Now when these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, but have followed the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed has mingled itself with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this sin.
And when I heard this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and I mourned and plucked out the hair of my head and my beard; and then I sat down appalled.
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of those of the captivity, gathered to me; and I sat appalled until the time of the evening sacrifice.
And at the time of the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction, with my garment and robe torn; and I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to Jehovah my God,
and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and confounded to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guilt has grown great, reaching up to heaven.
From the days of our fathers until this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, our priests, and our sons have been given into the hand of the kings of the nations, slain by their sword, carried into captivity, plundered, and put to shame, as it is this day.
And now for a little while grace has been shown us from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant, to keep us alive, and to give us strength in His holy place, that our God might enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.
For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us food, and to glorify His temple and rebuild its ruins, even Zion, and to give us strength in Judah and in Jerusalem.
which You commanded by the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, defiled by the filthiness of the peoples of the lands, who with their abominations have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, nor seek their peace or their welfare for ever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt—seeing that You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant—
should we again break Your commandments and join in marriage with the peoples of these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor any to escape?
O Jehovah, God of Israel, You are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our guilt, for none can stand before You because of this.