Nehemiah 6:3-5

Revised Standard Version

³ And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” ⁴ And they sent to me four times in this way and I answered them in the same manner. ⁵ In the same way Sanbal′lat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.