6:1 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;)
6:1 Now it came about when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and [that] no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

6:2 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.
6:2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent [a message] to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.

6:3 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?
6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"

6:4 And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
6:4 And they sent [messages] to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.

6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6:5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand.

6:6 wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.
6:6 In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

6:7 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.
6:7 "And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together."

6:8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
6:8 Then I sent [a message] to him saying, "Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind."

6:9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, (O God), strengthen thou my hands.
6:9 For all of them were [trying] to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done." But now, [O God,] strengthen my hands.

6:10 And 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.
6:10 And when I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night."

6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
6:11 But I said, "Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

6:12 And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
6:12 Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered [ his] prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

6:13 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 reproach me.
6:13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

6:14 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 put me in fear.
6:14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were [trying] to frighten me.

6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth (day) of (the month) Elul, in fifty and two days.
6:15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of [the month] Elul, in fifty-two days.

6:16 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.
6:16 And it came about when all our enemies heard [of it,] and all the nations surrounding us saw [it,] they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and (the letters) of Tobiah came unto them.
6:17 Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah's [letters] came to them.

6:18 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.
6:18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

6:19 Also they spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. (And) Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
6:19 Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.