A Great Trespass.

Ezra 9.

Now when these things were done, the princes came unto me, saying, The Seed of Jacob, the Priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the Lands:

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the Set Apart Seed have mingled themselves with the people of those Lands: yea, the hand of the Princes, and the hands of the Rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head, and of my beard, and sat down astonished, and dismayed.

Unto YAH, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped even unto this DAY: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses:

Since the DAYS of our fathers have we been in a Great Trespass, even unto this DAY; and for our iniquities have we, our Kings, and our Priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the Lands, to the sword, to captivity, to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this DAY

Unto YAH, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee: for my iniquities are increased over mine head, and my trespass is grown up unto the Heavens.

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their ways or their wealth for ever: even so, that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the Land, and leave it for an inheritance to thy children, for ever.   

Unto YAH, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy Commandments.