| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites--men, women and children--gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Now honor the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives." |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: "You are right! We must do as you say. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us." |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women: From the descendants of Joshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19(They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.) |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24From the musicians: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem and Uri. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25And among the other Israelites: From the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Benjamin, Malluk and Shemariah. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei. |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu. |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40Maknadebai, 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] | 43From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah. |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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