After these things had been accomplished , the leaders approached me and said , “ The people of Israel , including the priests and Levites , have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites , Hittites , Perizzites , Jebusites , Ammonites , Moabites , Egyptians , and Amorites.
Indeed , the Israelites have taken some of their daughters (as wives) and their sons , so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead ... ... in this unfaithfulness ! ”
When I heard - this report , I tore - my tunic and cloak , pulled out some hair from my head and beard , and sat down in horror.
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles , while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
At the evening offering , I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn , and I fell on my knees , spread out my hands to the LORD my God ,
and said : “ O my God , I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You , my God , because our iniquities are higher than ... our heads , and our guilt has reached ... the heavens.
From the days of our fathers to this day , our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities , we and our kings (and) priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity , to pillage and humiliation ... , as we are this day.
But now , for a brief moment , grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve a remnant and to give a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage , our God has given us new life ... and light to our eyes.
Though we are slaves , our God has not forsaken us in our bondage , but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia , giving new life to rebuild - the house of our God and repair - its ruins , and giving a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
And now , our God , what can we say after this ? For we have forsaken the commandments
that You gave through Your servants the prophets , saying : ‘ The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples ... and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end -.
Now, therefore , do not give your daughters {in marriage} to their sons or take their daughters ... for your sons. Never ... ... seek their peace or prosperity , so that you may be strong and may eat - the good things of the land , leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever .... ’
After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt ( though You , our God , have punished us less than our iniquities (deserve) and have given (such) a remnant as this ) ,
shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations ? Would You not become so angry as to wipe us out , leaving no remnant or survivor ?
O LORD , God of Israel , You are righteous ! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we (are) before You in our guilt , though because of it no one can stand before You. ”