Then Ezrathe prieststoodup and saidto them, "You have beenunfaithfuland have marriedforeignwivesaddingto the guiltof Israel.
and saidto them, "You must not bringthe captivesin here,for you are proposing[to bring] upon us guiltagainst the LORDaddingto our sinsand our guilt;for our guiltis greatso that [His] burningangeris againstIsrael."
"Nowtherefore, makeconfessionto the LORDGodof your fathersand doHis will;and separateyourselves from the peoplesof the landand from the foreignwives."
So allthe menof Judahand Benjaminassembledat Jerusalemwithin the threedays.It was the ninthmonthon the twentiethof the month,and allthe peoplesatin the opensquare[before] the houseof God,tremblingbecauseof this matterand the heavy rain.
shall we againbreakYour commandmentsand intermarrywith the peopleswho commit theseabominations?Would You not be angrywith us to the pointof destruction,untilthereis noremnantnorany who escape?
and I said,"O my God,I am ashamedand embarrassedto liftup my faceto You, my God,for our iniquitieshave risenaboveour headsand our guilthas grownevento the heavens.
"Now behold,you have risenup in your fathers'place,a broodof sinfulmen,to addstillmoreto the burningangerof the LORDagainstIsrael.
"Fillup, then,the measure[of the guilt] of your fathers.
