Nehemiah:6

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* Now it came to pass , when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah , and to Geshem the Arabian , and unto the rest of our enemies , that I had builded the wall , and that there was no breach left therein--though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates -- * that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me , saying : 'Come , let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono .' But they thought to do me mischief . * And I sent messengers unto them , saying : 'I am doing a great work , so that I cannot come down ; why should the work cease , whilst I leave it , and come down to you ?' * And they sent unto me four times after this sort ; and I answered them after the same manner . * Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand ; * wherein was written : 'It is reported among the nations , and Geshem saith it , that thou and the Jews think to rebel ; for which cause thou buildest the wall ; and thou wouldest be their king , even according to these words . * And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim of thee at Jerusalem , saying : There is 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 .' * Then I sent unto him , saying : 'There are no such things done as thou sayest , but thou feignest them out of thine own heart .' * For they all would have us afraid , saying : 'Their hands shall be weakened from the work , that it be not done .' But now , strengthen Thou my hands . * And as for me , I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel , who was shut up ; and he said : 'Let us meet together in the house of God , within the temple , and let us shut the doors of the temple ; for they will come to slay thee ; yea , in the night will they come to slay thee .' * And I said : 'Should such a man as I flee ? and who is there , that , being such as I , could go into the temple and live ? I will not go in .' * And I discerned , and , lo , God had not sent him ; for he pronounced this prophecy against me , whereas Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him . * For this cause was he hired , that I should be afraid , and do so , and sin , and that they might have matter for an evil report , that they might taunt me . * Remember , O my God , Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works , and also the prophetess Noadiah , and the rest of the prophets , that would have me put in fear . * So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul , in fifty and two days . * And it came to pass , when all our enemies heard thereof , that all the nations that were about us feared , and were much cast down in their own eyes ; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God . * Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah , and the letters of Tobiah came unto them . * For there were many in Judah sworn unto 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 to wife . * Also they spoke of his good deeds before me , and reported my words to him . And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear .

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