Burningindignationhas seizedme becauseof the wicked,Who forsakeYour law.
Then Ezrarosefrom beforethe houseof Godand wentinto the chamberof Jehohananthe sonof Eliashib.Although he wentthere,he did not eatbreadnordrinkwater,for he was mourningoverthe unfaithfulnessof the exiles.
shall we againbreakYour commandmentsand intermarrywith the peopleswho commit theseabominations?Would You not be angrywith us to the pointof destruction,untilthereis noremnantnorany who escape?
When I heardabout thismatter,I toremy garmentand my robe,and pulledsomeof the hairfrom my headand my beard,and satdownappalled.
So I contendedwith them and cursedthem and strucksomeof them and pulledout their hair,and made them swearby God,"You shall not giveyour daughtersto their sons,nortakeof their daughtersfor your sonsor for yourselves.
Then I was veryangrywhenI had heardtheir outcryand thesewords.
My eyesshedstreamsof water,Becausethey do not keepYour law.Tsadhe.
I beholdthe treacherousand loathe[them], Becausethey do not keepYour word.
"Ifhis sonsforsakeMy lawAnd do not walkin My judgments,
But ifyou will not listento it, My soulwill sobin secretfor [such] pride;And my eyeswill bitterlyweepAnd flowdownwith tears,Becausethe flockof the LORDhas been takencaptive.
"ThenDaniel,whosenameis Belteshazzar,was appalledfor a whileas his thoughtsalarmedhim. The kingrespondedand said,'Belteshazzar,do not let the dreamor its interpretationalarmyou.' Belteshazzarreplied,My lord,[if only] the dreamapplied to those who hateyou and its interpretationto your adversaries!
I heardand my inwardpartstrembled,At the soundmy lipsquivered.Decayentersmy bones,And in my placeI tremble.BecauseI must waitquietlyfor the dayof distress,For the peopleto arise[who] will invadeus.
I am afraid that when I comeagainmy Godmay humiliateme beforeyou, and I may mournover manyof thosewho have sinned in the pastand not repentedof the impurity,immoralityand sensualitywhichthey have practiced.
For manywalk,of whomI oftentoldyou, and nowtellyou evenweeping,[that they are] enemiesof the crossof Christ,