10
One day when I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, tonight they are coming to kill you."
11
But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!"
12
Then I perceived and saw that God had not sent him at all, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13
He was hired for this purpose, to intimidate me and make me sin by acting in this way, and so they could give me a bad name, in order to taunt me.
14
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
15
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16
And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
17
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.
18
For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.
19
Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.