1
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself downbefore the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a verygreatcongregation of men and women and children: for the peopleweptverysore.
2
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have takenstrangewives of the people of the land: yet now there ishope in Israel concerning this thing.
3
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.