1In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, when wine was brought to him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before.
2The king asked me, “Why do you look sad, since you aren’t sick? This can only mean you are troubled at heart.” I was very afraid.
3I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why shouldn’t I look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire?”
4Then the king asked me, “What do you want?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so I can rebuild it.”
6The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” It pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for my return.
7I also said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let me have letters for the governors west of the Euphrates River, so they will allow me to pass through until I reach Judah.
8And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the temple fortress, for the city wall, and for the house I will live in.” The king granted my requests, because the good hand of my God was on me.
9Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and horsemen with me.
10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very upset that someone had come to promote the well-being of the people of Israel.
11So I arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there for three days.
12During the night, I got up with a few men. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. I had no animal with me except the one I was riding.
13That night, I left through the Valley Gate and rode toward the Jackal's Well, then to the Dung Gate. I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates, which had been burned with fire.
14Then I continued on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for my animal to pass through.
15So that night, I went up along the brook and inspected the wall. Then I turned back and re-entered through the Valley Gate.
16The officials didn’t know where I had gone or what I was doing. I hadn't yet told anything to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else involved in the work.
17Then I said to them, "You can see the terrible situation we're in. Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so we won't be disgraced anymore."
18I told them about how God had been good to me and also about the king’s words to me. They responded, "Let’s start building!" So they committed themselves to this good work.
19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and looked down on us. They asked, "What do you think you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20I answered them, "The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, His servants, will rise up and build. But you have no part, no right, and no memorial in Jerusalem."