2
and remained there, and did not eat meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
3
And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all those who were of the captivity that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem;
4
and that whosoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders who bore rule appointed, their cattle should be seized for the use of the temple, and they themselves cast out from those who were of the captivity.
5
And in three days were all those of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.
6
And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather.
7
So Ezra arose up and said unto them, "Ye have transgressed the law in marrying foreign wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8
And now, by confessing, give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9
and do His will and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land and from the foreign women."
10
Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, "As thou hast spoken, so will we do.
11
But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather so that we cannot stand outside, and this is not the work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far,
12
therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all those of our habitations who have foreign wives come at the time appointed,