1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Yisrael, and the priests (kohanim), and the Levites (Lewiyim), have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Yevusis, the Ammonites, the Moavites, the Egyptians (Mitsrayim), and the Amorites.

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto יהוה my God (Elohim),

6 And said, “O my God (Elohim), I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to You, my God (Elohim); for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests (kohanim), been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from יהוה our God (Elohim), to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God (Elohim) may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we were bondmen; yet our God (Elohim) hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God (Elohim), and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah (Yehudah) and in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

10 And now, O our God (Elohim), 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, unto which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’

13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you our God (Elohim) hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

14 Should we again break Your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? Wouldest not You be angry with us till You hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

15 O יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), You are righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before You because of this.”