1 Now when these things were done{H3615}{(H8763)}, the princes{H8269} came{H5066}{(H8738)} to me, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The people{H5971} of Israel{H3478}, and the priests{H3548}, and the Levites{H3881}, have not separated{H914}{(H8738)} themselves from the people{H5971} of the lands{H776}, doing according to their abominations{H8441}, even of the Canaanites{H3669}, the Hittites{H2850}, the Perizzites{H6522}, the Jebusites{H2983}, the Ammonites{H5984}, the Moabites{H4125}, the Egyptians{H4713}, and the Amorites{H567}.

2 For they have taken{H5375}{(H8804)} of their daughters{H1323} for themselves, and for their sons{H1121}: so that the holy{H6944} seed{H2233} have mingled{H6148}{(H8694)} themselves with the people{H5971} of those lands{H776}: yea, the hand{H3027} of the princes{H8269} and rulers{H5461} hath been chief{H7223} in this trespass{H4604}.

3 And when I heard{H8085}{(H8800)} this thing{H1697}, I rent{H7167}{(H8804)} my garment{H899} and my mantle{H4598}, and plucked off{H4803}{(H8799)} the hair{H8181} of my head{H7218} and of my beard{H2206}, and sat down{H3427}{(H8799)} astonied{H8074}{(H8789)}.

4 Then were assembled{H622}{(H8735)} unto me every one that trembled{H2730} at the words{H1697} of the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, because of the transgression{H4604} of those that had been carried away{H1473}; and I sat{H3427}{(H8802)} astonied{H8074}{(H8789)} until the evening{H6153} sacrifice{H4503}.

5 And at the evening{H6153} sacrifice{H4503} I arose up{H6965}{(H8804)} from my heaviness{H8589}; and having rent{H7167}{(H8800)} my garment{H899} and my mantle{H4598}, I fell{H3766}{(H8799)} upon my knees{H1290}, and spread out{H6566}{(H8799)} my hands{H3709} unto the LORD{H3068} my God{H430},

6 And said{H559}{(H8799)}, O my God{H430}, I am ashamed{H954}{(H8804)} and blush{H3637}{(H8738)} to lift up{H7311}{(H8687)} my face{H6440} to thee, my God{H430}: for our iniquities{H5771} are increased{H7235}{(H8804)} over{H4605} our head{H7218}, and our trespass{H819} is grown up{H1431}{(H8804)} unto the heavens{H8064}.

7 Since the days{H3117} of our fathers{H1} have we been in a great{H1419} trespass{H819} unto this day{H3117}; and for our iniquities{H5771} have we, our kings{H4428}, and our priests{H3548}, been delivered{H5414}{(H8738)} into the hand{H3027} of the kings{H4428} of the lands{H776}, to the sword{H2719}, to captivity{H7628}, and to a spoil{H961}, and to confusion{H1322} of face{H6440}, as it is this day{H3117}.

8 And now for a little{H4592} space{H7281} grace{H8467} hath been shewed from the LORD{H3068} our God{H430}, to leave{H7604}{(H8687)} us a remnant to escape{H6413}, and to give{H5414}{(H8800)} us a nail{H3489} in his holy{H6944} place{H4725}, that our God{H430} may lighten{H215}{(H8687)} our eyes{H5869}, and give{H5414}{(H8800)} us a little{H4592} reviving{H4241} in our bondage{H5659}.

9 For we were bondmen{H5650}; yet our God{H430} hath not forsaken{H5800}{(H8804)} us in our bondage{H5659}, but hath extended{H5186}{(H8686)} mercy{H2617} unto us in the sight{H6440} of the kings{H4428} of Persia{H6539}, to give{H5414}{(H8800)} us a reviving{H4241}, to set up{H7311}{(H8788)} the house{H1004} of our God{H430}, and to repair{H5975}{(H8687)} the desolations{H2723} thereof, and to give{H5414}{(H8800)} us a wall{H1447} in Judah{H3063} and in Jerusalem{H3389}.

10 And now, O our God{H430}, what shall we say{H559}{(H8799)} after{H310} this? for we have forsaken{H5800}{(H8804)} thy commandments{H4687},

11 Which thou hast commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} by{H3027} thy servants{H5650} the prophets{H5030}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The land{H776}, unto which ye go{H935}{(H8802)} to possess{H3423}{(H8800)} it, is an unclean{H5079} land{H776} with the filthiness{H5079} of the people{H5971} of the lands{H776}, with their abominations{H8441}, which have filled{H4390}{(H8765)} it from one end{H6310} to another{H6310} with their uncleanness{H2932}.

12 Now therefore give{H5414}{(H8799)} not your daughters{H1323} unto their sons{H1121}, neither take{H5375}{(H8799)} their daughters{H1323} unto your sons{H1121}, nor seek{H1875}{(H8799)} their peace{H7965} or their wealth{H2896} for{H5704} ever{H5769}: that ye may be strong{H2388}{(H8799)}, and eat{H398}{(H8804)} the good{H2898} of the land{H776}, and leave it for an inheritance{H3423}{(H8689)} to your children{H1121} for ever{H5769}.

13 And after{H310} all that is come{H935}{(H8802)} upon us for our evil{H7451} deeds{H4639}, and for our great{H1419} trespass{H819}, seeing that thou our God{H430} hast punished{H2820}{(H8804)} us less{H4295} than our iniquities{H5771} deserve, and hast given{H5414}{(H8804)} us such deliverance{H6413} as this;

14 Should we again{H7725}{(H8799)} break{H6565}{(H8687)} thy commandments{H4687}, and join in affinity{H2859}{(H8692)} with the people{H5971} of these abominations{H8441}? wouldest not thou be angry{H599}{(H8799)} with us till thou hadst consumed{H3615}{(H8763)} us, so that there should be no remnant{H7611} nor escaping{H6413}?

15 O LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, thou art righteous{H6662}: for we remain{H7604}{(H8738)} yet escaped{H6413}, as it is this day{H3117}: behold, we are before{H6440} thee in our trespasses{H819}: for we cannot stand{H5975}{(H8800)} before{H6440} thee because of this.