1 Ezra|strong="H5830" was|strong="H3478" praying|strong="H6419" and|strong="H3478" confessing|strong="H3034". He|strong="H3588" was|strong="H3478" crying|strong="H1058" and|strong="H3478" bowing down|strong="H5307" in|strong="H0413" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1004" God’s|strong="H0430" Temple|strong="H1004". While|strong="H3588" Ezra|strong="H5830" was|strong="H3478" doing that|strong="H3588", a|strong="H3588" large|strong="H7227" group|strong="H7235" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478"—men|strong="H0376", women|strong="H0802", and|strong="H3478" children|strong="H3206"—gathered|strong="H6908" around|strong="H6440" him|strong="H0413". They|strong="H3588" were|strong="H3478" crying|strong="H1058".
2 Then|strong="H6030" Shecaniah|strong="H7935" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Jehiel|strong="H3171", one|strong="H0802" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0559" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Elam|strong="H5867", spoke|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Ezra|strong="H5830" and|strong="H1121" said|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H0587" have|strong="H3426" not|strong="H0776" been|strong="H4603" faithful to|strong="H0559" our|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0430". We|strong="H0587" have|strong="H3426" married|strong="H0802" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971" living|strong="H3427" around|strong="H5921" us|strong="H5921". But|strong="H6030", even|strong="H0776" though we|strong="H0587" have|strong="H3426" done this|strong="H2063", there|strong="H3426" is|strong="H0776" still|strong="H0559" hope for|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478".
3 Now|strong="H6258" let|strong="H6258" us|strong="H6213" make|strong="H6213" an|strong="H3772" agreement|strong="H1285" before|strong="H0430" our|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" to|strong="H3205" send|strong="H3318" away|strong="H3318" all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H1992" women|strong="H0802" and|strong="H0430" their|strong="H3605" children|strong="H3205". We|strong="H6258" will|strong="H0430" do|strong="H6213" that|strong="H3605" to|strong="H3205" follow the|strong="H3605" advice|strong="H6098" of|strong="H0430" Ezra and|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" people who|strong="H3605" respect the|strong="H3605" laws|strong="H8451" of|strong="H0430" our|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430". We|strong="H6258" will|strong="H0430" obey|strong="H6213" God’s|strong="H0430" law|strong="H8451".
4 Get|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965", Ezra. This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H1697" your|strong="H5921" responsibility|strong="H5921", but|strong="H3588" we|strong="H0587" will|strong="H1697" support|strong="H2388" you|strong="H3588". So|strong="H6213" be|strong="H1697" brave and|strong="H6965" do|strong="H6213" it|strong="H5921".”
5 So|strong="H6213" Ezra|strong="H5830" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965". He|strong="H6213" made|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" leading|strong="H8269" priests|strong="H3548", the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881", and|strong="H6965" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" promise|strong="H1697" to|strong="H3478" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H1697" he|strong="H6213" said|strong="H1697".
6 Then|strong="H6965" Ezra|strong="H5830" went|strong="H6965" away|strong="H0398" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1121" God’s|strong="H0430" house|strong="H1004". He|strong="H3588" went|strong="H6965" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" room|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1121" Jehohanan|strong="H3076" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Eliashib|strong="H0475". While|strong="H3588" Ezra|strong="H5830" was|strong="H0430" there|strong="H8033", he|strong="H3588" didn’t|strong="H3808" eat|strong="H0398" food|strong="H3899" or|strong="H3808" drink|strong="H8354" water|strong="H4325". He|strong="H3588" did|strong="H3808" that|strong="H3588" because|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" was|strong="H0430" still very|strong="H4604" sad. He|strong="H3588" was|strong="H0430" very|strong="H4604" sad about|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" Israelites who|strong="H1121" came|strong="H0413" back|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem.
7 Then|strong="H5674" he|strong="H3389" sent a|strong="H3389" message|strong="H3389" to|strong="H3389" every|strong="H3605" place|strong="H3605" in|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1121" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". The|strong="H3605" message|strong="H3389" told all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Jewish people|strong="H1121" who|strong="H3605" had|strong="H3063" come back from|strong="H1121" captivity to|strong="H3389" meet|strong="H6908" together|strong="H6908" in|strong="H1121" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
8 Those|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem in|strong="H0935" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117" like|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" officials|strong="H8269" and|strong="H0935" elders|strong="H2205" said would|strong="H0834" lose their|strong="H3605" property|strong="H7399" and|strong="H0935" be|strong="H3808" removed from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" group.
9 So|strong="H1697" in|strong="H3427" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" families|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Benjamin|strong="H1144" gathered|strong="H6908" in|strong="H3427" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". And|strong="H3063" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" twentieth|strong="H6242" day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" ninth|strong="H8671" month|strong="H2320", all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" met together|strong="H6908" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004" yard. They|strong="H3117" were|strong="H0376" very upset|strong="H1697" because|strong="H5921" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" reason|strong="H1697" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" meeting and|strong="H3063" because|strong="H5921" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" heavy rain|strong="H1653".
