 1 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 break left in it though at that time I had not set the doors on the gates, 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm. 3 I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you? 4 They sent 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, in which was written, 6 It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews are thinking of rebelling, for this reason you build the wall, so that you may be their king, according to these words. 7 You have also set up prophets to preach about you at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah. Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Now come and let us talk it over together. 8 I sent to him saying, These things that you are saying are not happening, but you pretend them out of your own heart. 9 For they all were alarmers of us saying, Their hands will be weakened from the work so that it may not be done. Now, O God, make my hands strong. 10 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, inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple. For they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you. 11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12 Behold, I understood that God had not sent him, but that he said this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore he was hired that I should be afraid, and do so, and I should sin, and be for them an evil name, with which they might reproach me. 14 My God, think upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid. 15 The wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of Elul, in 52 days. 16 When all our enemies heard and all the nations around us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes. For they saw that this work was done by our God. 17 In those days the nobles of Judah were increasing their letters going to Tobiah. And Tobiah's came to them. 18 For many in Judah were sworn to him because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and told my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
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