Enemies Foiled

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that no gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not erected doors in the gates— ² Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they planned to do evil to me. ³ So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I am not able to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you all?” ⁴ And they sent a message to me four times like this, and I returned an answer like this to them. ⁵ And Sanballat sent his servant with an open letter, another word like this to me a fifth time, in his hand. ⁶ In it was written, “It has been reported among the nations, and Gashmu also is saying it, that you and the Jews are considering rebellion. Therefore, truly you are building the wall and you are becoming their king, according to these words. ⁷ You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now it will be proclaimed to the king according to these words. Now, come and we will plan together.” ⁸ So I sent to him saying, “None of these words you have spoken has happened. You are indeed saying things created in your own mind”— ⁹ for all of them sought to frighten us, saying, “their hands will not do the work.” And now, God, strengthen my hands.