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Nehemiah 2:3

GriefCourage and strengthHumility

1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
KJV
And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
WEB
I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”
ASV
And I said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers` sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
DARBY
And I said to the king, Let the king live for ever! Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lies waste, and its gates are consumed with fire?
BLB
and I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of the tombs of my fathers, [is] waste, and its gates have been consumed with the fire?”
ÅB
Og jeg sa til kongen: Kongen leve evindelig! Skulle jeg ikke se bedrøvet ut når byen hvor mine fedres graver er, ligger øde, og dens porter er fortært av ild?
OTB
Og jeg sa til kongen: “Måtte kongen leve for alltid! Hvorfor skulle ikke mitt ansikt være trist når byen hvor mine forfedre er begravet ligger øde og dens porter er blitt ødelagt av ild?”
B1930
Og jeg sa til kongen: Kongen leve evindelig! Skulde jeg ikke se bedrøvet ut når byen hvor mine fedres graver er, ligger øde, og dens porter er fortært av ild?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Nehemiah 1:3

    And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

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  • 1 Kings 1:31

    Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

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  • Daniel 5:10

    Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

    Read in context

  • Psalms 137:6

    If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

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  • Daniel 2:4

    Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 6:6

    Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

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  • 2 Chronicles 28:27

    And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

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  • 2 Chronicles 32:33

    And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

    Read in context