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.
81. So don’t give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and don’t take their daughters for your sons.
82. Don’t seek at any time to make a peace treaty with them, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and pass it on as an inheritance to your children forever."
83. All that has happened to us has resulted from our evil deeds and our great sins.