9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying:
The people of Yisrael, and ha kohanim, and ha Levi'im, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Kenaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Yevusites, the Ammonites, the Moavites, the Mitzrites, and the Amorites.
9:2 For they have taken of their banot for themselves, and for their banim: so that the set apart seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
9:4 Then were assembled to me every one that trembled at the words of the Elohim (אלהים) of Yisrael, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to ADONAI (יהוה) , Elohai
9:6 And said, O my Elohim (אלהים), I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my Elohim (אלהים): for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.
9:7 Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our kohanim, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.
9:8 And now for a little space grace has been [shewed] from ADONAI (יהוה) Eloheinu, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his set apart place, that Eloheinu may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9:9 For we [were] bondmen; yet Eloheinu has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Paras, to give us a reviving, to set up the Beit Eloheinu, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Yehudah and in Yerushalayim.
9:10 And now, O Eloheinu, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
9:11 Which you hast commanded by thy servants the neviim, saying, The land, to which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
9:12 Now therefore give not your banot to their banim, neither take their banot to your banim, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave [it] for an inheritance to your children for ever.
9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that you Eloheinu hast punished us less than our iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this;
9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not you be angry with us till you hadst consumed [us], so that [there should be] no remnant nor escaping?
9:15 O ADONAI (יהוה) Elohim (אלהים) of Yisrael, you [art] righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.