Nehemiah 6 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

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 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) But they were planning to harm me.

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great 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 become discouraged[c] in the work,(K) and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God, strengthen me.[d](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 us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.
Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you tonight![e]

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I 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 Noadiah the prophetess(Q) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

The Wall Completed

15 The wall was completed(R) in 52 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,[f] 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. Nehemiah 6:2 Or together at Kephirim in
  2. Nehemiah 6:6 Lit Gashmu
  3. Nehemiah 6:9 Lit saying, “Their hands will fail
  4. Nehemiah 6:9 Lit my hands
  5. Nehemiah 6:10 Or by night
  6. Nehemiah 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

You Might Also Like:

Nehemiah 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And it cometh to pass, when it hath been heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and by Geshem the Arabian, and by the rest of our enemies, that I have builded the wall, and there hath not been left in it a breach, (also, till that time the doors I had not set up in the gates,) 2 that Sanballat sendeth, a...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 Forsooth it was done, when Sanballat had heard, and Tobiah, and Geshem of Arabia, and our other enemies, that I had builded (again) the wall, and no more breaking was therein; and unto that time I had not set up the leaves of shutting of the gates; (And it was done, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, 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 in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s m...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

6 Once again, we found that our progress had been reported to our enemies. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab (as well as the rest of our adversaries) heard that under my leadership the wall had been rebuilt. Not one gap remained (though the doors still had to be hung on the gates). 2 Sanballat...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah6 Now it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it—even though at that time I had not positioned the doors in the gates. 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “...
Read More

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...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

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...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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),(A)2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, sa...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Continued Opposition to Rebuilding6 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Further opposition to the rebuilding6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it – though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates – 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us ...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Further Opposition to the Rebuilding6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah,(A) Geshem(B) the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let u...
Read More

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

Nehemiah’s Enemies Continue to Oppose the Rebuilding6 Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the Arab, heard about what I had done. So did the rest of our enemies. All of them heard I had rebuilt the wall. In fact, they heard there weren’t any gaps left in it. But up to that time I hadn’t put up the gates at...
Read More

Nehemiah 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Opposition to the Rebuilding Efforts Continues6 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (even though up to that time I had not positioned doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me saying, “...
Read More