Ezra 9:6
New International Version
and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.

New Living Translation
I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.

English Standard Version
saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

New King James Version
And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.

New American Standard Bible
and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongful deeds have risen above our heads, and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.

NASB 1995
and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.

NASB 1977
and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to Thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads, and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.

Legacy Standard Bible
and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have multiplied above our heads and our guilt has become great even to the heavens.

Amplified Bible
and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongdoings have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown to the heavens.

Christian Standard Bible
And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward you, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.

American Standard Version
and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.

Contemporary English Version
and prayed: I am much too ashamed to face you, LORD God. Our sins and our guilt have swept over us like a flood that reaches up to the heavens.

English Revised Version
and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and said, "I am ashamed, my God. I am embarrassed to look at you. Our sins have piled up over our heads, and our guilt is so overwhelming that it reaches heaven.

Good News Translation
I said, "O God, I am too ashamed to raise my head in your presence. Our sins pile up higher than our heads; they reach as high as the heavens.

International Standard Version
and said, "My God, I am too ashamed and hurt to turn to you, because we're in our iniquities over our heads. Furthermore, my God, our sins have grown as high as the heavens.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
I prayed, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God! For our iniquities have climbed higher than our heads, and our guilt extends to the heavens.

New Heart English Bible
and I said, "My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.

World English Bible
and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and say, “O my God, I have been ashamed, and have blushed to lift up, O my God, my face to You, for our iniquities have increased over the head, and our guilt has become great to the heavens.

Young's Literal Translation
and say, 'O my God, I have been ashamed, and have blushed to lift up, O my God, my face unto Thee, for our iniquities have increased over the head, and our guilt hath become great unto the heavens.

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, My God, I was ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face, O my God, to thee: for our iniquities were multiplied over the head, and our guilt was magnified even to the heavens.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said: “My God, I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to you. For our iniquities have been multiplied over our heads, and our offenses have increased, even up to heaven,

New American Bible
I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to raise my face to you, my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven.

New Revised Standard Version
and said, “O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And said, O my God, we are ashamed to lift up our faces to thee, our God; for our iniquities are increased over our head and our great sins have reached to the very heavens.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said: “My God, we are ashamed to raise our faces to you, our God, because our crimes have increased higher than our heads and our great sins went up unto Heaven.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and I said: 'O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded, O my God, to lift up my face to thee: for our transgressions have abounded over our head, and our trespasses have increased even to heaven.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezra's Prayer of Confession
5At 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, 6and 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. 7From 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.…

Cross References
Daniel 9:4-19
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. / We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land. ...

Nehemiah 1:6-7
let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. / We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

Psalm 106:6
We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

Jeremiah 3:25
Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

Leviticus 26:40
But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me—

2 Chronicles 30:9
For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Lamentations 1:5
Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD has brought her grief because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives before the enemy.

1 Kings 8:47
and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’

2 Chronicles 6:37
and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

James 4:8-10
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. / Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. / Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.


Treasury of Scripture

And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.

I am ashamed

Job 40:4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Jeremiah 3:3,24,25
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed…

our iniquities

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Psalm 38:4
For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

trespass.

2 Chronicles 28:9
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

Luke 15:21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Revelation 18:5
For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Jump to Previous
Ashamed Blush Blushed Disgraced Embarrassed Evil-Doing Face Grown Guilt Guiltiness Head Heads Heavens Higher Increased Iniquities Keeps Lift Mounted Prayed Risen Shame Trespass
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Ashamed Blush Blushed Disgraced Embarrassed Evil-Doing Face Grown Guilt Guiltiness Head Heads Heavens Higher Increased Iniquities Keeps Lift Mounted Prayed Risen Shame Trespass
Ezra 9
1. Ezra mourns for the affinity of the people with strangers
5. He prays unto God, with confession of sins














I prayed
The act of prayer in this context is a profound expression of humility and dependence on God. The Hebrew root for "prayed" is "פלל" (palal), which conveys the idea of interceding or making supplication. Ezra's prayer is not just a personal plea but an intercession for the people of Israel. This reflects the biblical principle that leaders are called to stand in the gap for their people, seeking God's mercy and guidance.

O my God
This phrase indicates a personal relationship with God. The use of "my" signifies ownership and intimacy, suggesting that Ezra has a deep, personal connection with the Lord. In Hebrew, "God" is "אֱלֹהִים" (Elohim), a plural form that denotes majesty and power. Ezra acknowledges God's sovereignty and his own position as a servant before the Almighty.

I am ashamed and humiliated
The words "ashamed" and "humiliated" reflect a deep sense of personal and communal failure. The Hebrew word for "ashamed" is "בּוֹשׁ" (bosh), which implies a feeling of disgrace. "Humiliated" comes from "כָּלַם" (kalam), meaning to be insulted or dishonored. Ezra's reaction is not just personal but representative of the collective shame of Israel, highlighting the seriousness of their transgressions.

to lift up my face to You
This phrase signifies a posture of humility and repentance. In ancient Near Eastern culture, lifting one's face was a sign of confidence and acceptance. Ezra's inability to do so indicates a recognition of unworthiness before God. It is a powerful image of contrition, acknowledging that sin has created a barrier between the people and their Creator.

because our iniquities have risen higher than our heads
"Iniquities" refers to moral perversity or sin, derived from the Hebrew "עָוֹן" (avon). The imagery of iniquities rising "higher than our heads" suggests overwhelming guilt and the suffocating nature of sin. It conveys the idea that the people's sins are so numerous and grave that they are drowning in them, unable to escape without divine intervention.

and our guilt has reached the heavens
The term "guilt" in Hebrew is "אַשְׁמָה" (ashmah), indicating culpability and the consequences of sin. The phrase "has reached the heavens" emphasizes the extent and severity of their wrongdoing. It suggests that their sins are not hidden but are fully exposed before God, who dwells in the heavens. This acknowledgment is a crucial step in seeking forgiveness, as it recognizes the need for God's mercy and grace.

Verse 6. - I am ashamed and blush. Jeremiah had complained that in his day those who "committed abominations were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush" (Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 8:12). Ezra, with these words in his thoughts possibly, begins his confession with a protestation that he at any rate is not open to this reproach - he blushes and burns with shame for the sins of his people. Our iniquities are increased over our head. i.e. have kept on rising like a flood; "gone over our head" (Psalm 38:4), and overwhelmed us. And our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Has grown to such a height that it has attracted the notice of God, and made him angry with us.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and said:
וָאֹמְרָ֗ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“O my God,
אֱלֹהַי֙ (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

I am ashamed
בֹּ֣שְׁתִּי (bō·šə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

and embarrassed
וְנִכְלַ֔מְתִּי (wə·niḵ·lam·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult

to lift up
לְהָרִ֧ים (lə·hā·rîm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

my face
פָּנַ֖י (pā·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

to You,
אֵלֶ֑יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

my God,
אֱלֹהַ֛י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

our iniquities
עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤ינוּ (‘ă·wō·nō·ṯê·nū)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

are higher than
רָבוּ֙ (rā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

our heads,
רֹּ֔אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

and our guilt
וְאַשְׁמָתֵ֥נוּ (wə·’aš·mā·ṯê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 819: Guiltiness, a fault, the presentation of a, sin-offering

has reached
גָדְלָ֖ה (ḡā·ḏə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

the heavens.
לַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (laš·šā·mā·yim)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky


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OT History: Ezra 9:6 And I said my God (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 9:5
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