Nehemiah 6:9–19

9 For they were all trying to intimidatep us, saying, “They will drop their hands fromD the work,q and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God, strengthen my hands.r

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!E

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

14 My God, rememberv Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiahw and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

THE WALL COMPLETED

15 The wall was completedx in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.y 16 When all our enemiesz heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidatedaa and lost their confidence,A for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.ab

17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,ac and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oathad to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullamae 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 intimidateaf me.