1
And it came to pass in the month Nisan of the twentieth year of king Arthasastha, that the wine was before me: and I took the wine, and gave to the king: and there was not another before him.
2
And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, and dost thou not control thyself? and now this is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much alarmed,
3
and I said to the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be said, forasmuch as the city, even the home of the sepulchres of my fathers, has been laid waste, and her gates have been devoured with fire?
4
And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5
And I said to the king, If good to the king, and if thy servant shall have found favour in thy sight, that wouldest send him into Juda, to the city of the sepulchres of my fathers; then will I rebuild it.
6
And the king, and his concubine that sat next to him, said to me, For how long will thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? and was pleasing before the king, and he sent me away, and I appointed him a time.
7
And I said to the king, If good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors beyond the river, so as to forward me till I come to Juda;
8
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the garden which belongs to the king, that he may give me timber to cover the gates, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter. And the king gave to me, according as the good hand of God .
9
And I came to the governors beyond the river, and I gave them the king's letters. (Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.)
10
And Sanaballat the Aronite heard , and Tobia the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man was come to seek good for the children of Israel.