1 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Per'izzites, the Jeb'usites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost."
3 When I heard this, I rent my garments and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.
4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered round me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle rent, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
6 saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day.
8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant, and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.
10 "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 which thou didst command by thy servants the prophets, saying, `The land which you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness.
12 Therefore give not your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.'
13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that thou, our God, hast punished us less than our iniquities deserved and hast given us such a remnant as this,
14 shall we break thy commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou wouldst consume us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 O LORD the God of Israel, thou art just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as at this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guilt, for none can stand before thee because of this."
Versículos relacionados com Ezra, 9:
Ezra 9 is a chapter that describes the sadness and repentance of Ezra and the people of Israel because they have mixed with other peoples and adopted their customs, disobeying God. Ezra leads a period of repentance, confession and renewal of covenant with God. Following are five verses related to the themes of this chapter:
Deuteronomy 7:3-4: "You shall not appear with them; Thou shalt not give your daughter to his son, nor take his daughter to your Son. For He will deviate your Son from me, that they may serve other gods; and the wrath of the Lord will light up against you, and quickly will destroy you. " Ezra acknowledges that the children of Israel had disobeyed this law and mixed with the peoples around them.
Nehemiah 9:1-2: "On the twenty-four of the same month the children of Israel are gathered in fasting, and with bags, and brought earth upon themselves. And the seed of Israel separated from all the strangers, and put it If they stand, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their parents. " Ezra and the people of Israel fast and confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
Psalm 106:6: "We sinned like our parents, we committed iniquity, we walked badly." Ezra identifies himself with the sin of his ancestors and assumes responsibility for the sin of the people.
Jeremiah 31:19: "For after I deviated, I regretted; and after I met, I hit my thigh; I am embarrassed and confused, because I take the ignominy of my youth." Ezra and the people of Israel repent of their sins and seek God.
Psalm 41:4: "I said, Lord, have mercy on me; hea my soul, because I have sinned against you." Ezra asks God for mercy and healing to the sin of the people.
Kapitel: