9 After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Isra’el, the cohanim and the L’vi’im have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands and their disgusting practices — the Kena‘ani, Hitti, P’rizi, Y’vusi, ‘Amoni, Mo’avi, Egyptians and Emori. ² They have taken some of the women from these nations as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has assimilated to the peoples of the lands; moreover, the officials and leaders have been the main offenders in this treachery.” ³ When I heard this, I tore my robe and tunic, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down in shock. ⁴ All who trembled at the words of the God of Isra’el assembled around me when confronted with the treachery of these exiles; and I sat there in shock until the evening offering.

⁵ At the evening offering, with my cloak and tunic torn, I got up from afflicting myself, fell on my knees, spread out my hands to Adonai my God, ⁶ and said, “My God, I am ashamed. I blush to lift my face to you, my God! For our sins tower over our heads; our guilt reaches up to heaven. ⁷ Since the times of our ancestors, we have been deeply guilty; and because of our sins, we, our kings and our cohanim have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to exile, to pillage and to disgrace, as is the case today. ⁸ Now, for a brief moment, Adonai our God has shown us the favor of allowing a remnant to escape and giving us a secure foothold in his holy place, in order for God to make things look brighter to us and revive us a little in our slavery. ⁹ For we are slaves. Yet our God has not abandoned us in our slavery, but has caused the kings of Persia to extend grace to us, reviving us, so that we can rebuild the house of our God, repair its ruins, and have a wall of defense in Y’hudah and Yerushalayim.

¹⁰ “But now, our God, what are we to say after this? For we have abandoned your mitzvot, ¹¹ which you gave us through your servants the prophets when they said, ‘The land which you are going to in order to take possession of it is a land defiled by the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, because of their disgusting practices, which have filled it with their filth from one end to the other. ¹² Therefore, you are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons; and you are not to promote their peace or prosperity ever. Only in this way will you grow strong, enjoy the good things of the land and leave it as a lasting inheritance to your children.’ ¹³ Now, after all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our deep guilt — and even so, you, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have given us a surviving remnant — ¹⁴ are we to break your mitzvot again by making marriages with the peoples who have these disgusting practices? Won’t you become so angry with us that you would destroy us completely, so that there would be no surviving remnant and no one who escapes? ¹⁵ Adonai, God of Isra’el! You are just; yet we have been left a surviving remnant that has escaped, as is the case today. Look, we are before you in our guilt; because of it, no one can stand in your presence.”

10 While ‘Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrated before the house of God, a huge crowd of Isra’el’s men, women and children gathered around him; and the people were weeping bitterly. ² Sh’khanyah the son of Yechi’el, one of the descendants of ‘Eilam, spoke up and said to ‘Ezra, “We have acted treacherously toward our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Isra’el. ³ We should make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives, along with their children, in obedience to the advice of Adonai and of those who tremble at the mitzvah of our God; let us act in accordance with the Torah. ⁴ Stand up, and do your duty, for we are with you; take courage, and do it!”

⁵ ‘Ezra stood up, and he made the chief cohanim, the L’vi’im and all Isra’el swear that they would act according to what had been said; and they took the oath. ⁶ ‘Ezra then left his place in front of the house of God and went to the room of Y’hochanan the son of Elyashiv. After going there, he neither ate food nor drank water; because he was mourning over the treachery of the exiles.

⁷ A proclamation was issued throughout Y’hudah and Yerushalayim that all the exiles were to assemble in Yerushalayim; ⁸ and that whoever didn’t come within three days, in answer to the summons from the officials and leaders, would forfeit all he owned and himself be banished from the community of the exiles. ⁹ All the men of Y’hudah and Binyamin assembled in Yerushalayim within the three days. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open place in front of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. ¹⁰ ‘Ezra the cohen stood up and addressed them: “You have acted treacherously by marrying foreign women and have thus increased Isra’el’s guilt. ¹¹ Now, therefore, make confession to Adonai, the God of your ancestors; and do what will please him by separating yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.” ¹² In response, the whole assembly cried aloud, “Yes, our duty is to do as you have said. ¹³ But there are many people, and it’s the rainy season — we can’t stay out here in the open. Also, it isn’t the work of a day or two; for there are many of us who have committed this crime. ¹⁴ Let our leaders represent the whole community; and let all those in our cities who have married foreign women appear at prearranged times, accompanied by the elders and judges of each city; until our God’s fierce anger over this has been turned away from us.” ¹⁵ Only Yonatan the son of ‘Asah’el and Yachz’yah the son of Tikvah, supported by Meshulam and Shabtai the Levi, opposed this.

¹⁶ The exiles did as agreed. ‘Ezra the cohen chose heads of fathers’ clans by name, and they began their sessions to look into the matter on the first day of the tenth month. ¹⁷ They finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.

