1Now when these things were done3615, the princes8269 came5066 to me, saying559, The people5971 of Israel3478, and the priests3548, and the Levites3881, have not separated914 themselves from the people5971 of the lands776, doing according to their abominations8441, even of the Canaanites3669, the Hittites2850, the Perizzites6522, the Jebusites2983, the Ammonites5984, the Moabites4125, the Egyptians4713, and the Amorites567.
2For they have taken5375 of their daughters1323 for themselves, and for their sons1121: so that the holy6944 seed2233 have mingled6148 themselves with the people5971 of those lands776: yea, the hand3027 of the princes8269 and rulers5461 hath been chief7223 in this trespass4604.
3And when I heard8085 this thing1697, I rent7167 my garment899 and my mantle4598, and plucked off4803 the hair8181 of my head7218 and of my beard2206, and sat down3427 astonied8074.
4Then were assembled622 unto me every one that trembled2730 at the words1697 of the God430 of Israel3478, because of the transgression4604 of those that had been carried away1473; and I sat3427 astonied8074 until the evening6153 sacrifice4503.
5And at the evening6153 sacrifice4503 I arose up6965 from my heaviness8589; and having rent7167 my garment899 and my mantle4598, I fell3766 upon my knees1290, and spread out6566 my hands3709 unto the LORD3068 my God430,
6And said559, O my God430, I am ashamed954 and blush3637 to lift up7311 my face6440 to thee, my God430: for our iniquities5771 are increased7235 over4605 our head7218, and our trespass819 is grown up1431 unto the heavens8064.
7Since the days3117 of our fathers1 have we been in a great1419 trespass819 unto this day3117; and for our iniquities5771 have we, our kings4428, and our priests3548, been delivered5414 into the hand3027 of the kings4428 of the lands776, to the sword2719, to captivity7628, and to a spoil961, and to confusion1322 of face6440, as it is this day3117.
8And now for a little4592 space7281 grace8467 hath been shewed from the LORD3068 our God430, to leave7604 us a remnant to escape6413, and to give5414 us a nail3489 in his holy6944 place4725, that our God430 may lighten215 our eyes5869, and give5414 us a little4592 reviving4241 in our bondage5659.
9For we were bondmen5650; yet our God430 hath not forsaken5800 us in our bondage5659, but hath extended5186 mercy2617 unto us in the sight6440 of the kings4428 of Persia6539, to give5414 us a reviving4241, to set up7311 the house1004 of our God430, and to repair5975 the desolations2723 thereof, and to give5414 us a wall1447 in Judah3063 and in Jerusalem3389.
10And now, O our God430, what shall we say559 after310 this? for we have forsaken5800 thy commandments4687,
11Which thou hast commanded6680 by3027 thy servants5650 the prophets5030, saying559, The land776, unto which ye go935 to possess3423 it, is an unclean5079 land776 with the filthiness5079 of the people5971 of the lands776, with their abominations8441, which have filled4390 it from one end6310 to another6310 with their uncleanness2932.
12Now therefore give5414 not your daughters1323 unto their sons1121, neither take5375 their daughters1323 unto your sons1121, nor seek1875 their peace7965 or their wealth2896 for5704 ever5769: that ye may be strong2388, and eat398 the good2898 of the land776, and leave it for an inheritance3423 to your children1121 for ever5769.
13And after310 all that is come935 upon us for our evil7451 deeds4639, and for our great1419 trespass819, seeing that thou our God430 hast punished2820 us less4295 than our iniquities5771 deserve, and hast given5414 us such deliverance6413 as this;
14Should we again7725 break6565 thy commandments4687, and join in affinity2859 with the people5971 of these abominations8441? wouldest not thou be angry599 with us till thou hadst consumed3615 us, so that there should be no remnant7611 nor escaping6413?
15O LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478, thou art righteous6662: for we remain7604 yet escaped6413, as it is this day3117: behold, we are before6440 thee in our trespasses819: for we cannot stand5975 before6440 thee because of this.