1
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat[H5571], and Tobiah[H2900], and Geshem[H1654] the Arabian[H6163], and the rest[H3499] of our enemies[H341], heard[H8085] that I had builded[H1129] the wall[H2346], and that there was no breach[H6556]left[H3498] therein;(though at that time[H6256] I had not set up[H5975] the doors[H1817] upon the gates[H8179];)
2
That Sanballat[H5571] and Geshem[H1654]sent[H7971] unto me, saying[H559], Come[H3212], let us meet[H3259]together[H3162] in some one of the villages[H3715] in the plain[H1237] of Ono[H207]. But they thought[H2803] to do[H6213] me mischief[H7451].
3
And I sent[H7971]messengers[H4397] unto them, saying[H559], I am doing[H6213] a great[H1419]work[H4399], so that I cannot[H3201] come down[H3381]: why should the work[H4399]cease[H7673], whilst[H834] I leave[H7503] it, and come down[H3381] to you?
4
Yet they sent[H7971] unto me four[H702]times[H6471] after this sort[H1697]; and I answered[H7725] them after the same manner[H1697].
5
Then sent[H7971]Sanballat[H5571] his servant[H5288] unto me in like manner[H1697] the fifth[H2549]time[H6471] with an open[H6605]letter[H107] in his hand[H3027];
6
Wherein was written[H3789], It is reported[H8085] among the heathen[H1471], and Gashmu[H1654]saith[H559] it, that thou and the Jews[H3064]think[H2803] to rebel[H4775]: for which cause[H3651] thou buildest[H1129] the wall[H2346], that thou mayest be[H1933] their king[H4428], according to these words[H1697].
7
And thou hast also appointed[H5975]prophets[H5030] to preach[H7121] of thee at Jerusalem[H3389], saying[H559], There is a king[H4428] in Judah[H3063]: and now shall it be reported[H8085] to the king[H4428] according to these words[H1697]. Come[H3212] now therefore, and let us take counsel[H3289]together[H3162].
8
Then I sent[H7971] unto him, saying[H559], There are[H1961] no such things[H1697]done[H1961] as thou sayest[H559], but thou feignest[H908] them out of thine own heart[H3820].
9
For they all made us afraid[H3372], saying[H559], Their hands[H3027] shall be weakened[H7503] from the work[H4399], that it be not done[H6213]. Now therefore, O God, strengthen[H2388] my hands[H3027].
10
Afterward I came[H935] unto the house[H1004] of Shemaiah[H8098] the son[H1121] of Delaiah[H1806] the son[H1121] of Mehetabeel[H4105], who was shut[H5462]up[H6113]; and he said[H559], Let us meet together[H3259] in the house[H1004] of God[H430], within[H8432] the temple[H1964], and let us shut[H5462] the doors[H1817] of the temple[H1964]: for they will come[H935] to slay[H2026] thee; yea, in the night[H3915] will they come[H935] to slay[H2026] thee.
11
And I said[H559], Should such[H3644] a man[H376] as I flee?[H1272] and who is there, that, being as I am, would go[H935] into the temple[H1964] to save his life?[H2425] I will not go[H935]in[H935].
12
And, lo, I perceived[H5234] that God[H430] had not sent[H7971] him; but that he pronounced[H1696] this prophecy[H5016] against me: for Tobiah[H2900] and Sanballat[H5571] had hired[H7936] him.
13
Therefore was he hired[H7936], that I should be afraid[H3372], and do so[H6213], and sin[H2398], and that they might have matter for an evil[H7451]report[H8034], that they might reproach[H2778] me.
14
My God[H430], think[H2142] thou upon Tobiah[H2900] and Sanballat[H5571] according to these their works[H4639], and on the prophetess[H5031]Noadiah[H5129], and the rest[H3499] of the prophets[H5030], that would have put me in fear[H3372].
15
So the wall[H2346] was finished[H7999] in the twenty[H6242] and fifth[H2568] day of the month Elul[H435], in fifty[H2572] and two[H8147]days[H3117].
16
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies[H341]heard[H8085] thereof, and all the heathen[H1471] that were about us[H5439]saw[H7200] these things, they were much[H3966] cast down[H5307] in their own eyes[H5869]: for they perceived[H3045] that this work[H4399] was wrought[H6213] of our God[H430].
17
Moreover in those days[H3117] the nobles[H2715] of Judah[H3063]sent[H1980]many[H7235]letters[H107] unto Tobiah[H2900], and the letters[H107] of Tobiah[H2900]came[H935] unto them.
18
For there were many[H7227] in Judah[H3063]sworn[H1167] unto him, because he was the son[H1121] in law[H2860] of Shechaniah[H7935] the son[H1121] of Arah[H733]; and his son[H1121]Johanan[H3076] had taken[H3947] the daughter[H1323] of Meshullam[H4918] the son[H1121] of Berechiah[H1296].
19
Also they reported[H559] his good deeds[H2896]before[H6440] me, and uttered[H3318] my words[H1697] to him. And Tobiah[H2900]sent[H7971]letters[H107] to put me in fear[H3372].