10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple(A), and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me(B) because Tobiah and Sanballat(C) had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.(D)

14 Remember(E) Tobiah and Sanballat,(F) my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet(G) Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets(H) have been trying to intimidate me.

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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:

Let us meet at the house of God
inside the temple.
Let us shut the temple doors
because they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you tonight![a]

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I 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 Noadiah the prophetess(E) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 6:10 Or by night