1 N ow when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up 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 S anballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.

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 I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while 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 T hey sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them the same way.

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

5 T hen Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way 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 which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would 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 Y ou have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will 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 to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of 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 would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, 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 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they 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 I said, “Should such a man as I flee? 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 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 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. 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 H e hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material 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 “ Remember, 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.”

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-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 W hen all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked 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 to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters 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 there were many in Judah sworn to 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 as wife.

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 spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. 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.