1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. Many Bible Versions
2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Many Bible Versions
3Now 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. Many Bible Versions
4Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. Many Bible Versions
5Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware. Many Bible Versions
6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. Many Bible Versions
7And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; Many Bible Versions
8And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. Many Bible Versions
9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. Many Bible Versions
10And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Many Bible Versions
11Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Many Bible Versions
12Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. Many Bible Versions
13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. Many Bible Versions
14Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us. Many Bible Versions
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. Many Bible Versions
16And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. Many Bible Versions
17And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. Many Bible Versions
18And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. Many Bible Versions
19And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. Many Bible Versions
20And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. Many Bible Versions
21And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. Many Bible Versions
22And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. Many Bible Versions
23Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. Many Bible Versions
24Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. Many Bible Versions
25Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. Many Bible Versions
26And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. Many Bible Versions
27And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. Many Bible Versions
28Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. Many Bible Versions
29And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth. Many Bible Versions
30And of the sons of Pahath–moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. Many Bible Versions
31And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Many Bible Versions
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. Many Bible Versions
33Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. Many Bible Versions
34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel, Many Bible Versions
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, Many Bible Versions
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Many Bible Versions
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau, Many Bible Versions
38And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, Many Bible Versions
39And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, Many Bible Versions
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Many Bible Versions
41Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, Many Bible Versions
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. Many Bible Versions
43Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah. Many Bible Versions
44All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children. Many Bible Versions