Nehemiah 6

nd it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down to you. 4 And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner. 5 And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner: 6 It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem has said it, that you and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore you build the wall, and have a mind to set yourself king over them: for which end 7 you have also set up prophets, to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: therefore come now, that we may take counsel together. 8 And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as you say: but you feign these things out of your own heart. 9 For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more: 10 And I went into the house of Samaia the son of Delaia, the son of Metabeel privately. And he said: Let us consult together in the house of God in the midst of the temple: and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to kill you, and in the night they will come to slay you. 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 I understood that God had not sent him, but that he had spoken to me as if he had been prophesying, and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hired him. 13 For he had taken money, that I being afraid should do this thing, and sin, and they might have some evil to upbraid me withal. 14 Remember me, O Lord, for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to their works of this kind: and Noadias the prophet, and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.