Ezra 9

Mixed Marriages

1Now when theseH428 thingsH428 had been completedH3615, the princesH8269 approachedH5066 me, sayingH559, “The peopleH5971 of IsraelH3478 and the priestsH3548 and the LevitesH3881 have not 1separatedH914 themselves from the peoplesH5971 of the landsH776, 2according to their abominationsH8441, those of the CanaanitesH3669, the HittitesH2850, the PerizzitesH6522, the JebusitesH2983, the AmmonitesH5984, the MoabitesH4125, the EgyptiansH4713 and the AmoritesH567. 2For 3they have takenH5375 someH4480 of their daughtersH1323 as wives for themselves and for their sonsH1121, so that 4the holyH6944 5raceH2233 has 6intermingledH6148 with the peoplesH5971 of the landsH776; indeed, the handsH3027 of the princesH8269 and the rulersH5461 have beenH1961 foremostH7223 in thisH2088 unfaithfulnessH4604.” 3When I heardH8085 about thisH2088 matterH1697, I 7toreH7167 my garmentH899 and my robeH4598, and pulledH4803 someH4480 of the hairH8181 from my headH7218 and my beardH2206, and 8satH3427 downH3427 appalledH8074. 4Then 9everyoneH3605 who trembledH2730 at the wordsH1697 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 on accountH5921 of the unfaithfulnessH4604 of the exilesH1473 gatheredH622 to me, and I satH3427 appalledH8074 untilH5704 10the eveningH6153 offeringH4503.

Prayer of Confession

5But at the eveningH6153 offeringH4503 I aroseH6965 from my 11humiliationH8589, even with my garmentH899 and my robeH4598 tornH7167, and I fellH3766 on my kneesH1290 and 12stretchedH6566 out my 13handsH3709 to the LordH3068 my GodH430; 6and I saidH559, “O my GodH430, I am ashamedH954 and embarrassedH3637 to liftH7311 up my faceH6440 to You, my GodH430, for our iniquitiesH5771 have 14risenH7235 aboveH4605 our headsH7218 and our 15guiltH819 has grownH1431 evenH5704 to the heavensH8064. 716SinceH4480 the daysH3117 of our fathersH1 to thisH2088 dayH3117 we have been in greatH1419 guiltH819, and on account of our iniquitiesH5771 we, our kingsH4428 and our priestsH3548 have been givenH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingsH4428 of the landsH776, to the swordH2719, to captivityH7628 and to plunderH961 and to 1718openH6440 shameH1322, as it is thisH2088 dayH3117. 8But nowH6258 for a briefH4592 momentH7281 graceH8467 has beenH1961 shown from the LordH3068 our GodH430, 19to leaveH7604 us an escapedH6413 remnantH6413 and to giveH5414 us a 20pegH3489 in His holyH6944 placeH4725, that our GodH430 may 21enlightenH215 our eyesH5869 and grantH5414 us a littleH4592 revivingH4241 in our bondageH5659. 922For we are slavesH5650; yet in our bondageH5659 our GodH430 has not forsakenH5800 us, but 23has extendedH5186 lovingkindnessH2617 to us in the sightH6440 of the kingsH4428 of PersiaH6539, to giveH5414 us revivingH4241 to raiseH7311 up the houseH1004 of our GodH430, to restoreH5975 its ruinsH2723 and to giveH5414 us a wallH1447 in JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

10“NowH6258, our GodH430, whatH4100 shall we sayH559 afterH310 thisH2088? For we have forsakenH5800 Your commandmentsH4687, 11whichH834 You have commandedH6680 by Your servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030, sayingH559, ‘The landH776 whichH834 you are enteringH935 to possessH3423 is an uncleanH5079 landH776 with the uncleannessH5079 of the peoplesH5971 of the landsH776, with their abominationsH8441 whichH834 have filledH4390 it from endH6310 to endH6310 and 24with their impurityH2932. 12So nowH6258 do not 25giveH5414 your daughtersH1323 to their sonsH1121 norH408 takeH5375 their daughtersH1323 to your sonsH1121, and 26neverH3808 seekH1875 their peaceH7965 or their prosperityH2899, that you may be strongH2388 and eatH398 the goodH2898 things of the landH776 and 27leaveH3423 it as an inheritanceH3423 to your sonsH1121 foreverH5704H5769.’ 13AfterH310 allH3605 that has comeH935 upon us for our evilH7451 deedsH4639 and 28our greatH1419 guiltH819, sinceH3588 You our GodH430 have requitedH2820 us lessH4295 thanH4480 our iniquitiesH5771 deserve, and have givenH5414 us 29an escapedH6413 remnantH6413 as thisH2088, 1430shall we againH7725 breakH6565 Your commandmentsH4687 and intermarryH2859 with the peoplesH5971 31who commit theseH428 abominationsH8441? 32Would You not be angryH599 with us 33to the pointH5704 of destructionH3615, untilH5704 thereH369 is noH369 remnantH7611 norH369 any who escapeH6413? 15O LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, 34You are righteousH6662, for we have been leftH7604 an escapedH6413 remnantH6413, as it is thisH2088 dayH3117; beholdH2009, we are beforeH6440 You in 35our guiltH819, for 36noH369 oneH369 can standH5975 beforeH6440 You becauseH5921 of thisH2088.”