1 Now it came to pass,1961 when834 Sanballat,5571 and Tobiah,2900 and Geshem1654 the Arabian,6163 and the rest3499 of our enemies,341 heard8085 that3588 I had built1129 853 the wall,2346 and that there was no3808 breach6556 left3498 therein; (though1571 at5704 that1931 time6256 I had not3808 set up5975 the doors1817 upon the gates;)8179

2 That Sanballat5571 and Geshem1654 sent7971 unto413 me, saying,559 Come,1980 let us meet3259 together3162 in some one of the villages3715 in the plain1237 of Ono.207 But they1992 thought2803 to do6213 me mischief.7451

3 And I sent7971 messengers4397 unto5921 them, saying,559 I589 am doing6213 a great1419 work,4399 so that I cannot3808 3201 come down:3381 why4100 should the work4399 cease,7673 whilst834 I leave7503 it, and come down3381 to413 you?

4 Yet they sent7971 unto413 me four702 times6471 after this2088 sort;1697 and I answered7725 them after the same2088 manner.1697

5 Then sent7971 Sanballat5571 853 his servant5288 unto413 me in like2088 manner1697 the fifth2549 time6471 with an open6605 letter107 in his hand;3027

6 Wherein was written,3789 It is reported8085 among the heathen,1471 and Gashmu1654 saith559 it, that thou859 and the Jews3064 think2803 to rebel:4775 for5921 which cause3651 thou859 buildest1129 the wall,2346 that thou859 mayest be1933 their king,4428 according to these428 words.1697

7 And thou hast also1571 appointed5975 prophets5030 to preach7121 of5921 thee at Jerusalem,3389 saying,559 There is a king4428 in Judah:3063 and now6258 shall it be reported8085 to the king4428 according to these428 words.1697 Come1980 now6258 therefore, and let us take counsel3289 together.3162

8 Then I sent7971 unto413 him, saying,559 There are1961 no3808 such428 things1697 done as834 thou859 sayest,559 but3588 thou859 feignest908 them out of thine own heart.4480 3820

9 For3588 they all3605 made us afraid,3372 853 saying,559 Their hands3027 shall be weakened7503 from4480 the work,4399 that it be not3808 done.6213 Now6258 therefore, O God, strengthen2388 853 my hands.3027

10 Afterward I589 came935 unto the house1004 of Shemaiah8098 the son1121 of Delaiah1806 the son1121 of Mehetabeel,4105 who1931 was shut up;6113 and he said,559 Let us meet together3259 in413 the house1004 of God,430 within413 8432 the temple,1964 and let us shut5462 the doors1817 of the temple:1964 for3588 they will come935 to slay2026 thee; yea, in the night3915 will they come935 to slay2026 thee.

11 And I said,559 Should such a man as I3644 376 flee?1272 and who4310 is there, that,834 being as I3644 am, would go935 into413 the temple1964 to save his life?2425 I will not3808 go in.935

12 And, lo,2009 I perceived5234 that God430 had not3808 sent7971 him; but3588 that he pronounced1696 this prophecy5016 against5921 me: for Tobiah2900 and Sanballat5571 had hired7936 him.

13 Therefore4616 was he1931 hired,7936 that4616 I should be afraid,3372 and do6213 so,3651 and sin,2398 and that they might have1961 matter for an evil7451 report,8034 that4616 they might reproach2778 me.

14 My God,430 think2142 thou upon Tobiah2900 and Sanballat5571 according to these428 their works,4639 and1571 on the prophetess5031 Noadiah,5129 and the rest3499 of the prophets,5030 that834 would have1961 put me in fear.3372

15 So the wall2346 was finished7999 in the twenty6242 and fifth2568 day of the month Elul,435 in fifty2572 and two8147 days.3117

16 And it came to pass,1961 that when834 all3605 our enemies341 heard8085 thereof, and all3605 the heathen1471 that834 were about5439 us saw7200 these things, they were much3966 cast down5307 in their own eyes:5869 for they perceived3045 that3588 this2063 work4399 was wrought6213 of4480 854 our God.430

17 Moreover1571 in those1992 days3117 the nobles2715 of Judah3063 sent1980 many7235 letters107 unto5921 Tobiah,2900 and the letters of Tobiah2900 came935 unto413 them.

18 For3588 there were many7227 in Judah3063 sworn1167 7621 unto him, because3588 he1931 was the son in law2860 of Shechaniah7935 the son1121 of Arah;733 and his son1121 Johanan3076 had taken3947 853 the daughter1323 of Meshullam4918 the son1121 of Berechiah.1296

19 Also1571 they reported1961 559 his good deeds2896 before6440 me, and uttered1961 3318 my words1697 to him. And Tobiah2900 sent7971 letters107 to put me in fear.3372