Ezra 9:7-9 : 7 'From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in great guilt. Because of our sins, we, our kings and priests, have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, captivity, plunder, and humiliation, as it is today.'
8 'But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has shown us grace by leaving us a remnant and giving us a secure footing in His holy place, so our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little relief in our bondage.'
9 'Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia. He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and He has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.'
10 'But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments'
11 'that you commanded through your servants the prophets, saying: "The land you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the practices of its peoples and their detestable acts that have filled it with impurity from one end to the other."'
12 So now, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek their peace or prosperity forever, so that you may be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it to your children as an inheritance forever.
13 After everything that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and great guilt—though you, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this—
14 shall we again break your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would you not become so angry with us that you would destroy us completely, leaving no remnant or survivor?
15 O Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left with this remnant today. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence because of this.