Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?"
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
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?
KJV1611 – Modern English
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work stop, while I leave it and come down to you?
King James Version 1611 (Original)
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?
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And I sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} unto them, saying,{H559} I am doing{H6213} a great{H1419} work,{H4399} so that I cannot{H3201} come down:{H3381} why should the work{H4399} cease,{H7673} whilst{H834} I leave{H7503} it, and come down{H3381} to you?
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And I sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} unto them, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, I am doing{H6213}{(H8802)} a great{H1419} work{H4399}, so that I cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} come down{H3381}{(H8800)}: why should the work{H4399} cease{H7673}{(H8799)}, whilst{H834} I leave{H7503}{(H8686)} it, and come down{H3381}{(H8804)} to you?
Coverdale Bible (1535)
Notwithstondynge I sent messaungers vnto them, sayenge: I haue a greate busynes to do, I can not come downe. The worke shulde stonde still, yf I were necligent, and came downe to you.
Geneva Bible (1560)
Therefore I sent messengers vnto them, saying, I haue a great worke to doe, and I can not come downe: why should the worke cease, whiles I leaue it, and come downe to you?
Bishops' Bible (1568)
And I sent messengers vnto them, saying: I haue a great businesse to do, and I can not come downe: Why should the worke ceasse, whilest I leaue it and come downe to you?
Authorized King James Version (1611)
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?
Webster's Bible (1833)
I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
And I send unto them messengers, saying, `A great work I am doing, and I am not able to come down; why doth the work cease when I let it alone, and have come down unto you?'
American Standard Version (1901)
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?
American Standard Version (1901)
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?
Bible in Basic English (1941)
And I sent men to them saying, I am doing a great work, so that it is not possible for me to come down: is the work to be stopped while I go away from it and come down to you?
World English Bible (2000)
I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?"
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
So I sent messengers to them saying,“I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?”
Referenced Verses
- John 9:4 : 4 'As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.'
- 1 Tim 4:15-16 : 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in them, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
- Prov 14:15 : 15 The simple believe everything, but the prudent carefully consider their steps.
- Eccl 9:10 : 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Matt 10:16 : 16 Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
- Luke 14:30 : 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Neh 6:4-63 verses81%
4 They sent the same message to me four times, and I gave them the same reply each time.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time with the same message, and in his hand was an open letter.
6 In it was written: "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That is why you are building the wall, and you want to be their king, according to these reports.
- Neh 6:1-22 verses79%
1 When it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (though at that time I had not yet set up the doors in the gates),
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.
- Neh 2:16-205 verses74%
16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace."
18 I told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us arise and build!" So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. They said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 I answered them, saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will arise and build. But as for you, you have no share, no legal claim or historic right in Jerusalem."
- Neh 6:8-147 verses74%
8 I sent a reply to him, saying, "No such things as you are saying have occurred. You are inventing them in your own mind."
9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But now, strengthen my hands!
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, for they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live? I will not go!"
12 I realized that God had not sent him, but he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by acting this way. Then they could give me a bad name and discredit me.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these deeds of theirs, also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to intimidate me.
- 72%
16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. We did not acquire any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
- Ezra 6:6-83 verses72%
6 Now then, Tattenai, governor of the region Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your colleagues, the officials in the province Beyond the River, keep away from there.
7 Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
8 Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of this house of God: The expenses are to be fully paid to these men from the royal treasury from the tributes of the region Beyond the River, so that the work is not hindered.
- Neh 2:9-113 verses71%
9 So I went to the governors of the region beyond the Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply displeased that someone had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.
11 I arrived in Jerusalem and stayed there for three days.
- Ezra 5:8-92 verses71%
8 'Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being rebuilt with large stones and timber is being placed in the walls. The work is being done diligently and is progressing well in their hands.'
9 'Then we asked those elders, and we said to them, "Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and complete this structure?"'
- Ezra 5:3-42 verses71%
3 At that time, Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their companions came to them and said, 'Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and complete this structure?'
4 They also asked, 'What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?'
- 70%
6 While all of this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later, I asked the king for permission to leave.
- Neh 4:6-72 verses70%
6 So it happened that the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times, 'Wherever you turn, they will attack us!'
7 So I stationed people in the lowest parts behind the wall, in the open areas, and I positioned them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
- Neh 2:6-72 verses69%
6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you return?" It pleased the king to send me, so I set a time.
7 I also said to the king, "If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the Euphrates, so they will allow me to pass through until I arrive in Judah,
- 69%
11 'This was their reply to us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago. It was a great king of Israel who built and completed it."'
- Ezra 4:21-233 verses69%
21 Now give orders to stop these men and prevent this city from being rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.
22 Be diligent in carrying out this command, so that no damage may increase and harm the interests of the kings.
23 As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they quickly went to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force and power.
- Neh 4:10-112 verses69%
10 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah.
11 Those who were building the wall and those who carried loads were doing their work with one hand while holding a weapon with the other.
- Neh 6:16-172 verses68%
16 When all our enemies heard about this, and all the surrounding nations saw it, they lost their confidence because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 Also in those days, the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah were coming to them.
- Neh 4:1-22 verses68%
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
2 They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause confusion.
- 68%
3 They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.'
- 68%
15 We continued the work, with half of the men holding spears, from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
- 68%
13 Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, taxes, or customs, and the king’s treasury will suffer.
- 68%
21 But I warned them and said, "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath.
- 67%
13 Then Tattenai, governor of the region Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues carried out the decree of King Darius with all diligence.
- 67%
17 I sent orders to Iddo, the leader in the place called Casiphia, and I instructed him and his relatives, who were the temple servants in Casiphia, to bring us ministers for the house of our God.