10 Then|strong="H6965" Ezra|strong="H5830" the|strong="H0559" priest|strong="H3548" stood|strong="H6965" and|strong="H6965" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", “You|strong="H0859" people|strong="H3427" have|strong="H0859" not|strong="H3254" been|strong="H4603" faithful to|strong="H0413" God|strong="H0559". You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0859" married|strong="H0802" foreign|strong="H5237" women|strong="H0802". You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0859" made|strong="H0802" Israel|strong="H3478" more|strong="H3254" guilty|strong="H0819" by|strong="H5921" doing that|strong="H0559".
11 Now|strong="H6258" you|strong="H5414" must|strong="H0776" confess your|strong="H3068" sins to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H5414" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H5414" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0776" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001". You|strong="H5414" must|strong="H0776" obey|strong="H6213" his|strong="H5414" command. Separate|strong="H0914" yourselves|strong="H3068" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H5414" people|strong="H5971" living around you|strong="H5414" and|strong="H3068" from|strong="H4480" your|strong="H3068" foreign|strong="H5237" wives|strong="H0802".”
12 Then|strong="H6030" the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" group who|strong="H3605" met together|strong="H5921" answered|strong="H0559" Ezra. They|strong="H3651" shouted, “Ezra, you|strong="H3605" are|strong="H1697" right|strong="H3651"! We|strong="H3605" must do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3605" say|strong="H0559".
13 But|strong="H3588" there|strong="H0369" are|strong="H3117" many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H5971" here|strong="H2088". And|strong="H3117" it|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0369" the|strong="H3588" rainy|strong="H1653" time|strong="H6256" of|strong="H3117" year|strong="H3117", so|strong="H3808" we|strong="H3588" cannot|strong="H3808" stay|strong="H5975" outside|strong="H2351". This|strong="H2088" problem cannot|strong="H3808" be|strong="H3808" solved in|strong="H3117" a|strong="H3588" day|strong="H3117" or|strong="H3808" two|strong="H8147" because|strong="H3588" we|strong="H3588" have|strong="H0369" sinned in|strong="H3117" a|strong="H3588" very|strong="H2088" bad way|strong="H1697".
14 Let|strong="H4994" our|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" decide|strong="H8199" for|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" group meeting here|strong="H2088". Then|strong="H2088" let|strong="H4994" every|strong="H3605" man|strong="H2205" in|strong="H3427" our|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H5892" who|strong="H0834" married|strong="H0802" a|strong="H0935" foreign|strong="H5237" woman|strong="H0802" come|strong="H0935" here|strong="H2088" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem at|strong="H3427" a|strong="H0935" planned time|strong="H6256". Let|strong="H4994" them|strong="H7725" come|strong="H0935" here|strong="H2088" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" elders|strong="H2205" and|strong="H0935" judges|strong="H8199" of|strong="H0430" their|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H5892". Then|strong="H2088" God|strong="H0430" will|strong="H0430" stop|strong="H5975" being|strong="H0430" angry|strong="H0639" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H4994".”
15 Only|strong="H0389" a|strong="H5921" few men|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1121" against|strong="H5921" this|strong="H2063" plan. They|strong="H5921" were|strong="H1121" Jonathan|strong="H3129" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Asahel|strong="H6214" and|strong="H1121" Jahzeiah|strong="H3167" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Tikvah|strong="H8616". Meshullam|strong="H4918" and|strong="H1121" Shabbethai|strong="H7678" the|strong="H5921" Levite|strong="H3881" also|strong="H2063" were|strong="H1121" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" plan.
16 So|strong="H3651" the|strong="H3605" Israelites who|strong="H3605" came|strong="H0376" back|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0376" Jerusalem accepted the|strong="H3605" plan|strong="H1697". Ezra|strong="H5830" the|strong="H3605" priest|strong="H3548" chose|strong="H6213" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H1121" family|strong="H1004" leaders|strong="H7218". He|strong="H3117" chose|strong="H6213" one|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" each|strong="H0376" tribe. Each|strong="H0376" man|strong="H0376" was|strong="H8034" chosen by|strong="H3117" name|strong="H8034". On|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" first|strong="H0259" day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" tenth|strong="H6224" month|strong="H2320", the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H1121" chosen sat|strong="H3427" down|strong="H3427" to|strong="H0376" study|strong="H1875" each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" cases|strong="H1697".
17 And|strong="H3117" by|strong="H0802" the|strong="H3605" first|strong="H7223" day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" first|strong="H7223" month|strong="H2320", they|strong="H3117" finished|strong="H3615" discussing all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H3605" had|strong="H0376" married|strong="H0802" foreign|strong="H5237" women|strong="H0802".
18 These|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" names of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" priests|strong="H3548" who|strong="H0834" married|strong="H0802" foreign|strong="H5237" women|strong="H0802":
19 All of|strong="H3027" them|strong="H5414" promised|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5921" divorce their|strong="H5414" wives|strong="H0802". And|strong="H3027" then|strong="H3318" each|strong="H0802" one|strong="H0802" of|strong="H3027" them|strong="H5414" offered|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" ram|strong="H0352" from|strong="H3318" the|strong="H5921" flock|strong="H6629" for|strong="H5921" a|strong="H5414" guilt|strong="H0819" offering|strong="H0819". They|strong="H5921" did that|strong="H3027" because|strong="H5921" of|strong="H3027" their|strong="H5414" guilt|strong="H0819".
