1. Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,
2. and lodged there, and did eat no bread nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
3. And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4. and that whoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of them that were of the captivity.
5. And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.
6. And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather.
7. So Esdras arose up and said to them, you⌃ have transgressed the law and married strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8. And now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers,
9. and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.