1Now it came to pass, when Sanballat5571, and Tobiah2900, and Geshem1654 the Arabian6163, and the rest3499 of our enemies341, heard8085 that I had builded1129 the wall2346, and that there was no breach6556 left3498 therein; (though1571 5704 at that time6256 I had not set up5975 the doors1817 upon the gates8179;)
2That Sanballat5571 and Geshem1654 sent7971 unto me, saying559, Come3212, let us meet3259 together3162 in some one of the villages3715 in the plain1237 of Ono207. But they thought2803 to do6213 me mischief7451.
3And I sent7971 messengers4397 unto them, saying559, I am doing6213 a great1419 work4399, so that I cannot3201 come down3381: why should the work4399 cease7673, whilst834 I leave7503 it, and come down3381 to you?
4Yet they sent7971 unto me four702 times6471 after this sort1697; and I answered7725 them after the same manner1697.
5Then sent7971 Sanballat5571 his servant5288 unto me in like manner1697 the fifth2549 time6471 with an open6605 letter107 in his hand3027;
6Wherein was written3789, It is reported8085 among the heathen1471, and Gashmu1654 saith559 it, that thou and the Jews3064 think2803 to rebel4775: for which cause3651 thou buildest1129 the wall2346, that thou mayest be1933 their king4428, according to these words1697.
7And thou hast also appointed5975 prophets5030 to preach7121 of thee at Jerusalem3389, saying559, There is a king4428 in Judah3063: and now shall it be reported8085 to the king4428 according to these words1697. Come3212 now therefore, and let us take counsel3289 together3162.
8Then I sent7971 unto him, saying559, There are1961 no such things1697 done1961 as thou sayest559, but thou feignest908 them out of thine own heart3820.
9For they all made us afraid3372, saying559, Their hands3027 shall be weakened7503 from the work4399, that it be not done6213. Now therefore, O God, strengthen2388 my hands3027.
10Afterward I came935 unto the house1004 of Shemaiah8098 the son1121 of Delaiah1806 the son1121 of Mehetabeel4105, who was shut up6113; and he said559, Let us meet together3259 in the house1004 of God430, within8432 the temple1964, and let us shut5462 the doors1817 of the temple1964: for they will come935 to slay2026 thee; yea, in the night3915 will they come935 to slay2026 thee.
11And I said559, Should such3644 a man376 as I flee1272? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go935 into the temple1964 to save his life2425? I will not go in935.
12And, lo, I perceived5234 that God430 had not sent7971 him; but that he pronounced1696 this prophecy5016 against me: for Tobiah2900 and Sanballat5571 had hired7936 him.
13Therefore was he hired7936, that I should be afraid3372, and do so6213, and sin2398, and that they might have matter for an evil7451 report8034, that they might reproach2778 me.
14My God430, think2142 thou upon Tobiah2900 and Sanballat5571 according to these their works4639, and on the prophetess5031 Noadiah5129, and the rest3499 of the prophets5030, that would have put me in fear3372.
15So the wall2346 was finished7999 in the twenty6242 and fifth2568 day of the month Elul435, in fifty2572 and two8147 days3117.
16And it came to pass, that when all our enemies341 heard8085 thereof, and all the heathen1471 that were about us5439 saw7200 these things, they were much3966 cast down5307 in their own eyes5869: for they perceived3045 that this work4399 was wrought6213 of our God430.
17Moreover in those days3117 the nobles2715 of Judah3063 sent1980 many7235 letters107 unto Tobiah2900, and the letters of Tobiah2900 came935 unto them.
18For there were many7227 in Judah3063 sworn1167 7621 unto him, because he was the son in law2860 of Shechaniah7935 the son1121 of Arah733; and his son1121 Johanan3076 had taken3947 the daughter1323 of Meshullam4918 the son1121 of Berechiah1296.
19Also they reported559 his good deeds2896 before6440 me, and uttered3318 my words1697 to him. And Tobiah2900 sent7971 letters107 to put me in fear3372.