1
Now while Ezra was praying and makingconfession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a verylargeassembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the peopleweptbitterly*.
2
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have beenunfaithful to our God and have marriedforeignwomen from the peoples of the land; yet nowthere is hope for Israel in spite of this.
3
"So now let us make a covenant with our God to putawayall the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.