3
Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as thou shalt advise:
4
arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let be done according to the law. Rise up, for the matter upon thee; and we with thee: be strong and do.
5
Then Esdras arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, and Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word: and they swore.
6
And Esdras rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Joanan the son of Elisub; he even went thither: he ate no bread, and drank no water; for he mourned over the unfaithfulness of the captivity.
7
And they made proclamation throughout Juda and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, ,
8
Every one who shall not arrive within three days, as the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity.
9
So all the men of Juda and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This the ninth month: on the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm.
10
And Esdras the priest arose, and said to them, Ye have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel.
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Now therefore give praise to the Lord God of our fathers, and do that which is pleasing in his sight: and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange wives.
12
Then all the congregation answered and said, This thy word powerful upon us to do it.
13
But the people numerous, and the season stormy, and there is no power to stand without, and the work is more than enough for one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter.