16:005:015 But the former governors that had been
before me were
chargeable
unto the people, and had taken of them bread and
wine,
beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants
bare
rule over the people: but so did not I, because
of the
fear
of God.
16:005:016 Yea, also I continued in the work of this
wall, neither bought
we
any land: and all my servants were gathered thither
unto
the
work.
16:005:017 Moreover there were at my table an hundred
and fifty of the
Jews
and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among
the
heathen
that are about us.
16:005:018 Now that which was prepared for me daily
was one ox and six
choice
sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in
ten
days
store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required
not
I
the bread of the governor, because the bondage was
heavy
upon
this people.
16:005:019 Think upon me, my God, for good, according
to all that I have
done
for this people.
16:006:001 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and
Tobiah, and Geshem the
Arabian,
and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded
the
wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though
at
that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
16:006:002 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,
saying, Come, let us
meet
together in some one of the villages in the plain of
Ono.
But
they thought to do me mischief.
16:006:003 And I sent messengers unto them, saying,
I am doing a great
work,
so that I cannot come down: why should the work
cease,
whilst
I leave it, and come down to you?
16:006:004 Yet they sent unto me four times after
this sort; and I
answered
them after the same manner.
16:006:005 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me
in like manner the
fifth
time with an open letter in his hand;
16:006:006 Wherein was written, It is reported among
the heathen, and
Gashmu
saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel:
for
which
cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their
king,
according to these words.
16:006:007 And thou hast also appointed prophets to
preach of thee at
Jerusalem,
saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall
it
be
reported to the king according to these words.
Come now
therefore,
and let us take counsel together.
16:006:008 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are
no such things done as
thou
sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
16:006:009 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their
hands shall be
weakened
from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore,
O
God,
strengthen my hands.


