Now it happened when it was heard by Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, ^aalthough at that time I had not made the doors to stand in the gates, 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at ¹Chephirim in the plain of ^aOno.” But they were planning to ²do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I responded to them in the same manner. 5 Then Sanballat sent his young man to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written,

8 Then I sent a message to him, saying,

9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, ¹thinking, “Their hands will ²become limp in doing the work, and it will not be done.” But now, ^aO God, strengthen my hands.

10 Now I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, ^awho was ¹confined at home, and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “^aShould a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple just to live? I will not go in.” 12 Then I recognized ¹that surely God had not sent him, but he spoke his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, ^athat I might become afraid and act accordingly and sin, so that they could give me a bad name in order that they could reproach me. 14 ^aRemember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah ^bthe prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to make me afraid.

15 So ^athe wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 ^aNow it happened that when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, ¹their confidence fell. And ^bthey knew that it was from our God that this work had been accomplished. 17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were sworn by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as a wife. 19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and bringing my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, ^aalthough at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, 2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at ¹Chephirim in the plain of ^aOno.” But they were planning to ²harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and ¹Gashmu says, that ^ayou and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. 7 You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning ¹you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are ^ainventing them ¹in your own mind.” 9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, ¹thinking, “²They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, ^aO God, strengthen my hands.

10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, ^awho was ¹confined at home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “^aShould a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple ¹to save his life? I will not go in.” 12 Then I perceived ¹that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, ^athat I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me. 14 ^aRemember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah ^bthe prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

15 So ^athe wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 ^aWhen all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they ¹lost their confidence; for ^bthey recognized that this work had been accomplished ²with the help of our God. 17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, ^aalthough at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates, 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together ¹at Chephirim in the plain of ^aOno.” But they were plotting to ²harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 Then they sent messages to me four times worded in this way, and I answered them with the same wording. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: “It is reported among the nations, and ¹Gashmu says, that ^ayou and the Jews intend to rebel; for that reason you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. 7 You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning ¹you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let’s consult together.” 8 Then I sent a message to him saying, “Nothing like these things that you are saying has been done, but you are ^ainventing them ¹in your own mind.” 9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, ¹thinking, “²They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, ^aGod, strengthen my hands.

10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, ^awho was confined at home, he said, “Let’s meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “^aShould a man like me flee? And who is there like me who would go into the temple ¹to save his own life? I will not go in.” 12 Then I realized ¹that God certainly had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, ^athat I would become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could taunt me. 14 ^aRemember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in accordance with these works of theirs, and also Noadiah ^bthe prophetess and the rest of the prophets, who were trying to frighten me.

15 So ^athe wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 ^aWhen all our enemies heard about it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they ¹lost their confidence; for ^bthey realized that this work had been accomplished ²with the help of our God. 17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and ¹Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence, and were reporting my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, ^aalthough at that time I had not set up doors in the gates, 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of ^aOno.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to meet with you?” 4 They sent word to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same way. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the neighboring nations, and Gashmu is saying that ^ayou and the Jews are planning to revolt, and that is the reason you are rebuilding the wall. And according to these reports, you are to be their king. 7 Also it is reported that you have appointed prophets to make a proclamation concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And now these things will be reported to the Persian king. So come now, and let us consult together.” 8 I sent a message to him, saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done; you are ^ainventing them in your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, ^astrengthen my hands.

10 When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, ^awho was ¹confined at home, he said, “Let us meet and take refuge together in the house of God, ²within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, because they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “^aShould a man like me flee in fear and hide? Should ¹someone like me enter the temple for sanctuary to save his life? I will not go.” 12 Then I realized that God had not sent him, but he spoke this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, ^athat I would be frightened and do as he said and sin, so that they would have grounds to make a malicious report in order to censure and disgrace me. 14 ^aRemember, O My God, Tobiah and Sanballat in regard to these actions of theirs, and also remember ^bthe prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

15 So ^athe wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 ^aWhen all our enemies heard about it, and all the Gentile nations around us saw it, ¹they lost their confidence; for ^bthey recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 17 Moreover, in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For ¹many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also, they were speaking about Tobiah’s good deeds in my presence, and reporting to him what I said. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.