6 This is what that letter said: “There is a rumor going around. People are talking about it everywhere. And, by the way, Geshem says it is true. People are saying that you and the Jews are planning to turn against the king. That is why you are building the wall of Jerusalem. People are also saying that you will be the new king of the Jews.
6 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.
6 In it was written: It is reported among the neighboring nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore you are building the wall, that you may be their king, according to the report.
6 wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.
6 It stated: It is reported among the nations and confirmed by Geshem that you and the Jews intend to rebel. This is why you are rebuilding the wall. According to these reports, you intend to become their king.
6 "It has been heard among the Gentiles, and Geshem has said it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel, and because of this, you are building the wall and thinking to raise yourself as a king over them. For this reason,
6 It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; and therefore thou buildest the wall and hast a mind to set thyself king over them. For which end
King Artaxerxes, we wish to inform you that the Jews you sent away from you have come here. Those Jews are now trying to build that city again. Jerusalem is a bad city. The people in that city have always rebelled against other kings. Now those Jews are fixing the foundations and building the walls. {\cf2\super [21]}
King Artaxerxes, we suggest that you search the writings of the kings that ruled before you. You will see in those writings that Jerusalem always rebelled against other kings. It has caused much trouble for other kings and nations. Many rebellions have started in this city since ancient times! That is why Jerusalem was destroyed!
But Sanballat from Horon, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard that we were building again. They made fun of us in a very ugly way. They said, “What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?”
They hired Shemaiah to scare me and make me sin \{by going into that part of the temple\}. They were planning those bad things against me so they could embarrass me.
I hear people whispering against me.\par Everywhere, I hear things that scare me.\par Even my friends are saying things\par against me.\par People are just waiting for me\par to make some mistake.\par They are saying,\par “Let us lie and say he did some bad thing.\par Maybe we can trick Jeremiah.\par Then we will have him.\par We will finally be rid of him.\par Then we will grab him\par and take our revenge on him.”\par
“People will say bad things against you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things against you because you follow me. But when people do those things to you, know that God will bless you.
They began to accuse Jesus. They told Pilate, “We caught this man trying to change the thinking of our people. He says we should not pay taxes to Caesar. {\cf2\super [369]} He calls himself the Christ, {\cf2\super [370]} a king.”
Pilate heard what these Jews said. So he brought Jesus out to the place called “The Stone Pavement.” (In the Jewish language {\cf2\super [241]} the name is “Gabbatha.”) Pilate sat down on the judge’s seat there.
It would be the same to say, “We should do evil so that good will come.” Many people criticize us and say that we teach those things. People that say those things are wrong, and they should be condemned.
Some people honor us, but other people shame us. Some people say good things about us, but other people say bad things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth.
But answer those people in a gentle way with respect. Always be able to feel that you are doing right. When you do that, the people who say bad things about you will be made ashamed. They say these bad things about the good way you live in Christ. They will be made ashamed for the bad things they said about you.