以斯拉記 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
以斯拉的禱告
9 這些事以後，眾首領來告訴我說：「以色列民眾、祭司和利未人還沒有與當地各族分開，他們仍隨從迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人和亞摩利人的可憎行為。 2 他們為自己和自己的兒子娶這些人的女兒為妻，使聖潔的民族與當地的人混雜。首領和官員是這種不忠之事的罪魁。」 3 一聽到這些，我便撕裂衣服和外袍，拔掉頭髮和鬍鬚，驚懼地坐下。 4 聽了以色列上帝的話而戰抖的人都聚集在我周圍，因為流亡歸來的人不忠。我驚懼地坐在那裡，直到獻晚祭的時候。
5 獻晚祭的時候，我滿懷憂傷地起來，穿著那撕裂的衣服和外袍，雙膝跪下，向我的上帝耶和華伸出雙手， 6 說：「我的上帝啊，我羞愧難當，不敢抬頭看你，因為我們的惡行滅頂，我們的罪惡滔天。 7 從我們的祖先開始到現在，我們罪惡深重。由於我們的罪惡，我們、我們的君王和祭司都落在外邦君王的手中，被他們殺害、俘虜、搶掠和羞辱，如同今天的光景。 8 但如今我們的上帝耶和華暫且施恩於我們，為我們存留一些餘民，使我們安然住在這聖潔之地。你使我們眼睛明亮，在我們受奴役時賜給我們一點生機。 9 雖然我們是奴隸，我們的上帝卻沒有離棄受奴役的我們，祂在波斯眾王面前施恩於我們，使我們復興、得以重建毀壞的上帝的殿，讓我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有護牆。
10 「如今，我們的上帝啊，事已至此，我們還能說什麼呢？因為我們背棄了你的誡命， 11 就是你藉著你的僕人——眾先知給我們的吩咐，『你們將要佔領的那片土地被當地人的污穢玷污，他們的可憎行徑使那裡充滿污穢。 12 所以不要讓你們的女兒嫁給他們的兒子，也不要讓你們的兒子娶他們的女兒。永不可為他們謀求平安和好處。這樣，你們就可強盛，吃那裡的美好出產，也可將那地方留給你們的子孫作為永久的產業。』
13 「雖然因為我們的惡行和大罪，這一切事情臨到我們，但我們的上帝啊，你給我們的懲罰比我們該受的輕多了，你還施恩給我們留下這些餘民。 14 我們豈能再違背你的誡命，與這些行為可憎的人通婚？若我們這樣行，你豈不發怒毀滅我們，使我們無一倖免嗎？ 15 以色列的上帝耶和華啊，你是公義的，所以我們這些餘民今天才得以倖存。看啊，我們在你面前身負罪惡，因而無人能在你面前站立得住。」
Ezra 9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Israel’s Intermarriage with Pagans
9 After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said: “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves(A) from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices(B) are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.(C) 2 Indeed, the Israelite men[a] have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed(D) has become mixed with the surrounding peoples.(E) The leaders[b] and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”(F) 3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.(G)
Ezra’s Confession
4 Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel(H) gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles,(I) while I sat devastated until the evening offering.(J) 5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.(K) 6 And I said:(L)
My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.(M) 7 Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our fathers until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame,(N) as it is today. 8 But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnant(O) for us and give us a stake(P) in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.(Q) 9 Though we are slaves,(R) our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings,(S) giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,(T) to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
10 Now, our God, what can we say in light of[c] this? For we have abandoned the commands 11 You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.(U) 12 So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons.(V) Never seek their peace or prosperity,(W) so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.” 13 After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have allowed us to survive[d](X)— 14 should we break Your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices?(Y) Wouldn’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us, leaving no survivors?(Z) 15 Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant(AA) today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.(AB)
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