1 Esdras 9:10-12

Revised Standard Version

¹⁰ Then all the multitude shouted and said with a loud voice, “We will do as you have said. ¹¹ But the multitude is great and it is winter, and we are not able to stand in the open air. This is not a work we can do in one day or two, for we have sinned too much in these things. ¹² so let the leaders of the multitude stay, and let all those in our settlements who have foreign wives come at the time appointed,