1 And at Ezra's praying, and at his making confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there have been gathered unto him out of Israel an assembly very great-- men and women and children--for the people have wept, multiplying weeping.
2 And Shechaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answereth and saith to Ezra, `We-- we have trespassed against our God, and we settle strange women of the peoples of the land; and now there is hope for Israel concerning this,
3 and now, let us make a covenant with our God, to cause all the women to go out, and that which is born of them, by the counsel of the Lord, and of those trembling at the command of our God, and according to law it is done;
4 rise, for on thee [is] the matter, and we [are] with thee; be strong, and do.'