1
Now it cameH1961 to pass whenH834 Sanballat,H5571 and Tobiah,H2900 and GeshemH1654 the Arabian,H6163 and the restH3499 of our enemies,H341 heardH8085 that I had builtH1129 the wall,H2346 and that there was noH3808 breachH6556 leftH3498 therein; (thoughH1571 atH5704 that timeH6256 I had not setH5975 up the doorsH1817 on the gates;H8179)
2
That SanballatH5571 and GeshemH1654 sentH7971 to me, saying,H559 Come,H3212 let us meetH3259 togetherH3162 in some one of the villagesH3715 in the plainH1237 of Ono.H207 But they thoughtH2803 to doH6213 me mischief.H7451
3
And I sentH7971 messengersH4397 to them, saying,H559 I am doingH6213 a greatH1419 work,H4399 so that I cannotH369 comeH3381 down:H3381 whyH4100 should the workH4399 cease,H7673 whilstH834 I leaveH7503 it, and comeH3381 downH3381 to you?
4
Yet they sentH7971 to me fourH702 timesH6471 after thisH2088 sort;H1697 and I answeredH7725 them after the sameH2088 manner.H1697
5
Then sentH7971 SanballatH5571 his servantH5288 to me in likeH2088 mannerH1697 the fifthH2549 timeH6471 with an openH6605 letterH107 in his hand;H3027
6
Wherein was written,H3789 It is reportedH8085 among the heathen,H1471 and GashmuH1654 saidH559 it, that you and the JewsH3064 thinkH2803 to rebel:H4775 for whichH3651 cause you buildH1129 the wall,H2346 that you may be their king,H4428 according to theseH428 words.H1697
7
And you have alsoH1571 appointedH5975 prophetsH5030 to preachH7121 of you at Jerusalem,H3389 saying,H559 There is a kingH4428 in Judah:H3063 and nowH6258 shall it be reportedH8085 to the kingH4428 according to theseH428 words.H1697 ComeH3212 nowH6258 therefore, and let us take counselH3289 together.H3162
8
Then I sentH7971 to him, saying,H559 There are noH3808 suchH428 thingsH1697 done as you say,H559 but you feignH908 them out of your own heart.H3820
9
For they allH3605 made us afraid,H3372 saying,H559 Their handsH3027 shall be weakenedH7503 from the work,H4399 that it be not done.H6213 NowH6258 therefore, O God, strengthenH2388 my hands.H3027
10
Afterward I cameH935 to the houseH1004 of ShemaiahH8098 the sonH1121 of DelaiahH1806 the sonH1121 of Mehetabeel,H4105 whoH1931 was shutH6113 up; and he said,H559 Let us meetH3259 together in the houseH1004 of God,H430 withinH8432 the temple,H1964 and let us shutH5462 the doorsH1817 of the temple:H1964 for they will comeH935 to slayH2026 you; yes, in the nightH3915 will they comeH935 to slayH2026 you.
11
And I said,H559 Should suchH3644 a manH376 as I flee?H1272 and whoH4310 is there, that, being as I am, would goH935 intoH413 the templeH1964 to saveH2425 his life?H2425 I will not goH935 in.
12
And, see,H2009 I perceivedH5234 that GodH430 had not sentH7971 him; but that he pronouncedH1696 this prophecyH5016 againstH5921 me: for TobiahH2900 and SanballatH5571 had hiredH7936 him.
13
Therefore was he hired,H7936 that I should be afraid,H3372 and doH6213 so,H3651 and sin,H2398 and that they might have matter for an evilH7451 report,H8034 that they might reproachH2778 me.
14
My God,H430 thinkH2142 you on TobiahH2900 and SanballatH5571 according to theseH428 their works,H4639 and on the prophetessH5031 Noadiah,H5129 and the restH3499 of the prophets,H5030 that would have put me in fear.H3372
15
So the wallH2346 was finishedH7999 in the twentyH6242 and fifthH2568 day of the month Elul,H435 in fiftyH2572 and twoH8147 days.H3117
16
And it cameH1961 to pass, that whenH834 allH3605 our enemiesH341 heardH8085 thereof, and allH3605 the heathenH1471 that were about us sawH7200 these things, they were muchH3966 castH5307 downH5307 in their own eyes:H5869 for they perceivedH3045 that thisH2063 workH4399 was workedH6213 of our God.H430
17
MoreoverH1571 in thoseH1992 daysH3117 the noblesH2715 of JudahH3063 sentH1980 manyH7235 lettersH107 to Tobiah,H2900 and the letters of TobiahH2900 cameH935 to them.
18
For there were manyH7227 in JudahH3063 swornH1167 H7621 to him, becauseH3588 he was the sonH2860 in lawH2859 of ShechaniahH7935 the sonH1121 of Arah;H733 and his sonH1121 JohananH3076 had takenH3947 the daughterH1323 of MeshullamH4918 the sonH1121 of Berechiah.H1296
19
AlsoH1571 they reportedH559 his goodH2896 deeds beforeH6440 me, and utteredH3318 my wordsH1697 to him. And TobiahH2900 sentH7971 lettersH107 to put me in fear.H3372
