9. Our enemies were trying to scare us, thinking, “They will get too weak to work. Then the wall will not be finished.”But I prayed, “God, make me strong.”
10. One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah had to stay at home. He said, “Nehemiah, let’s meet in the Temple of God. Let’s go inside the Temple and close the doors, because men are coming at night to kill you.”
11. But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Should I run for my life into the Temple? I will not go.”
12. I knew that God had not sent him but that Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to prophesy against me.
13. They paid him to frighten me so I would do this and sin. Then they could give me a bad name to shame me.
14. I prayed, “My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat and what they have done. Also remember the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who have been trying to frighten me.”