Nehemiah 6:3-5

Expanded Bible

³ So I sent messengers to them with this answer: “I am ·doing [engaged in] a great work, and I can’t come down. ·I don’t want the work to [^LWhy should the work…?] stop while I leave to meet you.” ⁴ Sanballat and Geshem sent the same message to me four times, and each time I sent back the same answer.

⁵ The fifth time Sanballat sent his ·helper [servant; assistant] to me, and in his hand was an ·unsealed [open] letter.