Nehemiah, 6

1. Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and [that] there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)

1. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies learned that I had rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. There was no hole left in it, although the doors had not been set up yet.

2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [some one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

2. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message saying, "Come and let us talk in Keriphim, in the lowland of Ono." They intended to do me harm;

3. And 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?

3. but I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am much occupied in a very important work, I cannot come down to meet you, for the work would stop if I left it."

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

4. They invited me again four times, but I gave them the same answer every time.

5. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

5. Then Sanballat invited me for the fifth time. His servant brought an open letter which said the following,

6. Wherein [was] written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

6. "Do you know the news that circulates among those who are not Jews? Gashmu says that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are rebuilding the wall.

7. And 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.

7. And you also wish to become their king, and have already chosen prophets to proclaim you king of Jerusalem. The king shall know of this, so come, that the two of us may talk."

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

8. But I sent to him, saying, "There's nothing true in what you say; you have invented this story."

9. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, [O God], strengthen my hands.

9. For they all wanted to frighten us, saying: "Let us discourage them that they may not finish the work." But I, on the contrary, worked with greater strength.

10. Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, 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.

10. Then I went to Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, since he could not leave his house. He said to me, "Let us meet together in the House of God, within the sanctuary, and then close its doors, for they are coming to kill you, to strike you this very night."

11. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who [is there], that, [being] as I [am], would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

11. But I answered him, "Should a man like me flee? Why should a man like me seek sanctuary to save my life? I will not go."

12. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

12. I understood then that Semaiah had not been sent by God but that Tobiah and Sanballat had brought him

13. Therefore [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.

13. to frighten me. In hiding in the sanctuary, I would have committed an offense, and this would have damaged my reputation and put me to shame.

14. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

14. O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done; and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who tried to frighten me.

15. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days.

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

16. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

16. When our enemies and the neighboring nations knew about it, they were afraid and lost courage. They had to recognize the work of God in this.

17. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto them.

17. During that time, several distinguished Jews often wrote to and received letters from Tobiah.

18. For [there were] many in Judah sworn unto him, because he [was] the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

18. Tobiah had many friends in Judah for he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and because his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

19. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

19. They even came to speak well of Tobiah in my presence, and recounted to him all my words as well. And it was he - Tobiah - who sent letters to frighten me.