Nehemiah 6:10-19

Christian Standard Bible

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:

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

¹⁴ My God, remember^(D) Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah^(E) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

The Wall Completed

¹⁵ The wall was completed^(F) in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.^{(G) 16} When all our enemies^(H) heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated^(I) and lost their confidence,^[b] for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.^(J)

¹⁷ During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,^(K) and Tobiah’s letters came to them. ¹⁸ For many in Judah were bound by oath^(L) to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam^(M) 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 intimidate^(N) me.