The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you return? ’ So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.
While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence
Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah #– #from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years #– #I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.
Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man. , At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.
and answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, , so that I may rebuild it.’
Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an Anointed One, the ruler, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with a square and a moat, but in difficult times.