Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 5th, 2025
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
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Read the Bible
Easy-to-Read Version
Nehemiah 2:4
Then the king said to me, "What do you want me to do?" Before I answered, I prayed to the God of heaven.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”
Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”
Hebrew Names Version
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
King James Version
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
English Standard Version
Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
New Century Version
Then the king said to me, "What do you want?" First I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What do you want?" First I prayed to the God of heaven.
New English Translation
The king responded, "What is it you are seeking?" Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven
The king responded, "What is it you are seeking?" Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven
Amplified Bible
The king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
The king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
New American Standard Bible
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
World English Bible
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the King said vnto me, For what thing doest thou require? Then I prayed to the God of heauen,
And the King said vnto me, For what thing doest thou require? Then I prayed to the God of heauen,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
"What is your request?" replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
"What is your request?" replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
Contemporary English Version
The king asked, "What do you want me to do?" I prayed to the God who rules from heaven.
The king asked, "What do you want me to do?" I prayed to the God who rules from heaven.
Complete Jewish Bible
The king asked me, "What is it that you want?" I prayed to the God of heaven,
The king asked me, "What is it that you want?" I prayed to the God of heaven,
Darby Translation
And the king said to me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of the heavens.
And the king said to me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of the heavens.
George Lamsa Translation
Then the king said to me, For what did you make supplications and pray before the God of heaven?
Then the king said to me, For what did you make supplications and pray before the God of heaven?
Good News Translation
The emperor asked, "What is it that you want?" I prayed to the God of Heaven,
The emperor asked, "What is it that you want?" I prayed to the God of Heaven,
Lexham English Bible
Then the king said to me, "What is your request?" So I prayed to the God of the heavens.
Then the king said to me, "What is your request?" So I prayed to the God of the heavens.
Literal Translation
Then the king said to me, For what do you ask? So I prayed to the God of Heaven,
Then the king said to me, For what do you ask? So I prayed to the God of Heaven,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde the kynge vnto me: What is the thy request? Then made I my prayer to the God of heaue,
Then sayde the kynge vnto me: What is the thy request? Then made I my prayer to the God of heaue,
American Standard Version
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Bible in Basic English
Then the king said to me, What is your desire? So I made prayer to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, What is your desire? So I made prayer to the God of heaven.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the king sayde vnto me: What is then thy request? I made my prayer also to the God of heauen,
And the king sayde vnto me: What is then thy request? I made my prayer also to the God of heauen,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then the king said unto me: 'For what dost thou make request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said unto me: 'For what dost thou make request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven.
King James Version (1611)
Then the king said vnto me, For what doest thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heauen.
Then the king said vnto me, For what doest thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heauen.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
English Revised Version
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng seide to me, For what thing axist thou? And Y preiede God of heuene,
And the kyng seide to me, For what thing axist thou? And Y preiede God of heuene,
Update Bible Version
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then the king said to me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
New King James Version
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
New Living Translation
The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?" With a prayer to the God of heaven,
The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?" With a prayer to the God of heaven,
New Life Bible
Then the king said to me, "What are you asking for?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What are you asking for?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
New Revised Standard
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then the king said to me, Concerning what, is it, thou, wouldst make request? So I prayed unto the God of the heavens,
Then the king said to me, Concerning what, is it, thou, wouldst make request? So I prayed unto the God of the heavens,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then the king said to me: For what dost thou make request? And I prayed to the God of heaven,
Then the king said to me: For what dost thou make request? And I prayed to the God of heaven,
Revised Standard Version
Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith to me, `For what art thou seeking?' and I pray unto the God of the heavens,
And the king saith to me, `For what art thou seeking?' and I pray unto the God of the heavens,
THE MESSAGE
The king then asked me, "So what do you want?" Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said, "If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it."
The king then asked me, "So what do you want?" Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said, "If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Contextual Overview
1 In the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, some wine was brought to the king. I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never before been sad when I was with him, but now I was sad. 2 So the king asked me, "Are you sick? Why do you look sad? I think your heart is full of sadness." Then I was very afraid. 3 But even though I was afraid, I said to the king, "May the king live forever! I am sad because the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and the gates of that city have been destroyed by fire." 4 Then the king said to me, "What do you want me to do?" Before I answered, I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I answered the king, "If it would please the king, and if I have been good to you, please send me to Jerusalem, the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried. I want to go there and rebuild that city." 6 The king and the queen who was sitting next to him asked me, "How long will your trip take? When will you get back here?" The king was happy to send me, so I gave him a certain time. 7 I also said to the king, "If it would please the king to do something else for me, let me ask. Please give me some letters to show the governors of the area west of the Euphrates River. I need these letters so that the governors will give me permission to pass safely through their lands on my way to Judah. 8 I also need lumber for the heavy wooden beams for the gates, the walls, the walls around the Temple, and my house. So I need a letter from you to Asaph, who is in charge of your forests." The king gave me the letters and everything I asked for. The king did that because my God was kind to me.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
For what: 1 Kings 3:5, Esther 5:3, Esther 5:6, Esther 7:2, Mark 10:51
So I prayed: Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 1:11, 2 Samuel 15:31, Proverbs 3:6, Philippians 4:6
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:12 - I pray Genesis 24:45 - speaking Genesis 39:4 - Joseph 1 Samuel 1:13 - spake 1 Kings 8:50 - and give them Nehemiah 2:6 - So it pleased Nehemiah 2:20 - The God Proverbs 21:1 - The king's Proverbs 22:11 - the king Isaiah 49:17 - children Jeremiah 29:12 - General Jeremiah 40:5 - or go Daniel 1:9 - General Jonah 1:9 - the God Acts 23:19 - What Philippians 2:13 - to will Revelation 16:11 - the God
Cross-References
Genesis 1:1
God created the sky and the earth. At first,
God created the sky and the earth. At first,
Genesis 1:4
He saw the light, and he knew that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.
He saw the light, and he knew that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Genesis 1:31
God looked at everything he had made. And he saw that everything was very good. There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the sixth day.
God looked at everything he had made. And he saw that everything was very good. There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the sixth day.
Genesis 2:1
So the earth, the sky, and everything in them were finished.
So the earth, the sky, and everything in them were finished.
Genesis 2:2
God finished the work he was doing, so on the seventh day he rested from his work.
God finished the work he was doing, so on the seventh day he rested from his work.
Genesis 5:1
This is the history of Adam's family. When God created people, he made them like himself.
This is the history of Adam's family. When God created people, he made them like himself.
Genesis 10:1
This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are Noah's sons. These men had children after the flood.
This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are Noah's sons. These men had children after the flood.
Genesis 11:10
This is the history of Shem's family. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, his son Arphaxad was born.
This is the history of Shem's family. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, his son Arphaxad was born.
Genesis 25:12
This is the list of Ishmael's family. Ishmael was Abraham and Hagar's son. (Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian maid.)
This is the list of Ishmael's family. Ishmael was Abraham and Hagar's son. (Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian maid.)
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request?.... The king supposed that there was a meaning in those looks and words of his, that he had a favour to ask of him, and therefore encourages him to it; or the king of himself moved this, as being desirous of doing anything for him he would propose, to make him easy:
so I prayed to the God of heaven; secretly, in an ejaculatory way, giving him thanks for thus disposing the king's heart towards him, and entreating he might be directed what to ask, and in a proper manner, and that he might succeed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I prayed to the God of heaven - Mentally and momentarily, before answering the king.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Nehemiah 2:4. So I prayed to the God of heaven. — Before he dared to prefer his request to the king, he made his prayer to God, that his suit might be acceptable: and this he does by mental prayer. To the spirit of prayer every place is a praying place.
