Ezra 9:2-15

2For 1they have takenH5375 someH4480 of their daughtersH1323 as wives for themselves and for their sonsH1121, so that 2the holyH6944 3lineH2233 has 4intermingledH6148 with the peoplesH5971 of the landsH776; indeed, the handsH3027 of the officialsH8269 and the leadersH5461 have takenH1961 the leadH7223 in thisH2088 unfaithfulnessH4604.” 3When I heardH8085 about thisH2088 matterH1697, I 5toreH7167 my garmentH899 and my robeH4598, and pulledH4803 outH4803 someH4480 of the hairH8181 from my headH7218 and my beardH2206, and 6satH3427 downH3427 7appalledH8074. 4Then 8everyoneH3605 who was frightenedH2730 by the wordsH1697 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 onH5921 accountH5921 ofH5921 the unfaithfulnessH4604 of the exilesH1473 gatheredH622 to me, and I satH3427 9appalledH8074 untilH5704 10the eveningH6153 offeringH4503.

5But at the eveningH6153 offeringH4503 I stoodH6965 upH6965 from my 11humiliationH8589, even with my garmentH899 and my robeH4598 tornH7167, and I bowedH3766 downH3766 on my kneesH1290 and 12spreadH6566 outH6566 my 13handsH3709 to the LordH3068 my GodH430; 6and I saidH559, “My GodH430, I amH954 ashamedH954 and humiliatedH3637 to liftH7311 upH7311 my faceH6440 to You, my GodH430, for our wrongfulH5771 deedsH5771 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 because of our wrongfulH5771 deedsH5771 we, our kingsH4428, and our priestsH3548 have been handedH5414H3027 overH5414 to the kingsH4428 of the landsH776, to the swordH2719, to captivityH7628, 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 2021pegH3489 in His holyH6944 placeH4725, so that our GodH430 may 22enlightenH215 our eyesH5869 and grantH5414 us a littleH4592 revivingH4241 in our bondageH5659. 923For we are slavesH5650; yet in our bondageH5659 our GodH430 has not abandonedH5800 us, but 24has extendedH5186 favorH2617 to us in the sightH6440 of the kingsH4428 of PersiaH6539, to giveH5414 us revivingH4241 to erectH7311 the houseH1004 of our GodH430, to restoreH5975 its ruinsH2723, and to giveH5414 us a wallH1447 in JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

10“And nowH6258, our GodH430, whatH4100 shall we sayH559 afterH310 thisH2088? For we have abandonedH5800 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 25with their impurityH2932. 12So nowH6258 do not 26giveH5414 your daughtersH1323 to their sonsH1121 norH408 takeH5375 their daughtersH1323 for your sonsH1121, and 27neverH3808 seekH1875 their peaceH7965 or their prosperityH2899, soH4616 thatH4616 you may be strongH2388 and may eatH398 the goodH2898 things of the landH776, and 28leaveH3423 it asH3423 anH3423 inheritanceH3423 to your sonsH1121 foreverH5704H5769.’ 13And afterH310 everythingH3605 that has comeH935 upon us for our evilH7451 deedsH4639 and 29our greatH1419 guiltH819, sinceH3588 You our GodH430 have sparedH2820 us by inflicting lessH4295 thanH4480 our wrongdoingH5771 deserves, and have givenH5414 us such 30an escapedH6413 remnantH6413 as thisH2088, 1431shall we againH7725 breakH6565 Your commandmentsH4687 and intermarryH2859 with the peoplesH5971 32who commit theseH428 abominationsH8441? 33Would You not be angryH599 with us 34toH5704 theH5704 pointH5704 of destructionH3615, untilH5704 thereH369 wouldH369 beH369 noH369 remnantH7611 norH369 any who would escapeH6413? 15LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, 35You are righteousH6662, for we have been leftH7604 an escapedH6413 remnantH6413, as it is thisH2088 dayH3117; beholdH2009, we are beforeH6440 You in 36our guiltH819, for 37noH369 oneH369 can standH5975 beforeH6440 You becauseH5921 of thisH2088.”