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

that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

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?

They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

Then sent Sanballat her servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in her hand,

in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their queen, according to these words.

You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a queen in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the queen according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Then I sent to her, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.

For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands.

I went to the house of Shemaiah the daughter of Delaiah the daughter of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and she 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 kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.

I said, Should such a woman as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save her life? I will not go in.

I discerned, and behold, God had not sent her; but she pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired her.

For this cause was she 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.

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

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

It happened, when all our enemies heard of it, 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 worked of our God.

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

For there were many in Judah sworn to her, because she was the daughter-in-law of Shecaniah the daughter of Arah; and her daughter Jehohanan had taken the son of Meshullam the daughter of Berechiah as husband.

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