Nehemiah 6:6–13

⁶In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and ¹Gashmu says, that ^ayou and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

⁷“You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning ¹you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together.”

⁸Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are ^ainventing them ¹in your own mind.”

⁹For all of them were trying to frighten us, ¹thinking, “²They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, ^aO God, strengthen my hands.

¹⁰When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, ^awho was ¹confined at home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.”

¹¹But I said, “^aShould a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple ¹to save his life? I will not go in.”

¹²Then I perceived ¹that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

¹³He was hired for this reason, ^athat I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.