Ezra 9

1When these things were completed, the officials approached me, saying, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands after the manner of the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites."

2For they have taken their daughters for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has mingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hand of the princes and rulers has been foremost in this unfaithfulness.

3When I heard this matter, I tore my garment and my mantle, plucked hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled.

4All who trembled at the words of Israel's God gathered to me because of the exiles' transgression, and I sat stunned until the evening offering.

5At the evening offering I rose from my humiliation, my garment and mantle torn, fell to my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.

6And I said, "My God, I am ashamed and disgraced to raise my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have multiplied above our head, and our guilt has grown great to the heavens."

7From the days of our fathers we have been greatly guilty until this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed into the control of the kings of the lands—to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to shame of face—as it is today.

8Now for a little moment grace has come from Yahweh our God, to spare us a surviving remnant and to grant us a peg in his holy place, so our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little revival in our servitude.

9For we are servants, yet in our servitude our God has not abandoned us but has shown kindness upon us before Persia's kings, to grant us revival, to raise the house of our God, to restore its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments.

11which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land you are coming to possess is a land of defilement through the defilement of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations which have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness.

12Now do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or prosperity forever, so that you may be strong, eat the good of the land, and bequeath it to your children forever.

13After everything that befell us because of our wicked deeds and our great guilt, you our God have dealt leniently with us compared to our iniquities and granted us such a remnant.

14Shall we return to breaking your commandments and intermarrying with these abominable peoples? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us, leaving no remnant or survivor?

15Yahweh, God of Israel, you are righteous, for we remain an escaped remnant today. Here we are before you in our guilt, for no one can stand before you because of this.