Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you?
New American Standard Bible
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
King James 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?
Holman Bible
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 go down to you?”
International Standard Version
So I sent messengers to them, replying "I am involved in a great endeavor, so I can't leave. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?"
American 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?
Amplified
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to [meet with] you?”
Bible in Basic English
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?
Darby Translation
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?
Julia Smith Translation
And I shall send messengers to them, saying, I do a great work, and I shall not be able to come down: wherefore shall the work cease when I shall desist and come down to you?
King James 2000
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
Lexham Expanded Bible
So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I am not able to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you all?"
Modern King James verseion
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Notwithstanding, I sent messengers unto them, saying, "I have a great business to do, I cannot come down. The work should stand still, if I were negligent, and came down to you."
NET Bible
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?"
New Heart English Bible
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?"
The Emphasized Bible
So I sent unto them messengers, saying, A great work, am, I, doing, and cannot come down, - wherefore should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down unto you?
Webster
And I sent messengers to 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?
World English Bible
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?"
Youngs Literal Translation
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?'
Themes
Alliance and society with the enemies of God » The wicked tempt saints to
Fellowship » Instances of those who avoided fellowship with the wicked » Nehemiah
Geshem » Opposed nehemiah in building jerusalem
Liberality » Instances of » Jews after the captivity
Tobiah » An enemy of the jews in the time of nehemiah » Conspires to injure and intimidate nehemiah
Interlinear
Shalach
M@la'kah
Yakol
Yarad
M@la'kah
References
American
Morish
Word Count of 20 Translations in Nehemiah 6:3
Verse Info
Context Readings
Enemies Foiled
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you? 4 And they sent to me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner.
Cross References
Proverbs 14:15
A simple man believes every word, but the prudent man looks well to his going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever thy hand finds to do, do with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where thou go.
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.
Luke 14:30
saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
John 9:4
I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night comes when no man can work.
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Think on these things--exist within these things--so that thy progress may be visible among all.