1. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies learned that I had rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. There was no hole left in it, although the doors had not been set up yet.

2. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message saying, "Come and let us talk in Keriphim, in the lowland of Ono." They intended to do me harm;

3. but I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am much occupied in a very important work, I cannot come down to meet you, for the work would stop if I left it."

4. They invited me again four times, but I gave them the same answer every time.

5. Then Sanballat invited me for the fifth time. His servant brought an open letter which said the following,

6. "Do you know the news that circulates among those who are not Jews? Gashmu says that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are rebuilding the wall.

7. And you also wish to become their king, and have already chosen prophets to proclaim you king of Jerusalem. The king shall know of this, so come, that the two of us may talk."

8. But I sent to him, saying, "There's nothing true in what you say; you have invented this story."

9. For they all wanted to frighten us, saying: "Let us discourage them that they may not finish the work." But I, on the contrary, worked with greater strength.

10. Then I went to Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, since he could not leave his house. He said to me, "Let us meet together in the House of God, within the sanctuary, and then close its doors, for they are coming to kill you, to strike you this very night."

11. But I answered him, "Should a man like me flee? Why should a man like me seek sanctuary to save my life? I will not go."

12. I understood then that Semaiah had not been sent by God but that Tobiah and Sanballat had brought him

13. to frighten me. In hiding in the sanctuary, I would have committed an offense, and this would have damaged my reputation and put me to shame.

14. O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done; and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who tried to frighten me.

15. The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

16. When our enemies and the neighboring nations knew about it, they were afraid and lost courage. They had to recognize the work of God in this.

17. During that time, several distinguished Jews often wrote to and received letters from Tobiah.

18. Tobiah had many friends in Judah for he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and because his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

19. They even came to speak well of Tobiah in my presence, and recounted to him all my words as well. And it was he - Tobiah - who sent letters to frighten me.





“O passado não conta mais para o Senhor. O que conta é o presente e estar atento e pronto para reparar o que foi feito.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina