2 they sent a message to me, saying, "Come on, let’s meet in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they intended to kill me.
3 So I sent messengers to tell them, "I’m busy with important work and I can’t come down. Why should I stop what I’m doing and leave it to come and see you?"
4 They sent me the same message four times, and every time my reply was the same.
6 The letter read: "People around are saying, and Geshem confirms it, that you and the Jews are planning a rebellion, and that’s why you’re building the wall. You also plan to become their king, so they say,
8 I replied, telling him, "Nothing’s happening like you’re saying! In fact you’re just making it all up!"
9 They were all just trying to scare us, telling themselves, "They won’t have the strength to work so it won’t ever get finished." But I prayed, now make me strong!