Nehemiah 6

1Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

1Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps were left in it, even though I hadn't yet hung the doors in the gates.

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

2So Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: 'Come, let’s meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.' But I knew they were planning to harm me.

3And 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?

3I sent messengers back to them with this reply: 'I am doing a very important work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to meet with you?'

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

4Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

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

5Then, for the fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant to me with an unsealed letter in his hand.

6wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.

6The letter said: 'It is reported among the nations—and Gashmu says it is true—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That is why you are rebuilding the wall. According to these reports, you plan to become their king.'

7And 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'You have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to announce about you: "There is a king in Judah!" Now this report will get back to the king. So come, let’s talk this over together.'

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

8I sent him this reply: 'Nothing you are saying is actually happening; you are just making it all up in your own head.'

9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.

9They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'They will get discouraged and quit, and the work won't be finished.' But I prayed, 'Now, God, strengthen my hands.'

10And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, 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.

10One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, 'Let’s meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and lock the doors. They are coming to kill you; they are coming to kill you tonight.'

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

11But I replied, 'Should a man like me run away? Should someone in my position go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!'

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

12I realized that God had not sent him. He had spoken this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13For this cause 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.

13They hired him to make me afraid so that I would sin by doing what he said. Then they could ruin my reputation and shame me.

14Remember, O 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.

14Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, for what they have done. Also remember the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to scare me.

15So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifthdayofthe monthElul, in fifty and two days.

15So the wall was finally finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. It had taken fifty-two days.

16And it came to pass, when all our enemies heardthereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

16When all our enemies heard about it and the surrounding nations saw it, they lost their confidence. They realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

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

17During those days, the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah was writing back to them.

18For there were many in Judah sworn unto 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 to wife.

18Many people in Judah were loyal 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.

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

19They kept telling me about Tobiah's good deeds and then reporting back to him whatever I said. And Tobiah continued to send letters to frighten me.