1After these things were done, the officials came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the people of these other lands, who practice detestable customs, including those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
2For they have married their daughters and sons into these families, mixing the holy descendants with the people of these lands. Indeed, the leaders and officials have been the worst offenders in this unfaithfulness.”
3When I heard this, I tore my clothes, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down in shock.
4Then everyone who respected the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of those who had returned from captivity. I sat in shock until the evening sacrifice.
5At the evening sacrifice, I got up from my humble position, with my clothes still torn. I knelt down and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.
6I said, “My God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, because our sins have piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.
7From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been very guilty. Because of our sins, we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of other lands, to be killed, taken captive, robbed, and publicly disgraced, as it is today.
8But now, for a brief moment, Yahweh our God has shown us favor, leaving us a small group to escape and giving us a secure place in his holy land. Our God has enlightened us and given us a little relief in our slavery.
9Even though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. Instead, he has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God, repair its ruins, and provide us with protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
10“Now, our God, what can we say after all this? For we have ignored your commands,
11which you gave through your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land you are entering to take possession of is defiled by the impurity of its people, by the detestable practices that have filled it with their filth from one end to the other.’
12So do not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong, eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’
13“After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have given us such a remnant,
14should we again break your commands and intermarry with the people who commit these detestable acts? Wouldn’t you be so angry with us that you would destroy us completely, leaving no one to survive or escape?
15Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous! For we are a small group that has escaped, as it is today. Look, we are before you in our guilt; no one can stand before you because of this.”