1 And after these things were accomplished, the Princes came to me, saying: The people of Israel, and the Priests and Levites are not separated from the people of the lands, and from the abominations of them, to wit, of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Pherezeite, and Jebuseite, and of the Ammonites, and Moabites, and the Ægyptians, and Amorrheites.
1 And after these things were accomplished, the princes came to me, saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, and from their abominations, namely, of the Chanaanites, and the Hethites, and the Pherezites, and the Jebusites, and the Ammonites, and the Moabites, and the Egyptians, and the Amorrhites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters to them and to their sons, and have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. The hand also of the Princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and they have mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands. And the hand of the princes and magistrates hath been first in this transgression.
3 And when I had heard this word, I rent my cloak and my coat, and plucked off the hairs of my head and beard, and sat mourning.
3 And when I had heard this word, I rent my mantle and my coat, and plucked off the hairs of my head and my beard, and I sat down mourning.
4 And there assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, for the transgression of them that were come from the captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.
4 And there were assembled to me all that feared the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that were come from the captivity, and I sat sorrowful, until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose out of my affliction, and my cloak and coat being rent I fell upon my knees, and spread forth my hands to our Lord my God,
5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my affliction, and having rent my mantle and my garment, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God,
6 and said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: because our iniquities are multiplied over our head, and our sins have grown even unto heaven.
6 And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to thee: for our iniquities are multiplied over our heads, and our sins are grown up even unto heaven,
7 from the days of our fathers: yea and we ourselves also have sinned grievously unto this day, and in our iniquities have we been delivered, ourselves, and our kings, and our Priests, into the hand of the kings of the lands, and into the sword, and into captivity, and into spoil, and into confusion of countenance, as also at this day.
7 From the days of our fathers: and we ourselves also have sinned grievously unto this day, and for our iniquities we and our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is at this day.
8 And now as it were a little, and for a moment was our prayer made before the Lord our God, that a remnant might be left us, and a nail might be given us in his holy place, and that our God would illuminate our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage.
8 And now as a little, and for a moment has our prayer been made before the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and give us a pin in his holy place, and that our God would enlighten our eyes, and would give us a little life in our bondage.
9 Because we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God did not forsake us, but he inclined mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to give us life, & to advance the house of our God, & to build the desolations thereof, & to give us a hedge in Juda & Jerusalem.
9 For we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God hath not forsaken us, but hath extended mercy upon us before the king of the Persians, to give us life, and to set up the house of our God, and to rebuild the desolations thereof, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.
10 And now what shall we say, o our God, after these things? Because we have forsaken thy commandments,
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 which thou hast commanded in the hand of thy servants the Prophets, saying: The land, to the which you enter to possess it, is an unclean land, according to the uncleanness of peoples, and of other lands, by the abominations of them that have filled it from mouth unto mouth in their coinquination.
11 Which thou hast commanded by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying: The land which you go to possess, is an unclean land, according to the uncleanness of the people, and of other lands, with their abominations, who have filled it from mouth to mouth with their filth.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and their daughters take not for your sons, and do ye not seek their peace, and their prosperity for ever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat the goods that are of the land, and may have your children heirs for ever.
12 ¹Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, and take not their daughters for your sons, and seek not their peace, nor their prosperity forever: that you may be strengthened, and may eat the good things of the land, and may have your children your heirs forever.
13 And after all things that come upon us in our most wicked works, and our most great sin, because thou our God hast delivered us from our iniquity, and hast given us health as it is at this day,
13 And after all that is come upon us, for our most wicked deeds, and our great sin, seeing that thou our God hast saved us from our iniquity, and hast given us a deliverance as at this day,
14 that we shall not turn away, & make frustrate thy commandments, neither should join matrimonies with the peoples of these abominations. Why art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant unto salvation?
14 That we should not turn away, nor break thy commandments, nor join in marriage with the people of these abominations. Art thou angry with us unto utter destruction, not to leave us a remnant to be saved?
15 Lord God of Israel thou art just: because we are left, which should be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee upon this.
15 O Lord God of Israel, thou art just: for we remain yet to be saved as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sin, for there can be no standing before thee in this matter.