Ezra 9

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

After all was said and done, the leaders approached me, expressing their concern. They said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, haven't distanced themselves from the customs of the surrounding nations. They're following the sinful practices of various groups like the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites."

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

They've taken daughters of these peoples as wives for themselves and their sons, mixing the sacred lineage with the people of those lands. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

When I heard the news, I was so shocked that I tore my clothes and cloak and pulled out hair from my head and beard in despair, sitting in stunned silence.

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

Everyone who feared God's words gathered around me, deeply disturbed by the sins of those who had been taken away. I sat there, stunned, until the evening offering.

And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

As the evening sacrifice began, I shook off my sorrow. Tearing my clothes in anguish, I knelt down, reaching out to my God with open hands and a heavy heart.

And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Feeling deeply embarrassed, I whispered, "Oh God, I can't even look at you. Our wrongdoings have piled up, reaching the sky."

Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

From our ancestors' time until now, our guilt has been great, and because of our sins, we, along with our kings and priests, have been handed over to foreign rulers. We've faced the sword, captivity, looting, and shame, and we're still facing it today.

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed 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 a brief moment, God has shown us mercy, allowing some of us to survive. He's given us a foothold in His sacred space, to brighten our eyes and breathe life into us during our struggles.

For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Though we were once slaves, God never abandoned us. He showed us compassion even in our darkest times, giving us a chance to rebuild our sacred home and protect our land, all under the watchful eyes of Persian kings.

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

Now, dear God, what can we possibly say? We've sadly ignored your rules.

Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

You've told us through your prophets that the land we're about to claim is tainted. It's been polluted by the people living there, their wrongdoings spreading filth from one corner to the other.

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

Don't marry your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Don't pursue their peace or wealth. Stand strong, enjoy the land's bounty, and pass it on to your children forever.

And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

Despite the hardships we've faced due to our mistakes and grave wrongdoings, we see that you, our God, have shown us mercy. You've punished us less than we deserved and granted us a chance at redemption.

Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

If we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who do these detestable things, wouldn't you be angry enough with us to wipe us out completely, leaving no one behind?

O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

O LORD, God of Israel, you are just. We are the survivors, still here today. Yet, we stand before you, burdened by our wrongdoings, unable to face you because of our guilt.