60. On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Theras River and arrived in Jerusalem by the Lord’s guidance. The Lord rescued us from every enemy on the way, and we arrived in Jerusalem.
61. After being there for three days, the silver and gold were weighed and handed over to the Lord’s house, to the priest Meremoth, Uriah’s son.
62. With him was Eleazar, Phinehas’ son, and with them were the Levites Jozabad, Jeshua’s son, and Moeth, Binnui’s son. The whole collection was counted and weighed, and the total weight was recorded at that very moment.
63. All those who had returned from exile offered sacrifices to the Lord God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, and twelve male goats as a well-being offering—all as a sacrifice to the Lord.
64. They delivered the king’s orders to the royal managers and to the commanders of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. These officials honored the people and the Lord’s temple.
65. After these things happened, the leaders came to me and said,
66. "The people of Israel, the rulers, the priests, and the Levites haven’t separated themselves from the impurities in the foreign neighboring peoples: the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Edomites.
67. They and their families have intermarried with their daughters, and the holy nation has been intermixed with the land’s foreigners. The leaders and the officials have been sharing in this unlawful practice right from the start."
68. As soon as I heard about these things, I tore my clothes and my priest’s robe. I pulled out hair from my head and beard, and I sat down depressed and very sad.
69. Everyone who was moved by the word of the Lord of Israel gathered around me as I mourned over this unlawful deed, and I sat there depressed until the evening sacrifice.
70. After rising from my fast, with my clothes and priest’s robe still torn, I knelt down, stretching out my hands to the Lord, and spoke:
71. Lord, I’m ashamed and disgraced before you.
72. Our sins are greater than what we imagined. Our ignorant deeds have reached heaven.
73. From the times of our ancestors, we exist in great sin to this very day.
74. Because of our sin and our ancestors’ sin, we were handed over—with our brothers, sisters, kings, and priests—to the kings of the earth for death, exile, and plunder. We continue to bear the shame until today.
75. But you, Lord, have shown to us a measure of mercy, to leave for us a descendant and honor in your holy place,
76. to uncover a light for us in the Lord’s house, and to give us nourishment in the time of our slavery.
77. Even in our servitude we weren’t forgotten, but the Lord showed us favor among the kings of the Persians