1 N ow 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,

It was told to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of those who hated us that I had built the wall again. They were told that the wall had no more open places, but I had not yet set up the doors in the gates.

2 S anballat 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.

So Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to hurt or kill me.

3 A nd 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?

So I sent men with word 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 T hey sent to me four times this way, and I answered them as before.

They sent word to me four times in this way, and I gave them the same answer.

5 T hen Sanballat sent his servant to me again the fifth time with an open letter.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way for a fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

6 I n 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.

In it was written, “It is said among the nations, and Gashmu says that you and the Jews are planning to turn against the king. This is why you are building the wall again. It is said that you wish to be their king.

7 A lso 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.

You have also chosen men who tell what will happen to speak to the people in Jerusalem about you, saying, ‘A king is in Judah!’ Now this will be told to the king. So come now, let us meet to speak with each other.”

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

Then I sent word to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done. You are making them up in your own mind.”

9 F or 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!

For they all wanted to make us afraid, thinking, “Their hands will become weak and the work will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 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.

When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was at home said, “Let us meet together inside the house of God, and close the doors of the Lord’s house for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you at night.”

11 B ut 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.

But I said, “Should a man like me run away? And could a man such as I go into the house of God to save his life? I will not go in.”

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

Then I understood that God had not sent him. He had spoken these words against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to do it.

13 H e 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.

He had been paid to try to make me afraid and to do as he said and sin, so they would have sinful things to say about me and put me to shame.

14 M y 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.

O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat by these works of theirs. And remember Noadiah and the rest of the men who tell what will happen who were trying to make me afraid. The Wall Is Finished

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

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

16 W hen 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.

When all those who hated us heard about it, all the nations around us were afraid and troubled. For they saw that this work had been done with the help of our God.

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

In those days the rulers of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

18 F or 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.

For many in Judah were joined by promise 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, son of Berechiah.

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

Also they spoke about Tobiah’s good works in front of me, and told my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.