11While Ezra prayed and 2made confession, weeping and 3casting himself down 4before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.
2
And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: 5"We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
3
Therefore 6let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and 7their children, according to the counsel of my lord [a] and of 8those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done 9according to the Law.
4
Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; 10be strong and do it."