Chapter 9
1 Now when these things were done , the princes came near to me , saying, " The people of Israel , the priests , and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations , even those of the Canaanites , the Hittites , the Perizzites , the Jebusites , the Ammonites , the Moabites , the Egyptians , and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons , so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes , the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass ."
3 When I heard this thing , I tore my garment and my robe , and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard , and sat down confounded.
4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles ; and I sat confounded until the evening offering .
5 At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation , even with my garment and my robe torn ; and I fell on my knees , and spread out my hands to the LORD my God ;
6 and I said, " My God , I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you , my God , for our iniquities have increased over our head , and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens .
7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day ; and for our iniquities we , our kings , and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword , to captivity , to plunder, and to confusion of face , as it is this day .
8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God , to leave us a remnant to escape , and to give us a stake in his holy place , that our God may lighten our eyes , and revive us a little in our bondage .
9 For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage , but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia , to revive us , to set up the house of our God , and to repair its ruins , and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem .
10 " Now , our God, what shall we say after this ? For we have forsaken your commandments ,
11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets , saying , ‘ The land to which you go to possess is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations , which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness .
12 Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons . Don’t take their daughters to your sons , nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever , that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever .’
13 " After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt , since you , our God , have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant ,
14 shall we again break your commandments , and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations ? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us , so that there would be no remnant , nor any to escape ?
15 LORD , the God of Israel , you are righteous ; for we are left a remnant that has escaped , as it is today . Behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this ."