10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was (A)confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?[a] I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, (B)but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 (C)Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also (D)the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 6:11 Or would go into the temple to save his life

A Conspiracy Charge Emerges

10 Later I visited Delaiah’s son Shemaiah, a grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined at home. He kept urging me, “Let’s meet together at the house of God, within the Temple, and take refuge there,[a] because they’re coming to kill you. In fact, they’re coming at night to kill you!”

11 But I asked him, “Should a man like me run? Should someone like me run into the Temple to save his life? I won’t go there!” 12 I perceived that God had not sent him. Instead, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to pronounce this prophecy against me. 13 He had been hired to make me afraid so I would sin by doing what he suggested.[b] Then they could create a slanderous report to use against me.

14 “Remember me, my God, and take note of what Tobiah and Sanballat are doing. Also take note of the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who intend to make me afraid.”

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 6:10 Lit. and shut the doors of the temple
  2. Nehemiah 6:13 Lit. doing this