1 And it happened when it was heard by Sanballat{Sanballat: Opposition Leader} and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that no breach{peretz: Opening} was left in it—even though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates.
2 And Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Hakkephirim {kephirim: rural settlements} in the valley of Ono.” But they were planning to do me harm {ra’ah: wicked intent}.
3 And I dispatched messengers to them, saying, “I am engaged in a great work {melakhah: construction task}, and I am not able to descend. Why should the work be suspended if I forsake {arpeha: abandon the task} it and descend to you?”
4 And they sent to me this message four times{peamim: cycles or repetitions}, and each time I returned{ashiv: replied or answered} the same answer.
5 After that, on the fifth occasion {paam chamishit: repeated occurrence}, Sanballat sent his young man to me once more in the same way, bearing an open letter {igeret: written communication} in his hand.
6 It is written in it, “It has been reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, ‘You and the Jews {yehudim: members of the exiled community} are planning to rebel {limrod: insurrection}; therefore you are building the wall, and you are becoming their king according to these reports.’”
7 And also you have appointed prophets {neviim: official spokesmen} to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And now it will be heard by the king according to these words. And now, come, and let us consult {venivaatsah: joint planning} together.
8 And I sent to him, saying, “Nothing like these words that you are saying has happened {nihyah: actual occurrence}, for you are inventing them out of your own heart {milibbecha: from your innermost being}.”
9 For all of them were trying to make us afraid {meyar’im: cause terror or dread}, saying, “Their hands {yad: symbol of human effort} will become weak from the work and it will not be accomplished.” But now, strengthen my hands, O God {Elohim, Strength Giver}.
10 And I came to the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, and he was confined. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God {ha’elohim: Divine Assembly}, inside the temple {heikhal: Holy Sanctuary}, and let us shut the temple doors, for they are coming to kill you; at night they come to kill you.”
11 And I said, “Should a man like me flee {yivrach: removing oneself from danger}? And who, like me, would go into the temple {heikhal: sanctuary of holy worship} and live? I will not go in!”
12 And I recognized, and behold, it was not God {Elohim, Revealer of Truth} who had sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him {secharo: paid to act}.
13 He was hired {sakhur: mercenary action} for this, so that I might fear and do so, and I would sin; and they would have an evil report {shem: reputation} to use in order to reproach me.
14 Remember, my God {Elohai: Prayer Guardian}, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these deeds, and also the prophetess {neviah: female seer} Noadiah, and the prophets who were intimidating me.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day {be’esrim vachamishah: ordinal designation} of Elul, after fifty-two days {yom: measured time span}.
16 And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard, and all the nations around us saw, they were greatly cast down in their own eyes and perceived that this work {hamelakhah: purposeful task} had been wrought by our God {Eloheinu, Mighty Defender}.
17 Also in those days, the nobles {chorei: influential aristocrats} of Judah were sending many letters {igroteihem: official correspondences} to Tobiah, and letters from Tobiah came to them.
18 For many in Judah were bound by oath {shevuah: solemn covenant pledge}, for he was a son-in-law {chatan: marriage alliance connection} to Shekhaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiyah.
19 Also, they kept reporting his good deeds {tovotav: favorable behavior} before me, and they brought out my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid {leyareini: to instill fear}.