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