Nehemiah 6

1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and no breach remained in it (though even by that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.

3I sent messengers to them saying, "I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?"

4They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in this way.

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

6It was written therein that it had spread among the nations, and Gashmu declares, that you and the Jews plot to rebel; for that reason you build the wall, and you would be their king, according to these words.

7You have also stationed prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, "A king in Judah!" Now it will come to the king's ears according to these reports. Come now, and let us consult together.

8I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you claim have occurred, for you devise them from your own heart."

9For all of them were trying to frighten us, saying, "Their hands will slacken from the work, and it will not be done." Now, strengthen my hands.

10I came to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabeel, who was confined, and he said, "Let us meet in God's house, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, for they are coming to kill you, even at night they are coming to kill you."

11I said, "Would a man like me flee? And who, like me, would enter the temple to stay alive? I will not enter."

12I recognized, and behold, God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me; Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13He was hired so that I would be afraid and do so and sin, so that it would be to them an evil name, so that they would reproach me.

14Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat for these deeds of theirs, as well as Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who had tried to frighten me.

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

16When all our enemies heard about it, all the nations around us saw it and were greatly dismayed in their own eyes, for they knew this work had been accomplished by our God.

17Moreover, in those days many letters from Judah's nobles went to Tobiah, and those from Tobiah came to them.

18For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was son-in-law to Shecaniah son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

19They also mentioned his virtues before me, and they carried my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.