New International Version (NIV)
3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
Nehemiah 2:3
Nehemiah 2:3 in 6 English translations. Each links through to the full chapter for context.
New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020)
3And I said to the king, “May the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the 2:3 Lit housesite of my fathers’ tombs, is desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?”
New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
3I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?”
Amplified Bible (AMP)
3and I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?”
Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
3and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
3But I said to the king, “May you live forever! Why shouldn’t I look sad? The city where my people of long ago are buried has been destroyed. And fire has burned up its gates.”