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),

And it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though 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.

that 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 mischief.

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 I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?

4 B ut they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.

And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them in the same manner.

5 T hen Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in this manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,

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 which was written: It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou buildest the wall, and according to these words thou wilt become their king.

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.

And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, 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.”

And I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

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 would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out.—Now therefore 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.”

And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who had shut himself 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 are coming to kill thee; even in the night are they coming to kill thee.

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!”

And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, could go into the temple, and 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 I perceived, and behold, God had not sent him; for he pronounced this prophecy against me; and Tobijah 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.

Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report, that they might 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, remember Tobijah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also 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 of 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.

And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard, all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes, and they perceived that this work was wrought 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 Tobijah, and those of Tobijah 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 there were many in Judah sworn to him; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the 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 his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.