And it came to pass in the month{H2320} Nisan{H5212}, in the twentieth{H6242} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4428}, that wine{H3196} was before{H6440} him: and I took up{H5375}{(H8799)} the wine{H3196}, and gave{H5414}{(H8799)} it unto the king{H4428}. Now I had not been beforetime sad{H7451} in his presence{H6440}.

Wherefore the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto me, Why is thy countenance{H6440} sad{H7451}, seeing thou art not sick{H2470}{(H8802)}? this is nothing else but sorrow{H7455} of heart{H3820}. Then I was very{H3966} sore{H7235}{(H8687)} afraid{H3372}{(H8799)},

And said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, Let the king{H4428} live{H2421}{(H8799)} for ever{H5769}: why should not my countenance{H6440} be sad{H3415}{(H8799)}, when the city{H5892}, the place{H1004} of my fathers{H1}' sepulchres{H6913}, lieth waste{H2720}, and the gates{H8179} thereof are consumed{H398}{(H8795)} with fire{H784}?

Then the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto me, For what dost thou make request{H1245}{(H8764)}? So I prayed{H6419}{(H8691)} to the God{H430} of heaven{H8064}.

And I said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, If it please{H2895}{(H8804)} the king{H4428}, and if thy servant{H5650} have found favour{H3190}{(H8799)} in thy sight{H6440}, that thou wouldest send{H7971}{(H8799)} me unto Judah{H3063}, unto the city{H5892} of my fathers{H1}' sepulchres{H6913}, that I may build{H1129}{(H8799)} it.

And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto me,(the queen{H7694} also sitting{H3427}{(H8802)} by him{H681},) For how long shall thy journey{H4109} be? and when wilt thou return{H7725}{(H8799)}? So it pleased{H3190}{(H8799)}{H6440} the king{H4428} to send{H7971}{(H8799)} me; and I set{H5414}{(H8799)} him a time{H2165}.

Moreover I said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, If it please{H2895}{(H8804)} the king{H4428}, let letters{H107} be given{H5414}{(H8799)} me to the governors{H6346} beyond{H5676} the river{H5104}, that they may convey me over{H5674}{(H8686)} till I come{H935}{(H8799)} into Judah{H3063};

And a letter{H107} unto Asaph{H623} the keeper{H8104}{(H8802)} of the king's{H4428} forest{H6508}, that he may give{H5414}{(H8799)} me timber{H6086} to make beams{H7136}{(H8763)} for the gates{H8179} of the palace{H1002} which appertained to the house{H1004}, and for the wall{H2346} of the city{H5892}, and for the house{H1004} that I shall enter into{H935}{(H8799)}. And the king{H4428} granted{H5414}{(H8799)} me, according to the good{H2896} hand{H3027} of my God{H430} upon me.

Then I came{H935}{(H8799)} to the governors{H6346} beyond{H5676} the river{H5104}, and gave{H5414}{(H8799)} them the king's{H4428} letters{H107}. Now the king{H4428} had sent{H7971}{(H8799)} captains{H8269} of the army{H2428} and horsemen{H6571} with me.

When Sanballat{H5571} the Horonite{H2772}, and Tobiah{H2900} the servant{H5650}, the Ammonite{H5984}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} of it, it grieved{H3415}{(H8799)} them exceedingly{H7451}{H1419} that there was come{H935}{(H8804)} a man{H120} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} the welfare{H2896} of the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}.

So I came{H935}{(H8799)} to Jerusalem{H3389}, and was there three{H7969} days{H3117}.

And I arose{H6965}{(H8799)} in the night{H3915}, I and some{H4592} few{H4592} men{H582} with me; neither told{H5046}{(H8689)} I any man{H120} what my God{H430} had put{H5414}{(H8802)} in my heart{H3820} to do{H6213}{(H8800)} at Jerusalem{H3389}: neither was there any beast{H929} with me, save the beast{H929} that I rode upon{H7392}{(H8802)}.

And I went out{H3318}{(H8799)} by night{H3915} by the gate{H8179} of the valley{H1516}, even before{H6440} the dragon{H8577} well{H5869}{(H8677)}{H5886}, and to the dung{H830} port{H8179}, and viewed{H7663}{(H8802)}{(H8675)}{H7665}{(H8799)} the walls{H2346} of Jerusalem{H3389}, which were broken down{H6555}{(H8803)}, and the gates{H8179} thereof were consumed{H398}{(H8795)} with fire{H784}.

Then I went on{H5674}{(H8799)} to the gate{H8179} of the fountain{H5869}, 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}{(H8800)}.

Then went I up{H5927}{(H8802)} in the night{H3915} by the brook{H5158}, and viewed{H7663}{(H8802)}{(H8675)}{H7665}{(H8799)} the wall{H2346}, and turned back{H7725}{(H8799)}, and entered{H935}{(H8799)} by the gate{H8179} of the valley{H1516}, and so returned{H7725}{(H8799)}.

And the rulers{H5461} knew{H3045}{(H8804)} not whither I went{H1980}{(H8804)}, or what I did{H6213}{(H8802)}; neither had I as yet{H3651} told{H5046}{(H8689)} 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}{(H8802)} the work{H4399}.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} I unto them, Ye see{H7200}{(H8802)} the distress{H7451} that we are in, how Jerusalem{H3389} lieth waste{H2720}, and the gates{H8179} thereof are burned{H3341}{(H8738)} with fire{H784}: come{H3212}{(H8798)}, and let us build up{H1129}{(H8799)} the wall{H2346} of Jerusalem{H3389}, that we be no more a reproach{H2781}.

Then I told{H5046}{(H8686)} them of the hand{H3027} of my God{H430} which was good{H2896} upon me; as also the king's{H4428} words{H1697} that he had spoken{H559}{(H8804)} unto me. And they said{H559}{(H8799)}, Let us rise up{H6965}{(H8799)} and build{H1129}{(H8804)}. So they strengthened{H2388}{(H8762)} their hands{H3027} for this 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}{(H8799)} it, they laughed us to scorn{H3932}{(H8686)}, and despised{H959}{(H8799)} us, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, What is this thing{H1697} that ye do{H6213}{(H8802)}? will ye rebel{H4775}{(H8802)} against the king{H4428}?

Then answered{H7725}{(H8686)}{H1697} I them, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, The God{H430} of heaven{H8064}, he will prosper{H6743}{(H8686)} us; therefore we his servants{H5650} will arise{H6965}{(H8799)} and build{H1129}{(H8804)}: but ye have no portion{H2506}, nor right{H6666}, nor memorial{H2146}, in Jerusalem{H3389}.