1
Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that nobreachremained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,
2
then Sanballat and Geshemsent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meettogether at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.
6
In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmusays, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore* you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to thesereports.
7
"You have alsoappointedprophets to proclaim in Jerusalemconcerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to thesereports. So comenow, let us takecounseltogether."
9
For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, "They will become*discouraged* with the work and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
10
When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meettogether in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night."
13
He was hired for thisreason, that I might becomefrightened and actaccordingly and sin, so that they might have an evilreport in order that they could reproach me.
14
Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to theseworks of theirs, and alsoNoadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophetswho were trying to frighten me.
16
Whenall our enemiesheard of it, and all the nationssurrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that thiswork had been accomplished with the help* of our God.
18
For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his sonJehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.