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1
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Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) |
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2
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That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. |
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3
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And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? |
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4
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Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. |
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5
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Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; |
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6
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Wherein written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. |
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7
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And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, 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. |
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8
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Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. |
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9
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For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, , strengthen my hands. |
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10
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Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who 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. |
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11
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And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who , that, as I , would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. |
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12
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And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. |
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13
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Therefore he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and they might have for an evil report, that they might reproach me. |
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14
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My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. |
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15
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So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth of Elul, in fifty and two days. |
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16
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And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard , and all the heathen that about us saw , they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. |
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17
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Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and of Tobiah came unto them. |
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18
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For many in Judah sworn unto him, because he the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. |
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19
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Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. |