Study Desk

The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Yisra'el, twelve bulls for all Yisra'el, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt offering to the LORD.

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.

and I said, my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up to the heavens.

Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our Kohanim, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Paras, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins of it, and to give us a wall in Yehudah and in Yerushalayim.

Now, our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your mitzvot,

now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their shalom or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.

After all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,

LORD, the God of Yisra'el, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this.

Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Yisra'el a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.

Shekhanyahu the son of Yechi'el, one of the sons of `Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Yisra'el concerning this thing.

Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Yehochanan the son of Elyashiv: and [when] he came there, he ate no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.

Then all the men of Yehudah and Binyamin gathered themselves together to Yerushalayim within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.

Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the Zakenim of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.

They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.

Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Yisra'el your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Yisra'el, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned:

Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.