Parallel Verses
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?
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?"
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?
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?
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 And Sanballat sent to me and Geshem, saying, Come, and we will pass over together in the villages in the valley of Ono. And they reckoned to do evil to me 3 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? 4 And they will send to me according to this word four times; and I shall turn them back according to this word.
Cross References
Proverbs 14:15
The simple will believe to every word: and the prudent will understand to his going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
All which thy hand shall find to do, with thy strength, do thou; for no work and understanding and knowledge and wisdom, in hades where thou goest there.
Matthew 10:16
Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore discerning as serpents, and pure as doves.
Luke 14:30
Saying, That this man began to build, and was not able to finish.
John 9:4
I must work the works of him having sent me, while it is day: night comes, when none can work.
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Bestow diligent care upon these things; be in them; that thy progress may be manifest in all things.