God430 which was good2896 upon me; as also the king's4428 words1697 that he had spoken559 unto me. And they said559, Let us rise up6965 and build1129. So they strengthened2388 their hands3027 for this good2896 work.
19But when Sanballat5571 the Horonite2772, and Tobiah2900 the servant5650, the Ammonite5984, and Geshem1654 the Arabian6163, heard8085 it, they laughed us to scorn3932, and despised959 us, and said559, What is this thing1697 that ye do6213? will ye rebel4775 against the king4428?
20Then answered7725 1697 I them, and said559 unto them, The God430 of heaven8064, he will prosper6743 us; therefore we his servants5650 will arise6965 and build1129: but ye have no portion2506, nor right6666, nor memorial2146, in Jerusalem3389.