And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
Should we again break your commandments, and join in marriage with the people of these abominations? would you not be angry with us till you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant nor escaping?
And if the people of the land bring merchandise or any food on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would forsake the crops of the seventh year, and the demanding of every debt.
For who will listen to you in this matter? but as his part is that goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that stays by the stuff: they shall part alike.