And it came to pass in the month{H2320} Nisan,{H5212} in the twentieth{H6242} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} the king,{H4428} when wine{H3196} was before{H6440} him, that I took up{H5375} the wine,{H3196} and gave{H5414} it unto the king.{H4428} Now I had not been [beforetime] sad{H7451} in his presence.{H6440}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto me, Why is thy countenance{H6440} sad,{H7451} seeing thou art not sick?{H2470} this is nothing else but sorrow{H7455} of heart.{H3820} Then I was very{H3966} sore{H7235} afraid.{H3372}

And I said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} Let the king{H4428} live{H2421} for ever:{H5769} why should not my countenance{H6440} be sad,{H3415} when the city,{H5892} the place{H1004} of my fathers'{H1} sepulchres,{H6913} lieth waste,{H2720} and the gates{H8179} thereof are consumed{H398} with fire?{H784}

Then the king{H4428} said{H559} unto me, For what dost thou make request?{H1245} So I prayed{H6419} to the God{H430} of heaven.{H8064}

And I said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} If it please{H2895} the king,{H4428} and if thy servant{H5650} have found favor{H3190} in thy sight,{H6440} that thou wouldest send{H7971} me unto Judah,{H3063} unto the city{H5892} of my fathers'{H1} sepulchres,{H6913} that I may build{H1129} it.

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto me (the queen{H7694} also sitting{H3427} by him,){H681} For how long shall thy journey{H4109} be? and when wilt thou return?{H7725} So it pleased{H3190} the king{H4428} to send{H7971} me; and I set{H5414} him a time.{H2165}

Moreover I said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} If it please{H2895} the king,{H4428} let letters{H107} be given{H5414} me to the governors{H6346} beyond{H5676} the River,{H5104} that they may let me pass through{H5674} till I come{H935} unto Judah;{H3063}

and a letter{H107} unto Asaph{H623} the keeper{H8104} of the king's{H4428} forest,{H6508} that he may give{H5414} me timber{H6086} to make beams{H7136} for the gates{H8179} of the castle{H1002} which appertaineth to the house,{H1004} and for the wall{H2346} of the city,{H5892} and for the house{H1004} that I shall enter into.{H935} And the king{H4428} granted{H5414} me, according to the good{H2896} hand{H3027} of my God{H430} upon me.

Then I came{H935} to the governors{H6346} beyond{H5676} the River,{H5104} and gave{H5414} them the king's{H4428} letters.{H107} Now the king{H4428} had sent{H7971} with me captains{H8269} of the army{H2428} and horsemen.{H6571}

And when Sanballat{H5571} the Horonite,{H2772} and Tobiah{H2900} the servant,{H5650} the Ammonite,{H5984} heard{H8085} of it, it grieved{H3415} them exceedingly,{H7451} for that there was come{H935} a man{H120} to seek{H1245} the welfare{H2896} of the children{H1121} of Israel.{H3478}

So I came{H935} to Jerusalem,{H3389} and was there three{H7969} days.{H3117}

And I arose{H6965} in the night,{H3915} I and some{H4592} few{H4592} men{H582} with me; neither told{H5046} I any man{H120} what my God{H430} put{H5414} into my heart{H3820} to do{H6213} for Jerusalem;{H3389} neither was there any beast{H929} with me, save the beast{H929} that I rode upon.{H7392}

And I went out{H3318} by night{H3915} by the valley{H1516} gate,{H8179} even toward{H6440} the jackal's{H8577} well,{H5869} and to the dung{H830} gate,{H8179} and viewed{H7663} the walls{H2346} of Jerusalem,{H3389} which were broken down,{H6555} and the gates{H8179} thereof were consumed{H398} with fire.{H784}

Then I went on{H5674} to the fountain{H5869} gate{H8179} and to the king's{H4428} pool:{H1295} but there was no place{H4725} for the beast{H929} that was under me to pass.{H5674}

Then went I up{H5927} in the night{H3915} by the brook,{H5158} and viewed{H7663} the wall;{H2346} and I turned back,{H7725} and entered{H935} by the valley{H1516} gate,{H8179} and so returned.{H7725}

And the rulers{H5461} knew{H3045} not whither I went,{H1980} or what I did;{H6213} neither had I as yet{H3651} told{H5046} it to the Jews,{H3064} nor to the priests,{H3548} nor to the nobles,{H2715} nor to the rulers,{H5461} nor to the rest{H3499} that did{H6213} the work.{H4399}

Then said{H559} I unto them, Ye see{H7200} the evil{H7451} case that we are in, how Jerusalem{H3389} lieth waste,{H2720} and the gates{H8179} thereof are burned{H3341} with fire:{H784} come,{H3212} and let us build up{H1129} the wall{H2346} of Jerusalem,{H3389} that we be no more a reproach.{H2781}

And I told{H5046} them of the hand{H3027} of my God{H430} which was good{H2896} upon me, as also of the king's{H4428} words{H1697} that he had spoken{H559} unto me. And they said,{H559} Let us rise up{H6965} and build.{H1129} So they strengthened{H2388} their hands{H3027} for the good{H2896} [work].

But when Sanballat{H5571} the Horonite,{H2772} and Tobiah{H2900} the servant,{H5650} the Ammonite,{H5984} and Geshem{H1654} the Arabian,{H6163} heard{H8085} it, they laughed us to scorn,{H3932} and despised{H959} us, and said,{H559} What is this thing{H1697} that ye do?{H6213} will ye rebel{H4775} against the king?{H4428}

Then answered{H7725} I them, and said{H559} unto them, The God{H430} of heaven,{H8064} he will prosper{H6743} us; therefore we his servants{H5650} will arise{H6965} and build:{H1129} but ye have no portion,{H2506} nor right,{H6666} nor memorial,{H2146} in Jerusalem.{H3389}