Nehemiah 6

1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and there were no gaps left—though at that time I still had not put the doors into the gates—

2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.

they sent a message to me, saying, “Come on, let's meet in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they intended to kill me.

3 I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”

So I sent messengers to tell them, “I'm busy with important work and I can't come down. Why should I stop what I'm doing and leave it to come and see you?”

4 They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.

They sent me the same message four times, and every time my reply was the same.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

Sanballat sent me the same message the fifth time by his servant, who brought in his hand an open letter.

6 in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.

The letter read: “People around are saying, and Geshem confirms it, that you and the Jews are planning a rebellion, and that's why you're building the wall. You also plan to become their king, so they say,

7 You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”

and you have even arranged for prophets in Jerusalem to announce for you, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ The king will soon get to hear about this. So come, and let's talk this over.”

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

I replied, telling him, “Nothing's happening like you're saying! In fact you're just making it all up!”

9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.

They were all just trying to scare us, telling themselves, “They won't have the strength to work so it won't ever get finished.” But I prayed, now make me strong!

10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.”

Later on, I went to Shemaiah's house (he was the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel) who had shut himself in his house. He said: “Come and meet me at the house of God inside the Temple. Then we can bolt the Temple doors shut because they are coming to kill you! They're coming to kill you tonight!”

11 I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

I replied, “Should someone like me run away? Should someone like me go and hide in the Temple so I can survive? I'm not going!”

12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

I thought about it and saw that God hadn't sent him, but that he had spoken this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

They'd hired him thinking I'd be scared into doing something wrong. Then they'd be able to point the finger and ruin my reputation.

14 “Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.”

My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for doing this, and Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets too who tried to frighten me.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. It took fifty-two days.

16 When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

When all our enemies found out they were frightened; all the nations around were very discouraged, for they recognized that this had been done by our God.

17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

At that time the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah,

18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.

because many people in Judah had sworn an oath of loyalty to him as he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

They kept on telling me all the good things Tobiah was doing, and they reported to him what I said. Tobiah also sent letters to try and scare me.