Nehemiah 6

The Enemy’s Plot

1Now whenH3512 it was reportedH8085 to SanballatH5571, TobiahH2900, GeshemH1654 the ArabH6163, and to the restH3499 of our enemiesH340 that I had rebuiltH1129 the wallH2346, and that noH3808 breachH6556 was leftH3498 in it, 1althoughH1571 at that timeH6256 I had not installedH5975 the doorsH1817 in the gatesH8179, 2SanballatH5571 and GeshemH1654 sentH7971 a message to me, sayingH559, “ComeH1980, let’s meetH3259 togetherH3164 2at ChephirimH3716 in the plainH1237 of 3OnoH207.” But they were plottingH2803 to 4harmH7463 me. 3So I sentH7971 messengersH4397 to them, sayingH559, “I am doingH6213 a greatH1419 workH4399 and amH3201 unableH3201H3808 to comeH3381 downH3381. WhyH4100 should the workH4399 stopH7673 whileH3512 I leaveH7503 it and comeH3381 downH3381 to you?” 4Then they sentH7971 messages to me fourH702 timesH6471 wordedH1697 in thisH2088 wayH2088, and I answeredH7725 them with the sameH2088 wordingH1697. 5Then SanballatH5571 sentH7971 his servantH5288 to me in the sameH2088 wayH1697 a fifthH2549 timeH6471 with an openH6605 letterH107 in his handH3027. 6In it was writtenH3789: “It is reportedH8085 among the nationsH1471, and 5GashmuH1654 saysH559, that 6you and the JewsH3064 intendH2803 to rebelH4775; forH5921 thatH5921H3651 reasonH5921H3651 you are rebuildingH1129 the wallH2346. And you are to be their kingH4428, according to theseH428 reportsH1697. 7You have alsoH1571 appointedH5975 prophetsH5030 to proclaimH7121 in JerusalemH3389 concerningH5921 7you, ‘A kingH4428 is in JudahH3063!’ And nowH6258 it will be reportedH8085 to the kingH4428 according to theseH428 reportsH1697. So comeH1980 nowH6258, let’s consultH3289 togetherH3164.” 8Then I sentH7971 a message to him sayingH559, “Nothing like theseH428 thingsH1697 that you are sayingH559 has beenH1961 doneH1961, but you are 8inventingH908 them 9in your own mindH3820.” 9For allH3605 of them were trying to frightenH3372 us, 10thinkingH559, “11They will becomeH3027H7503 discouragedH7503H3027 with the workH4399 and it will not be doneH6213.” But nowH6258, 12God, strengthenH2388 my handsH3027.

10When I enteredH935 the houseH1004 of ShemaiahH8098 the sonH1121 of DelaiahH1806, sonH1121 of MehetabelH4105, 13whoH1931 was confinedH6113 at home, he saidH559, “Let’s meetH3259 togetherH3259 in the houseH1004 of GodH430, withinH8432 the templeH1964, and let’s closeH5462 the doorsH1817 of the templeH1964, for they are comingH935 to killH2026 you, and they are comingH935 to killH2026 you at nightH3915.” 11But I saidH559, “14Should a manH376 likeH3644 me fleeH1272? And whoH4310 is there likeH3644 me who would goH935 into the templeH1964 15to saveH2421 his own lifeH2421? I will not goH935 inH935.” 12Then I realizedH5234 16that GodH430 certainlyH2009 had not sentH7971 him, but he utteredH1696 his prophecyH5016 againstH5921 me because TobiahH2900 and SanballatH5571 had hiredH7936 him. 13He was hiredH7936 for thisH4616 reasonH4616, 17that I would becomeH3372 frightenedH3372 and actH6213 accordinglyH3651 and sinH2398, so that they might haveH1961 an evilH7451 reportH8034 inH4616 orderH4616 thatH4616 they could tauntH2778 me. 1418RememberH2142, my GodH430, TobiahH2900 and SanballatH5571 in accordance with theseH428 worksH4639 of theirs, and alsoH1571 NoadiahH5129 19the prophetessH5031 and the restH3499 of the prophetsH5030, whoH834 were trying to frightenH3372 me.

The Wall Is Finished

15So 20the wallH2346 was completedH7999 on the twenty-fifthH6242H2568 of the month ElulH435, in fifty-twoH2572 daysH3117. 1621WhenH3512 allH3605 our enemiesH340 heardH8085 about it, and allH3605 the nationsH1471 surroundingH5439 us sawH7200 it, they 22lostH5307 their confidenceH5869; for 23they realizedH3045 that thisH2088 workH4399 had been accomplishedH6213 24with the helpH4480 of our GodH430. 17AlsoH1571 in thoseH1992 daysH3117 manyH7235 lettersH107 wentH1980 from the noblesH2715 of JudahH3063 to TobiahH2900, and 25Tobiah’sH2900 letters cameH935 to them. 18For manyH7227 in JudahH3063 were boundH1167 by oathH7621 to him becauseH3588 he was the son-in-lawH2860 of ShecaniahH7935 the sonH1121 of ArahH733, and his sonH1121 JehohananH3076 had marriedH3947 the daughterH1323 of MeshullamH4918 the sonH1121 of BerechiahH1296. 19MoreoverH1571, they were speakingH559 about his goodH2899 deedsH2899 in my presenceH6440, and were reportingH3318 my wordsH1697 to him. Then TobiahH2900 sentH7971 lettersH107 to frightenH3372 me.