1 Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents1 who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race2 has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!”

3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated. 4 Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe3 gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile.4 Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.

5 At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement,5 with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the Lord my God. 6 I prayed,6

“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. 7 From the days of our fathers until this very day our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities we, along with our kings and7 priests, have been delivered over by the local kings8 to sword, captivity, plunder, and embarrassment – right up to the present time.

8 “But now briefly9 we have received mercy from the Lord our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position10 in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes11 and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude. 9 Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude. He has extended kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, in that he has revived us12 to restore the temple of our God and to raise13 up its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.14

10 “And now what are we able to say after this, our God? For we have forsaken your commandments 11 which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words:15 ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents!16 With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your children17 forever.’

13 “Everything that has happened to us has come about because of our wicked actions and our great guilt. Even so, our God, you have exercised restraint18 toward our iniquities and have given us a remnant such as this. 14 Shall we once again break your commandments and intermarry with these abominable peoples? Would you not be so angered by us that you would wipe us out, with no survivor or remnant? 15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt19 no one can really stand before you.”