And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answereth and saith to Ezra, ‘We — we have trespassed against our God, and we settle strange women of the peoples of the land; and now there is hope for Israel concerning this,
do we turn back to break Thy commands, and to join ourselves in marriage with the people of these abominations? art not Thou angry against us — even to consumption — till there is no remnant and escaped part?
and the peoples of the land who are bringing in the wares and any corn on the sabbath-day to sell, we receive not of them on the sabbath, and on a holy day, and we leave the seventh year, and usury on every hand.
and who doth hearken to you in this thing? for as the portion of him who was brought down into battle, so also [is] the portion of him who is abiding by the vessels — alike they share.’