1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat|strong="H5571", and Tobiah|strong="H2900", and Geshem|strong="H1654" the Arabian|strong="H6163", and the rest|strong="H3499" of our enemies|strong="H0341", heard|strong="H8085" that I had builded|strong="H1129" the wall|strong="H2346", and that there was no breach|strong="H6556" left|strong="H3498" therein; (though|strong="H1571" at that time|strong="H6256" I had not set up|strong="H5975" the doors|strong="H1817" upon the gates|strong="H8179";)
2 That Sanballat|strong="H5571" and Geshem|strong="H1654" sent|strong="H7971" unto me, saying|strong="H0559", Come|strong="H3212", let us meet|strong="H3259" together|strong="H3162" in some one of the villages|strong="H3715" in the plain|strong="H1237" of Ono|strong="H0207". But they thought|strong="H2803" to do|strong="H6213" me mischief|strong="H7451".
3 And I sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" unto them, saying|strong="H0559", I am doing|strong="H6213" a great|strong="H1419" work|strong="H4399", so that I cannot|strong="H3201" come down|strong="H3381": why should the work|strong="H4399" cease|strong="H7673", whilst|strong="H0834" I leave|strong="H7503" it, and come down|strong="H3381" to you?
4 Yet they sent|strong="H7971" unto me four|strong="H0702" times|strong="H6471" after this sort|strong="H1697"; and I answered|strong="H7725" them after the same manner|strong="H1697".
5 Then sent|strong="H7971" Sanballat|strong="H5571" his servant|strong="H5288" unto me in like manner|strong="H1697" the fifth|strong="H2549" time|strong="H6471" with an open|strong="H6605" letter|strong="H0107" in his hand|strong="H3027";
6 Wherein was written|strong="H3789", It is reported|strong="H8085" among the heathen|strong="H1471", and Gashmu|strong="H1654" saith|strong="H0559" it, that thou and the Jews|strong="H3064" think|strong="H2803" to rebel|strong="H4775": for which cause|strong="H3651" thou buildest|strong="H1129" the wall|strong="H2346", that thou mayest be|strong="H1933" their king|strong="H4428", according to these words|strong="H1697".
7 And thou hast also appointed|strong="H5975" prophets|strong="H5030" to preach|strong="H7121" of thee at Jerusalem|strong="H3389", saying|strong="H0559", There is a king|strong="H4428" in Judah|strong="H3063": and now shall it be reported|strong="H8085" to the king|strong="H4428" according to these words|strong="H1697". Come|strong="H3212" now therefore, and let us take counsel|strong="H3289" together|strong="H3162".
8 Then I sent|strong="H7971" unto him, saying|strong="H0559", There are|strong="H1961" no such things|strong="H1697" done|strong="H1961" as thou sayest|strong="H0559", but thou feignest|strong="H0908" them out of thine own heart|strong="H3820".
9 For they all made us afraid|strong="H3372", saying|strong="H0559", Their hands|strong="H3027" shall be weakened|strong="H7503" from the work|strong="H4399", that it be not done|strong="H6213". Now therefore, O God, strengthen|strong="H2388" my hands|strong="H3027".
10 Afterward I came|strong="H0935" unto the house|strong="H1004" of Shemaiah|strong="H8098" the son|strong="H1121" of Delaiah|strong="H1806" the son|strong="H1121" of Mehetabeel|strong="H4105", who was shut up|strong="H6113"; and he said|strong="H0559", Let us meet together|strong="H3259" in the house|strong="H1004" of God|strong="H0430", within|strong="H8432" the temple|strong="H1964", and let us shut|strong="H5462" the doors|strong="H1817" of the temple|strong="H1964": for they will come|strong="H0935" to slay|strong="H2026" thee; yea, in the night|strong="H3915" will they come|strong="H0935" to slay|strong="H2026" thee.
11 And I said|strong="H0559", Should such|strong="H3644" a man|strong="H0376" as I flee|strong="H1272"? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go|strong="H0935" into the temple|strong="H1964" to save his life|strong="H2425"? I will not go in|strong="H0935".
12 And, lo, I perceived|strong="H5234" that God|strong="H0430" had not sent|strong="H7971" him; but that he pronounced|strong="H1696" this prophecy|strong="H5016" against me: for Tobiah|strong="H2900" and Sanballat|strong="H5571" had hired|strong="H7936" him.
13 Therefore was he hired|strong="H7936", that I should be afraid|strong="H3372", and do so|strong="H6213", and sin|strong="H2398", and that they might have matter for an evil|strong="H7451" report|strong="H8034", that they might reproach|strong="H2778" me.
14 My God|strong="H0430", think|strong="H2142" thou upon Tobiah|strong="H2900" and Sanballat|strong="H5571" according to these their works|strong="H4639", and on the prophetess|strong="H5031" Noadiah|strong="H5129", and the rest|strong="H3499" of the prophets|strong="H5030", that would have put me in fear|strong="H3372".
15 So the wall|strong="H2346" was finished|strong="H7999" in the twenty|strong="H6242" and fifth|strong="H2568" day of the month Elul|strong="H0435", in fifty|strong="H2572" and two|strong="H8147" days|strong="H3117".
16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies|strong="H0341" heard|strong="H8085" thereof, and all the heathen|strong="H1471" that were about us|strong="H5439" saw|strong="H7200" these things, they were much|strong="H3966" cast down|strong="H5307" in their own eyes|strong="H5869": for they perceived|strong="H3045" that this work|strong="H4399" was wrought|strong="H6213" of our God|strong="H0430".
17 Moreover in those days|strong="H3117" the nobles|strong="H2715" of Judah|strong="H3063" sent|strong="H1980" many|strong="H7235" letters|strong="H0107" unto Tobiah|strong="H2900", and the letters of Tobiah|strong="H2900" came|strong="H0935" unto them.
18 For there were many|strong="H7227" in Judah|strong="H3063" sworn|strong="H1167" unto him, because he was the son in law|strong="H2860" of Shechaniah|strong="H7935" the son|strong="H1121" of Arah|strong="H0733"; and his son|strong="H1121" Johanan|strong="H3076" had taken|strong="H3947" the daughter|strong="H1323" of Meshullam|strong="H4918" the son|strong="H1121" of Berechiah|strong="H1296".
19 Also they reported|strong="H0559" his good deeds|strong="H2896" before|strong="H6440" me, and uttered|strong="H3318" my words|strong="H1697" to him. And Tobiah|strong="H2900" sent|strong="H7971" letters|strong="H0107" to put me in fear|strong="H3372".