Ezra 9

Intermarriage with Neighboring Peoples

(Nehemiah 13:23–31)

1After these thingsH428 had been accomplishedH3615, the leadersH8269 approachedH5066 meH413 and saidH559, “The peopleH5971 of IsraelH3478, including the priestsH3548 and LevitesH3881, have notH3808 kept themselves separateH914 from the surroundingH776 peoplesH5971 whose abominationsH8441 are like those of the CanaanitesH3669, HittitesH2850, PerizzitesH6522, JebusitesH2983, AmmonitesH5984, MoabitesH4125, EgyptiansH4713, and AmoritesH567. 2IndeedH3588, the Israelites have takenH5375 some of their daughtersH1323 as wives for themselves and their sonsH1121, so that the holyH6944 seedH2233 has been mixedH6148 with the peopleH5971 of the landH776. And the leadersH8269 and officialsH5461 have taken the leadH3027H1961H7223 in thisH2088 unfaithfulnessH4604!”

3When I heardH8085 thisH2088 reportH1697, I toreH7167 my tunicH899 and cloakH4598, pulled outH4803 some hairH8181 from my headH7218 and beardH2206, and sat downH3427 in horrorH8074.

4Then everyoneH3605 who trembledH2730 at the wordsH1697 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 gatheredH622 around meH413 because ofH5921 the unfaithfulnessH4604 of the exilesH1473, while IH589 sat thereH3427 in horrorH8074 untilH5704 the eveningH6153 offeringH4503.

Ezra’s Prayer of Confession

5At the eveningH6153 offeringH4503, I got upH6965 from my humiliationH8589 with my tunicH899 and cloakH4598 tornH7167, and I fellH3766 onH5921 my kneesH1290, spread outH6566 my handsH3709 toH413 the LORDH3068 my GodH430, 6and saidH559:

“O my GodH430, I am ashamedH954 and embarrassedH3637 to lift upH7311 my faceH6440 to YouH413, my GodH430, becauseH3588 our iniquitiesH5771 are higher thanH7235H4605 our headsH7218, and our guiltH819 has reachedH1431H5704 the heavensH8064. 7From the daysH3117 of our fathersH1 toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117, our guiltH819 has been greatH1419. Because of our iniquitiesH5771, weH587 and our kingsH4428 and priestsH3548 have been deliveredH5414 into the handsH3027 of the kingsH4428 of the earthH776 and subjected to the swordH2719 and to captivityH7628, to pillageH961 and humiliationH1322H6440, as we are thisH2088 dayH3117.

8But nowH6258, for a briefH4592 momentH7281, graceH8467 has comeH1961 fromH854 the LORDH3068 our GodH430 to preserveH7604 for us a remnantH6413 and to giveH5414 us a stakeH34891 in His holyH6944 placeH4725. Even in our bondageH5659, our GodH430 has given usH5414 new lifeH4241H4592 and lightH215 to our eyesH5869. 9ThoughH3588 weH587 are slavesH5650, our GodH430 has notH3808 forsaken usH5800 in our bondageH5659, but He has extendedH5186 to usH5921 graceH2617 in the sightH6440 of the kingsH4428 of PersiaH6539, givingH5414 us new lifeH4241 to rebuildH7311 the houseH1004 of our GodH430 and repairH5975 its ruinsH2723, and givingH5414 us a wall of protectionH1447 in JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

10And nowH6258, our GodH430, whatH4100 can we sayH559 afterH310 thisH2063? ForH3588 we have forsakenH5800 the commandmentsH4687 11thatH834 You gaveH6680 throughH3027 Your servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030, sayingH559: ‘The landH776 thatH834 youH859 are enteringH935 to possessH3423 isH1931 a landH776 pollutedH5079 by the impurityH5079 of its peoplesH5971H776 and the abominationsH8441 with whichH834 they have filled itH4390 from endH6310 toH413 endH6310. 12Now, thereforeH6258, do notH408 giveH5414 your daughters in marriageH1323 to their sonsH1121 or takeH5375 their daughtersH1323H408 for your sonsH1121. NeverH3808H5704H5769 seekH1875 their peaceH7965 or prosperityH2896, so thatH4616 you may be strongH2388 and may eatH398 the good thingsH2898 of the landH776, leaving it as an inheritanceH3423 to your sonsH1121 foreverH5704H5769.’

13AfterH310 allH3605 that has comeH935 upon usH5921 because of our evilH7451 deedsH4639 and our greatH1419 guiltH819 (thoughH3588 YouH859, our GodH430, have punished usH2820 lessH4295 than our iniquitiesH5771 deserve and have givenH5414 us such a remnantH6413 as thisH2063), 14shall we againH7725 breakH6565 Your commandmentsH4687 and intermarryH2859 with the peoplesH5971 who commit theseH428 abominationsH8441? Would You notH3808 become so angryH599 with us as toH5704 wipe us outH3615, leaving noH369 remnantH7611 or survivorH6413?

15O LORDH3068, GodH430 of IsraelH3478, YouH859 are righteousH6662! ForH3588 we remainH7604 thisH2088 dayH3117 as a remnantH6413. Here weH2005 are before YouH6440 in our guiltH819, thoughH3588 becauseH5921 of itH2063 no oneH369 can standH5975 before YouH6440.”