Nehemia 2:4-6

2:4 The king responded, ¹  “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven 2:5 and said to the king, “If the king is so inclined ²  and if your servant has found favor in your sight, dispatch me to Judah, to the city with the graves of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.” 2:6 Then the king, with his consort ³  sitting beside him, replied, “How long would your trip take, and when would you return?” Since the king was amenable to dispatching me, ⁴  I gave him a time.

[2:4]  ¹ tn Heb “said to me.”

[2:5]  ² tn Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7.

[2:6]  ³ tn Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. HALOT 1415 s.v. שֵׁגַל); TEV “empress.”

[2:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.”