Nehemiah 6

1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and there were no gaps left—though at that time I still had not put the doors into the gates—

Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it; ( though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates; )

2 they sent a message to me, saying, “Come on, let's meet in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they intended to kill me.

That Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

3 So I sent messengers to tell them, “I'm busy with important work and I can't come down. Why should I stop what I'm doing and leave it to come and see you?”

And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?

4 They sent me the same message four times, and every time my reply was the same.

Yet they sent to me four times in this way; and I answered them after the same manner.

5 Sanballat sent me the same message the fifth time by his servant, who brought in his hand an open letter.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

6 The letter read: “People around are saying, and Geshem confirms it, that you and the Jews are planning a rebellion, and that's why you're building the wall. You also plan to become their king, so they say,

In which was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

7 and you have even arranged for prophets in Jerusalem to announce for you, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ The king will soon get to hear about this. So come, and let's talk this over.”

And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

8 I replied, telling him, “Nothing's happening like you're saying! In fact you're just making it all up!”

Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou maketh up them out of thy own heart.

9 They were all just trying to scare us, telling themselves, “They won't have the strength to work so it won't ever get finished.” But I prayed, now make me strong!

For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it may not be done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Later on, I went to Shemaiah's house (he was the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel) who had shut himself in his house. He said: “Come and meet me at the house of God inside the Temple. Then we can bolt the Temple doors shut because they are coming to kill you! They're coming to kill you tonight!”

Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

11 I replied, “Should someone like me run away? Should someone like me go and hide in the Temple so I can survive? I'm not going!”

And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

12 I thought about it and saw that God hadn't sent him, but that he had spoken this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 They'd hired him thinking I'd be scared into doing something wrong. Then they'd be able to point the finger and ruin my reputation.

Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for a bad report, that they might reproach me.

14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for doing this, and Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets too who tried to frighten me.

My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

15 The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. It took fifty-two days.

So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

16 When all our enemies found out they were frightened; all the nations around were very discouraged, for they recognized that this had been done by our God.

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard of it, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.

17 At that time the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah,

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

18 because many people in Judah had sworn an oath of loyalty to him as he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

19 They kept on telling me all the good things Tobiah was doing, and they reported to him what I said. Tobiah also sent letters to try and scare me.

Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.