[1] After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said,
"The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated
themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the Jeb'usites, the Ammonites,
the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. [2] For they have taken some
of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons; so that
the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this
faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost."
[3] When I heard this, I rent my garments and my mantle, and pulled hair
from my head and beard, and sat appalled. [4] Then all who trembled at the
words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned
exiles, gathered round me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
[5] And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments
and my mantle rent, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the
LORD my God, [6] saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face
to thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and
our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. [7] From the days of our fathers
to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our
kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the
lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at
this day. [8] But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD
our God, to leave us a remnant, and to give us a secure hold within his
holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little
reviving in our bondage. [9] For we are bondmen; yet our God has not
forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended to us his steadfast love
before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house
of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and
Jerusalem. [10] "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we
have forsaken thy commandments, [11] which thou didst command by thy
servants the prophets, saying, `The land which you are entering, to take
possession of it, is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of
the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end
with their uncleanness. [12] Therefore give not your daughters to their
sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their
peace or prosperity, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land,
and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.' [13] And after
all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt,
seeing that thou, our God, hast punished us less than our iniquities
deserved and hast given us such a remnant as this, [14] shall we break thy
commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these
abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou wouldst consume
us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? [15] O LORD the
God of Israel, thou art just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped,
as at this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guilt, for none can stand
before thee because of this."
