5. Sanballat sent the same request a fifth time by his servant, but the letter was open in his hand.
6. In it was written,“It is reported among the nations, and Geshem confirms it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; consequently you are rebuilding the wall. According to these words, you are their king.
7. You have also appointed prophets to preach on your behalf in Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ According to these words, it will now be reported to the king. So come now and let us consult together.”
8. I sent him this response, saying, “Nothing like these reports that you are saying has occurred. From your own mind, you are inventing them.”
9. Because they all wanted to frighten us, they thought, “They will pull their hands back from the work.” But that would never be done.So now, O God, strengthen my hands.
10. When I came to the house of Shemaiah the crippled son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, he said, “Let us meet together at the house of God, inside the temple, and then we can shut the temple doors. They are coming to kill you! Even tonight, they could come to kill you!”
11. But I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there like me who would go into the temple to save his life? I would never go!”
12. Then I perceived and saw that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced the prophecy against me, because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13. He was hired for this reason: that I might become fearful, act accordingly, and sin. Then they would have an evil report by which they could reproach me.
14. Remember, O my God, concerning Tobiah and Sanballat these deeds of theirs, as well as the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.