Ezra 9:1-9

Ezra Prays About Intermarriage

1After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the aLevites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands bwith their abominations, from the cCanaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 dFor they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the eholy race
Hebrew offspring
has gmixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.”
3As soon as I heard this, I htore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and isat appalled. 4Then all who jtrembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat kappalled until the evening sacrifice. 5And at the levening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment mand my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees nand spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6saying:

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities ohave risen higher than our heads, and our pguilt has qmounted up to the heavens.
7 rFrom the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great sguilt. 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, tand to utter shame, as it is today. 8But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a uremnant and to give us a vsecure hold
Hebrew nail, or tent-pin
within his holy place, that our God may xbrighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.
9 yFor we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, zbut 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
Hebrew a wall
in Judea and Jerusalem.

Malachi 2:11

11Judah has been abfaithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For acJudah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

Malachi 2:14

14 adBut you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord aewas witness between you and the wife of your youth, afto whom agyou have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
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