1 N ow it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in 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 to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm.

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 S o I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go 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 B ut they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.

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

5 T hen Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, 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 I n it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.

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 you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “ There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult 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 to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your 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 were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be 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 to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; 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; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”

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 such as I who 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 T hen I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because 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 F or this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause 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, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid. The Wall Completed

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 on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

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

16 A nd it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by 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 A lso in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

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

18 F or many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married 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 reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

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