²³ In those days I also saw Jews who ^(A)had married women of ^(B)Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Intermarriage with Pagans

9 When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not ^(A)separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, ^(B)with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. ² For they have ^(C)taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the ^(D)holy seed is ^(E)mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this ^[a]trespass.”

³⁰ We would not give ^(A)our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

¹⁰ Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have ^[a]transgressed and ^[b]have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel.

^14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ^(B)what ^[a]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[b]communion has light with darkness?