CHAPTER 9
After these
things had been accomplished,
the leaders
approached
me
and said:
“The people
of Israel,
including the priests
and Levites,
have not
kept themselves separate
from the surrounding
peoples
whose abominations
are like those of the Canaanites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Jebusites,
Ammonites,
Moabites,
Egyptians,
and Amorites.
Indeed,
the Israelites have taken
some of their daughters as wives
for themselves
and their sons,
so that the holy
seed
has been mixed
with the people
of the land.
And the leaders
and officials
have taken the lead
in this
unfaithfulness!”
When I heard
this
report,
I tore
my tunic
and cloak,
pulled out
some hair
from my head
and beard,
and sat down
in horror.
Then everyone
who trembled
at the words
of the God
of Israel
gathered
around me
because of
the unfaithfulness
of the exiles,
while I
sat there
in horror
until
the evening
offering.
At the evening
offering,
I got up
from my humiliation
with my tunic
and cloak
torn,
and I fell
on
my knees,
spread out
my hands
to
the LORD
my God,
and said:
“O my God,
I am ashamed
and embarrassed
to lift up
my face
to You,
my God,
because
our iniquities
are higher than
our heads,
and our guilt
has reached
the heavens.
From the days
of our fathers
to
this
day,
our guilt
has been great.
Because of our iniquities,
we
and our kings
and our priests
have been delivered
into the hands
of the kings
of the earth
and put to the sword
and captivity,
to pillage
and humiliation,
as we are this
day.
But now,
for a brief
moment,
grace
has come
from
the LORD
our God
to preserve
for us
a remnant
and to give
us
a stake
in His holy
place.
Even in our bondage,
our God
has given us
new life
and light
to our eyes.
Though
we
are slaves,
our God
has not
forsaken us
in our bondage,
but He has extended
to us
grace
in the sight
of the kings
of Persia,
giving
us new life
to rebuild
the house
of our God
and repair
its ruins,
and giving
us
a wall of protection
in Judah
and Jerusalem.
that
You gave
through
Your servants
the prophets,
saying:
‘The land
you
are entering
to possess
is
a land
polluted
by the impurity
of its peoples
and the abominations
with which
they have filled it
from end
to
end.
Now, therefore,
do not
give
your daughters in marriage
to their sons
or take
their daughters
for your sons.
Never
seek
their peace
or prosperity,
so that
you may be strong
and may eat
the good things
of the land,
leaving it as an inheritance
to your sons
forever.'
After
all
that has come
upon us
because of our evil
deeds
and our great
guilt
(though
You,
our God,
have punished us
less
than our iniquities deserve
and have given
us
such a remnant
as this)
shall we again
break
Your commandments
and intermarry
with the peoples
who commit these
abominations?
Would You not
become so angry
with us
as to
wipe us out,
leaving no
remnant
or survivor?
O LORD,
God
of Israel,
You
are righteous!
For
we remain
this
day
as a remnant.
Here we are
before You
in our guilt,
though
because
of it
no one
can stand
before You.”