Nehemiah 6 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Attempts to Discourage the Builders

6 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies(A) heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it(B)—though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates(C)— 2 Sanballat and Geshem(D) sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of[a] the Ono Valley.”(E) They were planning to harm me.

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.

5 Sanballat(F) sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written:

It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[b](G) agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king 7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf, “There is a king in Judah.”(H) These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together.

8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”(I) 9 For they were all trying to intimidate(J) us, saying, “They will drop their hands from[c] the work,(K) and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God, strengthen my hands.(L)

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah

10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:

Let’s meet at the house of God,
inside the temple.
Let’s shut the temple doors
because they’re coming to kill you.
They’re coming to kill you tonight![d]

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live?(M) I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat(N) had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,(O) do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.

14 My God, remember(P) Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah(Q) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

The Wall Completed

15 The wall was completed(R) in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.(S) 16 When all our enemies(T) heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated(U) and lost their confidence,[e] for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.(V)

17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,(W) and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath(X) to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam(Y) son of Berechiah. 19 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate(Z) me.

Footnotes

  1. 6:2 Or together at Kephirim in
  2. 6:6 Lit Gashmu
  3. 6:9 Or will give up on
  4. 6:10 Or by night
  5. 6:16 Lit and fell greatly in their eyes

Cross references

  1. 6:1 : Neh 2:10,19
  2. 6:1 : Neh 4:6–7
  3. 6:1 : Neh 3:1
  4. 6:2 : Neh 2:10
  5. 6:2 : 1Ch 8:12
  6. 6:5 : Neh 2:10
  7. 6:6 : Neh 2:19
  8. 6:7 : Zch 9:9
  9. 6:8 : Jb 13:4; Ps 52:2
  10. 6:9 : Ezr 3:3
  11. 6:9 : Ezr 4:4
  12. 6:9 : Neh 5:19; 13:22; Ps 138:3
  13. 6:10–11 : Nm 18:7
  14. 6:12 : Neh 2:10; 6:1
  15. 6:13 : Ezr 3:3
  16. 6:14 : Neh 13:29
  17. 6:14 : Rv 2:20
  18. 6:15 : Neh 4:1,7; 6:1
  19. 6:15 : Ezr 6:15
  20. 6:16 : Neh 2:10; 6:1
  21. 6:16 : Ezr 3:3
  22. 6:16 : Ex 14:25
  23. 6:17 : Neh 6:1; 13:4–5,7–8
  24. 6:18 : Ezr 10:5
  25. 6:18 : Neh 3:4,30
  26. 6:19 : Neh 6:9,13

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Nehemiah 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanbal′lat and Tobi′ah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanbal′lat and Geshem sent to...
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Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, say...
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Nehemiah 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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Nehemiah 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Neighbors Do Not Want the Wall Built6 It was told to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of those who hated us that I had built the wall again. They were told that the wall had no more open places, but I had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent word ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Conspiracy Against Nehemiah6 Now it happened (A)when Sanballat, Tobiah, [a]Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (B)(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and [b]Geshem (C)sent ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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Nehemiah 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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