1. Now it happened that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem, an Arab, and our other enemies, had heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no interruption remaining in it, (even though, at that time, I had not set up the double doors at the gates,)
2. Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying: "Come, and let us strike a pact together in the villages, on the plain of Ono." But they were thinking that they would do me harm.
3. Therefore, I sent messengers to them, saying: "I am doing a great work, and I cannot descend, lest perhaps it may be neglected when I go out and descend to you."
4. Then they sent to me, with this same word, four times. And I responded to them with the same word as before.
5. And Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time, with the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner:
6. "It has been heard among the Gentiles, and Geshem has said it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel, and because of this, you are building the wall and thinking to raise yourself as a king over them. For this reason,
7. you also have stationed prophets, who preach about you in Jerusalem, saying: 'There is a king in Judea!' But the king will hear about these words. Therefore, come now, so that we may go to counsel together."
8. And I sent to them, saying: "There has been nothing done according to these words, which you have spoken. For you are inventing these things from your own heart."