2:1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, 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;
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 1 , In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, 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;
2:2 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,
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 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,
2:3 but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 3 , but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'
2:4 The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 4 , The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
2:5 and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.'
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 5 , and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.'
2:6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?' It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 6 , Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?' It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
2:7 I also said to him, 'If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 7 , I also said to him, 'If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?
2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?' And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 8 , And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?' And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.
2:9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 9 , So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 10 , When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
2:11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 11 , I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days
2:12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 12 , I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
2:13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 13 , By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.
2:14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through;
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 14 , Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through;
2:15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 15 , so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.
2:16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 16 , The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
2:17 Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.'
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 17 , Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.'
2:18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work.
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 18 , I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work.
2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. 'What is this you are doing?' they asked. 'Are you rebelling against the king?'
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 19 , But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. 'What is this you are doing?' they asked. 'Are you rebelling against the king?'
2:20 I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'
The NIV Book of Nehemiah , Chapter 2 , Verse 20 , I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'
