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
78. so that they’ve given us provisions, honored the Lord’s temple, and rebuilt the ruins of Zion, to give us a solid place in Judea and Jerusalem.
79. Now that we have these things, what will we say, Lord? We have violated your commandments, which you gave by your servants the prophets:
80. "The land that you are about to possess is a land polluted with the foreigners of the land. The foreigners have filled it with their impurity.