Ezra 10:1-4

1Now 1while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself 2before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly. 2Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “3We have been unfaithful to our God and have 4married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3So now 5let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and 67their children, according to the counsel of 8my lord and of 9those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done 10according to the law. 4Arise! For this matter is 11your responsibility, but we will be with you; 12be courageous and act.”