Nehemiah 6

All 19 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gaps remained in it — though I hadn't yet installed the doors in the gates —
2. 2Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: "Come, let's meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.
3. 3And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
4. 4They sent me the same invitation four times, and each time I gave them the same answer.
5. 5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time with an open letter in his hand.
6. 6It said: "It is reported among the heathen — and Gashmu confirms it — that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That's why you're building the wall. According to these reports, you intend to make yourself their king."
7. 7And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8. 8I sent him this reply: "None of what you're saying is true. You're making it all up."
9. 9For they all tried to make us afraid, saying, 'Their hands will be weakened from the work, so it will not be completed.' Therefore, I prayed, 'O God, strengthen my hands.'
10. 10Later I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabeel, who had shut himself inside. He said, "Let's meet inside God's temple and lock the doors behind us, because men are coming to kill you — they're coming tonight to kill you."
11. 11But I said, "Should a man like me run away? And would someone in my position hide in the temple just to save his own life? I won't do it."
12. 12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13. 13He was hired so that I would be afraid, commit a sin, and give them grounds for an evil report to reproach me.
14. 14My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who tried to put me in fear.
15. 15The wall was completed on the 25th day of the month of Elul. The entire project took just 52 days.
16. 16When all our enemies heard about it, and all the surrounding nations saw these things, they lost their confidence, for they realized that this work had been done by our God.
17. 17During that time, the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah — sending messages to him and receiving his replies.
18. 18Many people in Judah had sworn loyalty to him because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19. 19These nobles kept telling me what a good man Tobiah was, while reporting everything I said back to him. And Tobiah kept sending me letters to intimidate me.