Esdras Mourns Intermarriage
Ezra 9
Esdras learns that the people, priests, and Levites have intermarried with the surrounding nations and mingled the holy seed with them, and he tears his garments, plucks his hair, and sits in mourning. At the evening sacrifice he falls on his knees and offers a prayer confessing Israel's long history of trespass and acknowledging the Lord's mercy in preserving a remnant despite their guilt.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHEN these things were done, the chiefs came to me and said, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the neighboring tribes. In their abominations, the Ethites, the Pherezites, the Jebnsites, the Ammonite’s, the Moabites, and the Moserites, and the Amorites, are the same with the Chananites.
BrentonAnd when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, even the Chananite, the Ethite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.
GreekΚαὶ ὡς ἐτελέσθη ταῦτα, ἤγγισαν πρὸς μὲ οἱ ἄρχοντες, λέγοντες, οὐκ ἐχωρίσθη ὁ λαὸς Ἰσραὴλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἀπὸ λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν, τῷ Χανανὶ ὁ Ἐθὶ, ὁ Φερεζὶ, ὁ Ἰεβουσὶ, ὁ Ἀμμωνὶ, ὁ Μωαβὶ, καὶ ὁ Μοσερὶ, καὶ ὁ Ἀμοῤῥὶ,
KJVNow when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
JPSNow when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: ‘The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2
ThomsonFor they have taken some of their daughters for themselves, and their sons; and the holy seed is mingled with the tribes of the neighbouring regions. And the hand of the chiefs is principally concerned in this transgression.
BrentonFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers has been first in this transgression.
Greekὅτι ἐλάβοσαν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν· καὶ παρήχθη σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐν λαοῖς τῶν γαιῶν, καὶ χεὶρ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν τῇ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ.
KJVFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
JPSFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.’
3
ThomsonAnd when I heard this I rent my garments, and started up and tore the hair of my head and my beard. Then I sat down mourning.
BrentonAnd when I heard this thing, I rent my garments, and trembled, and plucked some of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.
GreekΚαὶ ὡς ἤκουσα τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, διέῤῥηξα τὰ ἱμάτιά μου, καὶ ἐπαλλόμην, καὶ ἔτιλλον ἀπὸ τῶν τριχῶν τῆς κεφαλῆς μου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πώγωνός μου, καὶ ἐκαθήμην ἠρεμάζων.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 appalled.
4
ThomsonAnd there assembled unto me everyone who, in the defection of the captivity, continued to follow the word of the God of Israel: but as for me, I continued sitting disconsolate, till the evening sacrifice.
BrentonThen there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.
GreekΚαὶ συνήχθησαν πρὸς μὲ πᾶς ὁ διώκων λόγον Θεοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ τῆς ἀποικίας· κᾀγὼ καθήμενος ἠρεμάζων ἕως τῆς θυσίας τῆς ἑσπερινῆς.
KJVThen were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
JPSThen were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity; and I sat appalled until the evening offering.
5
ThomsonAnd at the evening sacrifice I arose from my humiliation. Having rent my garments, I rose up, and fell upon my knees, and spreading forth my hands to the Lord God,
BrentonAnd at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had rent my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,
GreekΚαὶ ἐν θυσίᾳ τῇ ἑσπερινῇ ἀνέστην ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεώς μου· καὶ ἐν τῷ διαῤῥήξαί με τὰ ἱμάτιά μου, καὶ ἐπαλλόμην, καὶ κλίνω ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατά μου, καὶ ἐκπετάζω τὰς χεῖράς μου πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν,
KJVAnd 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 unto the LORD my God,
JPSAnd at the evening offering I arose up from my fasting, even with my garment and my mantle rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God;
6
ThomsonI said: O Lord, I blush, and am ashamed to lift up, O my God, my face to Thee; because our iniquities are multiplied over our head, and our transgressions are heaped up to heaven.
Brentonand I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded, O my God, to lift up my face to thee: for our transgressions have abounded over our head, and our trespasses have increased even to heaven.
Greekκαὶ εἶπα, Κύριε, ἠσχύνθην καὶ ἐνετράπην τοῦ ὑψῶσαι, Θεέ μου, τὸ πρόσωπόν μου πρὸς σὲ, ὅτι αἱ ἀνομίαι ἡμῶν ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς ἡμῶν, καὶ αἱ πλημμέλειαι ἡμῶν ἐμεγαλύνθησαν ἕως εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.
KJVAnd said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
JPSand I said: ‘O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.
7
ThomsonFrom the days of our fathers we are in great transgression, even to this day. And for our iniquities, we and our kings and our children, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the nations, to the sword and to captivity, and to spoiling, and to confusion of face, as at this day.
BrentonFrom the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass until this day: and because of our iniquities we, and our kings, and our children, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the Gentiles by the sword, and by captivity, and by spoil, and with shame of our face, as at this day.
GreekἈπὸ ἡμερῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ἐσμὲν ἐν πλημμελείᾳ μεγάλῃ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης· καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀνομίαις ἡμῶν παρεδόθημεν ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς ἡμῶν καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ἡμῶν ἐν χειρὶ βασιλέων τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ, καὶ ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ, καιὶ ἐν διαρπαγῇ, καὶ ἐν αἰσχύνῃ προσώπου ἡμῶν, ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη.
KJVSince the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, 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.
