| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Let us therefore make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the law. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!" |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions, according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Therefore, make a confession to Yahweh the God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives." |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Then all the assembly responded with a loud voice: "Yes, we will do as you say! |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don't have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn't something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the fierce anger of our God concerning this matter." |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16The exiles did what had been proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family leaders, all identified by name, to represent their ancestral houses. They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter, |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19They pledged to send their wives away, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt; |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Hanani and Zebadiah from Immer's descendants; |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah from Harim's descendants; |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah from Pashhur's descendants. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23The Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24The singers: Eliashib. The gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25The Israelites: Parosh's descendants: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah; |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Elam's descendants: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah; |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Zattu's descendants: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza; |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Bebai's descendants: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai; |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Bani's descendants: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth; |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Pahath-moab's descendants: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh; |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Harim's descendants: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah; |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33Hashum's descendants: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei; |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Bani's descendants: Maadai, Amram, Uel, |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu, |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38Bani, Binnui, Shimei, |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph; |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43Nebo's descendants: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44All of these had married foreign women, and some of the wives had given birth to children. |
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