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

Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

2 t hat Sanballat and Geshem sent unto 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.

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

3 A nd I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

And 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 you?

4 Y et they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

They sent to me four times this way, and I answered them as before.

5 T hen sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me again the fifth time with an open letter.

6 w herein 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.

In it was written: It is reported among the neighboring nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore you are building the wall, that you may be their king, according to the report.

7 A nd thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of 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.

Also you have set up prophets to announce concerning you in Jerusalem, There is a king in Judah. And now this will be reported to the king. So, come now and let us take counsel together.

8 T hen I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

I replied to him, No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own heart and mind.

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

For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands!

10 A fterward I came unto 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.

I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up. 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 are coming to kill you—at night they are coming to kill you.

11 A nd 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.

But I said, Should such a man as I flee? And what man such as I could go into the temple and yet live? I will not go in.

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

And behold, I saw that God had not sent him, but he made this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 T herefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

He was hired that I should be made afraid and do as he said and sin, that they might have matter for an evil report with which to taunt and reproach me.

14 M y 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.

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

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

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

16 A nd it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, 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 of our God.

When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us feared and fell far in their own esteem, for they saw that this work was done by our God.

17 M oreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

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

18 F or there were many in Judah sworn unto 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.

For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

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

Also they spoke of good deeds before me and told him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.