Nehemiah 6

1Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6Wherein written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says you and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you buildest the wall, that you mayest be their king, according to these words. 7And you hast also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, 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. 8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as you sayest, but you feignest them out of your own heart. 9For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, , strengthen my hands. 10Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of Elohim, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay you; yes, in the night will they come to slay you. 11And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who , that, as I , would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12And, lo, I perceived that Elohim had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13Therefore he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and they might have for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14My Elohim, think you upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 15So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth of Elul, in fifty and two days. 16And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard , and all the heathen that about us saw , they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our Elohim. 17Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and of Tobiah came unto them. 18For many in Judah sworn unto him, because he the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.