¹⁸ Among the cohanim were found these who had married foreign women: of the sons of Yeshua the son of Yotzadak and his brothers: Ma‘aseiyah, Eli‘ezer, Yariv and G’dalyah. ¹⁹ They promised that they would send their wives away; and since they were guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt. ²⁰ Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Z’vadyah; ²¹ of the sons of Harim: Ma‘aseiyah, Eliyah, Sh’ma‘yah, Yechi’el and ‘Uziyah; ²² of the sons of Pash’chur: Elyo‘einai, Ma‘aseiyah, Yishma‘el, N’tan’el, Yozavad and El‘asah.

²³ Of the L’vi’im: Yozavad, Shim‘i, K’layah (also known as K’lita), P’tachyah, Y’hudah and Eli‘ezer.

²⁴ Of the singers: Elyashiv.

Of the gatekeepers: Shalum, Telem and Uri.

²⁵ Of Isra’el: of the descendants of Par‘osh: Ramyah, Yizziyah, Malkiyah, Miyamin, El‘azar, Malkiyah and B’nayah; ²⁶ of the descendants of ‘Eilam: Mattanyah, Z’kharyah, Yechi’el, ‘Avdi, Yeremot and Eliyah; ²⁷ of the descendants of Zatu: Elyo‘einai, Elyashiv, Mattanyah, Yeremot, Zavad and ‘Aziza; ²⁸ of the descendants of B’vai: Y’hochanan, Hananyah, Zabai and ‘Atlai; ²⁹ of the descendants of Bani: Meshulam, Malukh, ‘Adayah, Yashuv, Sh’al and Ramot; ³⁰ of the descendants of Pachat-Mo’av: ‘Adna, K’lal, B’nayah, Ma‘aseiyah, Mattanyah, B’tzal’el, Binui and M’nasheh; ³¹ of the descendants of Harim: Eli‘ezer, Yishiyah, Malkiyah, Sh’ma‘yah, Shim‘on, ³² Binyamin, Malukh, and Sh’maryah; ³³ of the descendants of Hashum: Matnai, Matatah, Zavad, Elifelet, Yeremai, M’nasheh and Shim‘i; ³⁴ of the descendants of Bani: Ma‘adai, ‘Amram, U’el, ³⁵ B’nayah, Bedyah, K’luhu, ³⁶ Vanyah, M’remot, Elyashiv, ³⁷ Mattanyah, Matnai, Ya‘asai, ³⁸ Bani, Binui, Shim‘i, ³⁹ Shelemyah, Natan, ‘Adayah, ⁴⁰ Makhnavdai, Shashai, Sharai, ⁴¹ ‘Azar’el, Shelemyah, Sh’maryah, ⁴² Shalum, Amaryah and Yosef; and ⁴³ of the descendants of N’vo: Ye‘i’el, Mattityah, Zavad, Z’vina, Yadai, Yo’el and B’nayah.

⁴⁴ All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had had children.

21 Then Yeshua looked up, and as he watched the rich placing their gifts into the Temple offering-boxes, ² he also saw a poor widow put in two small coins. ³ He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ For they, out of their wealth, have contributed money they could easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given all she had to live on.”

⁵ As some people were remarking about the Temple, how beautiful its stonework and memorial decorations were, he said, ⁶ “The time is coming when what you see here will be totally destroyed — not a single stone will be left standing!” ⁷ They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” ⁸ He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t panic. For these things must happen first, but the end will not follow immediately.”

¹⁰ Then he told them, “Peoples will fight each other, nations will fight each other, ¹¹ there will be great earthquakes, there will be epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven. ¹² But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me, ¹³ but it will prove an opportunity for you to bear witness. ¹⁴ So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand; ¹⁵ for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; some of you they will have put to death; ¹⁷ and everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will be lost. ¹⁹ By standing firm you will save your lives.

²⁰ “However, when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed. ²¹ Those in Y’hudah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not enter it. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the Tanakh will come true. ²³ What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment on the people. ²⁴ Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.

²⁵ “There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea, ²⁶ as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.^{[a] 27} And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.^{[b] 28} When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, Indeed, all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you are to know that the Kingdom of God is near! ³² Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before it has all happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.

³⁴ “But keep watch on yourselves, or your hearts will become dulled by carousing, drunkenness and the worries of everyday living, and that Day will be sprung upon you suddenly like a trap! ³⁵ For it will close in on everyone, no matter where they live, throughout the whole world. ³⁶ Stay alert, always praying that you will have the strength to escape all the things that will happen and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”

³⁷ Yeshua spent his days at the Temple, teaching; while at night he went out and stayed on the hill called the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ All the people would rise with the dawn to come and hear him at the Temple courts.