7. Also you have set up prophets to announce concerning you in Jerusalem, There is a king in Judah. And now this will be reported to the [Persian] king. So, come now and let us take counsel together.
8. I replied to him, No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own heart and mind.
9. For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, Their hands will be so weak that the work will not be done. But now strengthen my hands!
10. I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up. He said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you–at night they are coming to kill you.
11. But I said, Should such a man as I flee? And what man such as I could go into the temple [where only the priests are allowed to go] and yet live? I will not go in.
12. And behold, I saw that God had not sent him, but he made this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13. He was hired that I should be made afraid and do as he said and sin, that they might have matter for an evil report with which to taunt and reproach me.