Ezra 9

1 After these things [following the completion of these events, when these things were done] had been accomplished, the leaders [rulers, princes, captains] approached me and said, “The people of Israel [the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people], including the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and Levites [descendants of Levi, temple servants], have not kept themselves separate [set apart, distinct] from the surrounding peoples [nations, Gentiles] whose abominations [detestable practices, idolatrous customs] are like those of the Canaanites [inhabitants of Canaan, a wicked and corrupt people], Hittites [a powerful and influential tribe], Perizzites [a Canaanite tribe], Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem], Ammonites [descendants of Lot, a neighboring nation], Moabites [a nation descended from Lot], Egyptians [inhabitants of Egypt, a powerful and influential nation], and Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, known for their wickedness]. word study 2 Indeed, the Israelites [God’s chosen people] have taken some of their daughters [female children, women] as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy [set apart, sacred] seed [offspring, descendants] has been mixed [intermingled, contaminated] with the people [nations, Gentiles] of the land [earth, territory]. And the leaders [princes, rulers] and officials [magistrates, authorities] have taken the lead [been the first, initiated] in this unfaithfulness [treachery, sin]!” word study 3 When I heard [with attention and obedience] this report, I tore [rent, ripped apart] my tunic [garment, robe] and cloak [outer garment, mantle], pulled out some hair [smoothed, polished] from my head [the topmost part of the body] and beard, and sat down [dwelled, remained] in horror [desolate, devastated, deeply troubled]. word study 4 Then everyone who trembled [in reverence and fear] at the words [divine instructions, commands] of the God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob] gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness [transgression, sin] of the exiles [those carried away to captivity], while I sat [remained, dwelled] there in horror [astonishment, desolation] until the evening [sunset, end of the day] offering [sacrifice, gift to God]. word study 5 At the evening [sunset, end of the day] offering [sacrifice, gift to God], I got up [rose, stood up] from my humiliation [heaviness, affliction] with my tunic [garment, clothing] and cloak [robe, outer garment] torn [rent, ripped], and I fell [bowed, knelt] on my knees [in reverence, submission], spread out [stretched, extended] my hands [palms, arms] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] my God [Elohim, Creator], word study 6 and said: “O my God [Elohim, the supreme One], I am ashamed [to be humiliated, confounded] and embarrassed [to blush, feel guilt] to lift up my face [presence, countenance] to You, my God, because our iniquities [moral evil, sin] are higher [increased, multiplied] than our heads, and our guilt [guiltiness, trespass] has reached [grown up, risen] the heavens [the visible sky and the abode of God]. word study 7 From the days [since the time] of our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] to this day [the present time], our guilt [sinfulness, trespass] has been great [exceeding, abundant]. Because of our iniquities [sins, moral evil], we [us, ourselves] and our kings [rulers, leaders] and priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] have been delivered [handed over, given] into the hands [power, control] of the kings [rulers, monarchs] of the earth [lands, nations] and put to the sword [killed, slain] and captivity [exile, imprisonment], to pillage [plunder, spoil] and humiliation [shame, disgrace], as we are [exist, remain] this day [at this time]. word study 8 But now [at this present time], for a brief [short, little] moment [instant, fleeting second], grace [unmerited favor, divine kindness] has come from the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] to preserve [keep, spare] for us a remnant [surviving group, remaining ones] and to give us a stake [peg, nail] in His holy [set-apart, sacred] place [sanctuary, temple]. Even in our bondage [slavery, servitude], our God has given us new life [revival, restoration] and light [enlightenment, illumination] to our eyes [understanding, spiritual perception]. word study 9 Though we are [bondservants] slaves, our God [Elohim, the supreme God] has not forsaken [abandoned, loosened] us in our [state of servitude] bondage, but He has extended [stretched out, shown] to us [gracious] grace in the sight [presence, face] of the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Persia, giving us new life [revival, recovery] to rebuild [restore, erect] the house [temple, dwelling place] of our God and repair [rebuild, renovate] its ruins [desolations, waste places], and giving us a wall [fence, barrier] of protection [safety, defense] in Judah [the tribe, the region] and Jerusalem [the city, the capital]. word study 10 And now [at this present time], our God [Elohim, the supreme One], what can we say [or utter, express] after this [following these events]? For we have forsaken [abandoned, loosened] the commandments [laws, divine instructions] word study 11 that You gave [through divine instruction, commanded] through Your servants [faithful messengers, prophets] the prophets, saying: ‘The land [territory, region] that you are entering [to inhabit, possess] to possess [to take control, inherit] is a land [country, nation] polluted [defiled, contaminated] by the impurity [moral corruption, uncleanness] of its peoples [nations, communities] and the abominations [detestable practices, idolatrous acts] with which they have filled [completely occupied, saturated] it from end to end [from one extremity to the other, completely]. word study 12 Now, therefore [at this time, in this situation], do not give your daughters [female children, women] in marriage to their sons [male descendants, offspring] or take their daughters [female descendants, offspring] for your sons [male children, descendants]. Never seek [pursue, ask for] their peace [shalom, completeness, wellness] or prosperity [good, welfare, pleasant things], so that you may be strong [strengthened, courageous] and may eat [devour, consume] the good things [goodness, gladness] of the land [earth, territory, region], leaving it as an inheritance [possession, heritage] to your sons [descendants, children] forever [always, eternally].’ word study 13 After all [everything, every circumstance] that has come upon us because of our evil [wicked, morally wrong] deeds and our great [serious, severe] guilt [sin, iniquity] (though You, our God [Elohim, the supreme Judge], have punished us less [withheld from us, spared us] than our iniquities [sins, transgressions] deserve and have given us such a remnant [deliverance, survivor] as this [at this time, in this situation]), word study 14 shall we again [return to our old ways] break Your commandments [divine laws and precepts] and intermarry [join in affinity] with the peoples [nations and tribes] who commit these abominations [detestable and disgusting practices]? Would You not become so angry [enraged and displeased] with us as to wipe us out [consume and destroy], leaving no remnant [surviving group] or survivor [one who escapes]? word study 15 O LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel’s covenant], God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel, You are righteous [just, having God’s nature]! For we remain [have been spared, are left] this day as a remnant [a surviving group, a small band]. Here we are before You [in Your presence, face to face] in our guilt [sin, trespasses], though because of it [this sin, our guiltiness] no one can stand [be established, remain] before You [in Your presence].” word study