JPSSince the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to spoiling, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8
ThomsonNow, though our God hath had compassion on us, so as to suffera remnant of us to escape, and to give us a fixture in the place of His sanctuary, that He may enlighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage;—
BrentonAnd now our God has dealt mercifully with us, so as to leave us to escape, and to give us an establishment in the place of his sanctuary, to enlighten our eyes, and to give a little quickening in our servitude.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἐπιεικεύσατο ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν τοῦ καταλιπεῖν ἡμῖν εἰς σωτηρίαν, καὶ δοῦναι ἡμῖν στήριγμα ἐν τόπῳ ἁγιάσματος αὐτοῦ, τοῦ φωτίσαι ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμῶν, καὶ δοῦναι ζωοποίησιν μικρὰν ἐν τῇ δουλείᾳ ἡμῶν.
KJVAnd now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
JPSAnd now for a little moment grace hath been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9
ThomsonThough we are slaves, the Lord our God hath not quite forsaken us, but hath extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving by their raising up the house of our God, and repairing the desolations thereof, and giving us an enclosure in Juda and Jerusalem.
BrentonFor we are slaves, yet in our servitude the Lord our God has not deserted us; and he has extended favour to us in the sight of the kings of the Persians, to give us a quickening, that they should raise up the house of our God, and restore the desolate places of it, and to give us a fence in Juda and Jerusalem.
GreekὍτι δοῦλοι ἐσμὲν, καὶ ἐν τῇ δουλείᾳ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν ἡμᾶς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν· καὶ ἔκλινεν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἔλεος ἐνώπιον βασιλέων Περσῶν, δοῦναι ἡμῖν ζωοποίησιν τοῦ ὑψῶσαι αὐτοὺς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀναστῆσαι τὰ ἔρημα αὐτῆς, καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι ἡμῖν φραγμὸν ἐν Ἰούδα καὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVFor we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
JPSFor we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a fence in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10
ThomsonWhat must we say, O our God? After this we forsook the commandments which Thou gavest us by the ministry of Thy servants, the prophets, saying,
BrentonWhat shall we say, our God, after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
GreekΤί εἴπωμεν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν μετὰ τοῦτο; ὅτι ἐγκατελίπομεν ἐντολάς σου,
KJVAnd now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
JPSAnd now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken Thy commandments,
11
ThomsonThe land which you are going to possess, is a land subject to change by the removal of the people of the nations for their abominations, with the filth of which they have filled it from one end to the other;
Brentonwhich thou hast given us by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, into which ye go to inherit it, is a land subject to disturbance by the removal of the people of the nations for their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to the other by their uncleannesses.
Greekἃς ἔδωκας ἡμῖν ἐν χειρὶ δούλων σου τῶν προφητῶν, λέγων, ἡ γῆ εἰς ἣν εἰσπορεύεσθε κληρονομῆσαι αὐτὴν, γῆ μετακινουμένη ἐστὶν ἐν μετακινήσει λαῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν, ὧν ἔπλησαν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ στόματος ἐπὶ στόμα ἐν ἀκαθαρσίαις αὐτῶν.
KJVWhich thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto 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.
JPSwhich Thou hast commanded by Thy servants the prophets, saying: The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12
Thomsonnow therefore, give not your daughters to their sons, nor take any of their daughters for your sons; nor shall you seek their peace or their welfare forever, that you may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.
BrentonAnd now give not your daughters to their sons, and take not of their daughters for your sons, neither shall ye seek their peace or their good for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and transmit it as an inheritance to your children for ever.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν μὴ δότε τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῶν μὴ λάβητε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐκζητήσετε εἰρήνην αὐτῶν καὶ ἀγαθὸν αὐτῶν ἕως αἰῶνος, ὅπως ἐνισχύσητε, καὶ φάγητε τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς, καὶ κληροδοτήσητε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν ἕως αἰῶνος.
KJVNow therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, 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.
JPSNow therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity 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.
13
ThomsonNow after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for this our great transgression; though there is no God like our God; though Thou hast blotted out our iniquities and given us deliverance,
BrentonAnd after all that is come upon us because of our evil deeds, and our great trespass, it is clear that there is none such as our God, for thou hast lightly visited our iniquities, and given us deliverance;
GreekΚαὶ μετὰ πᾶν τὸ ἐρχόμενον ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν ποιήμασιν ἡμῶν τοῖς πονηροῖς καὶ ἐν πλημμελείᾳ ἡμῶν τῇ μεγάλῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐκούφισας ἡμῶν τὰς ἀνομίας, καὶ ἔδωκας ἡμῖν σωτηρίαν·
KJVAnd after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
JPSAnd after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,
14
Thomsonyet we have returned to break Thy commandments, and to intermarry with the people of these regions. Be not provoked against us to our utter destruction, so that not a remnant may escape.
Brentonwhereas we have repeatedly broken thy commandments, and intermarried with the people of the lands: be not very angry with us to our utter destruction, so that there should be no remnant or escaping one.
GreekὍτι ἐπεστρέψαμεν διασκεδάσαι ἐντολάς σου, καὶ ἐπιγαμβρεῦσαι τοῖς λαοῖς τῶν γαιῶν· μὴ παροξυνθῇς ἐν ἡμῖν ἕως συντελείας, τοῦ μὴ εἶναι ἐγκατάλειμμα καὶ διασωζόμενον.
KJVShould we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
JPS—
15
ThomsonO Lord God of Israel, Thou art gracious; for a remnant of us have escaped, as at this day. Behold we are before Thee in our transgressions, though there is no standing before Thee for this.
BrentonO Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we remain yet escaped, as at this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee on this account.
GreekΚύριε ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, δίκαιος σὺ, ὅτι κατελείφθημεν διασωζόμενοι, ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη· ἰδοὺ ἡμεις ἐναντίον σου ἐν πλημμελείαις ἡμῶν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι στῆναι ἐνώπιόν σου ἐπὶ τούτῳ.
KJVO LORD God of Israel, thou 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.
JPSO LORD, the God of Israel, Thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day; behold, we are before Thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before Thee because of this.’