69
the people, the leaders, the priests, and the Levites had not kept themselves separate from the people in the neighboring countries of Edom, Moab, and Egypt, or from the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites. They were doing the same disgusting things which those people did.
70
God's holy people had become contaminated because Jewish men were marrying foreign women. Even the leaders and the officials had taken part in this breaking of the Law from the very beginning.
71
As soon as I heard this, I tore my clothes and my sacred robe in despair. I also tore my hair and my beard, and sat down crushed with anxiety and grief.
72
I sat there grieving about this sin until it was time for the evening sacrifice to be offered, when people began to gather around me - all those who were disturbed by what the Lord of Israel had said.
73
Then I got up from where I had been fasting, and still wearing my torn clothes, I knelt in prayer and stretched out my hands to the Lord.
74
I said, "O Lord, I am ashamed and confused in your presence.
75
Our sins tower over our heads; they reach as high as the heavens.
76
This has been true from the days of our ancestors until now; we, your people, have sinned greatly.
77
Because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors, we and our relatives, our kings, and our priests have fallen into the hands of foreign kings, and we have been slaughtered, robbed, and carried away as prisoners. We have been totally disgraced, as we still are today.
78
Now, Lord, for a short time you have shown us great mercy. You have allowed just a few of us to survive in order to carry on the name Israel here in your holy Temple.
79
You have let the light of our nation shine again, after feeding us and taking care of us during the time of our slavery.