20 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Immer|strong="H0564", these men|strong="H1121": Hanani|strong="H2607" and|strong="H1121" Zebadiah|strong="H2069".
21 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H8098" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Harim|strong="H2766", these men|strong="H1121": Maaseiah|strong="H4641", Elijah|strong="H0452", Shemaiah|strong="H8098", Jehiel|strong="H3171", and|strong="H1121" Uzziah|strong="H5818".
22 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3458" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Pashhur|strong="H6583", these men|strong="H1121": Elioenai|strong="H0454", Maaseiah|strong="H4641", Ishmael|strong="H3458", Nethanel|strong="H5417", Jozabad|strong="H3107", and|strong="H1121" Elasah|strong="H0501".
23 Among|strong="H4480" the|strong="H4480" Levites|strong="H3881", these|strong="H1931" are|strong="H3063" the|strong="H4480" men who|strong="H1931" married foreign women:
24 Among|strong="H4480" the|strong="H4480" singers|strong="H7891", this is the|strong="H4480" man who|strong="H7891" married a|strong="H4480" foreign woman: Eliashib|strong="H0475".
25 Among|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0499" other Israelites|strong="H3478", these men|strong="H1121" married foreign women:
26 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Elam|strong="H5867", these men|strong="H1121": Mattaniah|strong="H4983", Zechariah|strong="H2148", Jehiel|strong="H3171", Abdi|strong="H5660", Jeremoth|strong="H3406", and|strong="H1121" Elijah|strong="H0452".
27 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zattu|strong="H2240", these men|strong="H1121": Elioenai|strong="H0454", Eliashib|strong="H0475", Mattaniah|strong="H4983", Jeremoth|strong="H3406", Zabad|strong="H2066", and|strong="H1121" Aziza|strong="H5819".
28 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3076" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bebai|strong="H0893", these men|strong="H1121": Jehohanan|strong="H3076", Hananiah|strong="H2608", Zabbai|strong="H2079", and|strong="H1121" Athlai.
29 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bani|strong="H1137", these men|strong="H1121": Meshullam|strong="H4918", Malluch|strong="H4409", Adaiah|strong="H5718", Jashub|strong="H3437", Sheal|strong="H7594", and|strong="H1121" Jeremoth|strong="H3406".
30 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1141" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Pahath Moab, these men|strong="H1121": Adna|strong="H5733", Kelal|strong="H3636", Benaiah|strong="H1141", Maaseiah|strong="H4641", Mattaniah|strong="H4983", Bezalel|strong="H1212", Binnui|strong="H1131", and|strong="H1121" Manasseh|strong="H4519".
31 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H8098" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Harim|strong="H2766", these men|strong="H1121": Eliezer|strong="H0461", Ishijah|strong="H3449", Malkijah|strong="H4441", Shemaiah|strong="H8098", Shimeon|strong="H8095",
32 Benjamin|strong="H1144", Malluch|strong="H4409", and|strong="H1144" Shemariah|strong="H8114".
33 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hashum|strong="H2828", these men|strong="H1121": Mattenai|strong="H4982", Mattattah|strong="H4992", Zabad|strong="H2066", Eliphelet|strong="H0467", Jeremai|strong="H3413", Manasseh|strong="H4519", and|strong="H1121" Shimei|strong="H8096".
34 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bani|strong="H1137", these men|strong="H1121": Maadai|strong="H4572", Amram|strong="H6019", Uel|strong="H0177",
35 Benaiah|strong="H1141", Bedeiah|strong="H0912", Keluhi|strong="H3622",
36 Vaniah|strong="H2057", Meremoth|strong="H4822", Eliashib|strong="H0475",
37 Mattaniah|strong="H4983", Mattenai|strong="H4982", and Jaasu|strong="H3299".
38 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1121" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Binnui|strong="H1131", these men|strong="H1121": Shimei|strong="H8096",
39 Shelemiah|strong="H8018", Nathan|strong="H5416", Adaiah|strong="H5718",
40 Macnadebai, Shashai|strong="H8343", Sharai|strong="H8298",
41 Azarel|strong="H5832", Shelemiah|strong="H8018", Shemariah|strong="H8114",
42 Shallum|strong="H7967", Amariah|strong="H0568", and|strong="H3130" Joseph|strong="H3130".
43 From|strong="H1121" the|strong="H1141" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nebo|strong="H5015", these men|strong="H1121": Jeiel|strong="H3273", Mattithiah|strong="H4993", Zabad|strong="H2066", Zebina|strong="H2081", Jaddai|strong="H3035", Joel|strong="H3100", and|strong="H1121" Benaiah|strong="H1141".
44 All|strong="H3605" these|strong="H0428" men|strong="H1121" married|strong="H0802" foreign|strong="H5237" women|strong="H0802", and|strong="H1121" some|strong="H0428" of|strong="H1121" them|strong="H1992" had|strong="H1121" children|strong="H1121" with|strong="H0802" these|strong="H0428" wives|strong="H0802".