Israel’s Intermarriage with Pagans

1After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said: “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselvesa from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practicesb are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.c 2Indeed, the Israelite mend have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy •seede has become mixed with the surrounding peoples.f The leadersg and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness! ”h 3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.i

Ezra’s Confession

4Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israelj gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles,k while I sat devastated until the evening offering.l 5At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to •Yahweh my God.m 6And I said:n

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.o 7Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame,p as it is today. 8But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnantq for us and give us a staker in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.s 9Though we are slaves,t our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings,u giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,v to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

10Now, our God, what can we say in light ofw this? For we have abandoned the commands 11You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.x 12So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons.y Never seek their peace or prosperity,z so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.” 13After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt — though You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have allowed us to surviveaa, ab — 14should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices?ac Wouldn’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors?ad 15LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnantae today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.af