1. One day four months later, when Emperor Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine to him. He had never seen me look sad before,
2. so he asked, “Why are you looking so sad? You aren't ill, so it must be that you're unhappy.”I was startled
3. and answered, “May Your Majesty live for ever! How can I help looking sad when the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4. The emperor asked, “What is it that you want?”I prayed to the God of Heaven,
5. and then I said to the emperor, “If Your Majesty is pleased with me and is willing to grant my request, let me go to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild the city.”