Nehemiah 6:3-5

New Century Version

³ So I sent messengers to them with this answer: “I am doing a great work, and I can’t come down. I don’t want the work to stop while I leave to meet you.” ⁴ Sanballat and Geshem sent the same message to me four times, and each time I sent back the same answer.

⁵ The fifth time Sanballat sent his helper to me with the message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter.