1And it came to pass, when it was heard by Sanballat and Tobiah and by Geshem the Arabian and by the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that no breach was left in it—though even until that time I had not set up the doors in the gates—
2that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, and let us meet together in the villages, in the plain of Ono." But they were thinking to do me harm.
3And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, and I am not able to come down. Why should the work shabbat while I leave it and come down to you?"
4And they sent to me according to this word four times, and I answered them according to this word.
5And Sanballat sent to me according to this word a fifth time, his servant, with an open letter in his hand.
6Written in it: "It is heard among the nations—and Gashmu says it—that you and the Jews are thinking to rebel; therefore you are building the wall, and you would become their king, according to these words.
7And also you have appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' And now it will be heard by the king according to these words. So now come, and let us take counsel together."
8And I sent to him, saying, "There have been no such things as these words that you say, for out of your own heart you are inventing them."
9For they all were making us afraid, saying, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, strengthen my hands.
10And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, and he was shut up; and he said, "Let us meet at the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming to slay you; yea, by night they are coming to slay you."
11And I said, "Should a man (ish) like me flee? And who is like me that would go into the temple and live? I will not go in."
12And I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; for he spoke the prophecy against me, and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and do so and sin, and it would be to them for an evil name, that they might reproach me.
14Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their deeds, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were making me afraid.
15And the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard, and all the nations that were around us saw, that they fell greatly in their own eyes; and they knew that this work had been done from our God.
17Also in those days the nobles of Judah multiplied their letters going to Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came to them.
18For many in Judah were masters of an oath to him, because he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and Jehohanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19Also they were speaking of his good deeds before me, and my words they were bringing out to him. Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.