## May the king live forever! ##

"Long live the king!" or "May the king have a long life!" Nehemiah is showing honor to King Artaxerxes.

## Why should not my face be sad? ##

"I am very sad." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]])

## the place of my father's tombs ##

AT: "the place of my ancestors"

## lies in ruins ##

"is destroyed"