1 N ow it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even unto 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 t hat Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

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 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?

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 A nd they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

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

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 in the same way for a fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

6 w herein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.

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 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.

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 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.

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 would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou 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 A nd I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, 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.

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 A nd I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? 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 I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and 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 F or this cause 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 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 R emember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that 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 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 of Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 A nd it came to pass, when all our enemies heard thereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of 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 unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

In those days the rulers 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 Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.

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 spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

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.