1   And it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enimies, that I did build the wal, and there was no breach remayning in it (how beit at that time I had not put the doores in the gates)

2   Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and ^note let vs make a league together in the villages, in the field of Ono: But they thought to doe me euil.

3   I sent therfore messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great worke, and I can not goe downe, lest perhaps it be neglected when I shal come, and descend to you.

4   But they sent to me according to this word, foure times: and I answered them according to the former word.

5   And Sanaballat sent his seruant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this maner: Among the Gentiles it is heard, and Gossem hath sayd, that thou and the Iewes meane to rebel, and therfore thou buildest the wal, and wil aduance thy selfe king ouer them: for which cause

7   thou hast sette vp prophettes also, which should preach of thee in Ierusalem, saying: There is a king in Iurie: The king wil heare of these thinges: therfore come now, that we may take counsel together.

8   And I sent to them, saying: It is not done according to these words, which thou speakest: for thou framest these things of thine owne hart.

9   For al these terrified vs, thinking that our hands would cease from the worke, and we would leaue of. For which cause I did the more strengthen my hands:

10   and I entred into the house of Samaia the sonne of Dalaia the sonne of Metabeel secretly. who sayd: Let vs consult with our selues in the house of God in the middes of the temple: and Let vs shutte the doores of the temple because they wil come to kil thee, and in the night they wil come to slea thee.

11   And I sayd: Doth any man that is like vnto me flee? and who being as I am, wil goe into the temple, and liue? I wil not goe in.

12   And I vnderstood that God had not sent him, but as it were prophicying he had spoken to me, and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hyred him.

13   For he had taken a price, that I being terrified should do it, and sinne, and they might haue

Nehemias. some euil to vpbraid me withal.

14   Remember me Lord for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to such their workes. Yea and Noadias the prophete, and the rest of the prophetes that terrified me

15   But the wal was finished the fiue and twenteth day of the moneth of Elul, in two and fiftie dayes.

16   It came to passe therfore when al our enimies had heard it, that al nations which were round about vs, feared, & were dismayed within them selues, and knew that this worke was done of God.

17   But in those dayes also many letters of the principal Iewes were sent to Tobias, and from Tobias there came to them.

18   For there were many in Iurie sworne vnto him, because he was the sonne in law of Sechenias the sonne of Area, and Iohanan his sonne had taken the daughter of Mosollam the sonne of Barachias.

19   Yea and they praysed him before me, and they reported my words vnto him: and Tobias sent letters to terrifie me.

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