³⁰ We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons,^(A)

³ Do not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,^(A)

¹⁶ and you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods.^(A)

Denunciation of Mixed Marriages

9 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.^{(A) 2} For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.”^{(B) 3} When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.^(C)

¹⁰ Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed and married foreign women and so increased the guilt of Israel. ¹¹ Now make confession to the Lord the God of your ancestors and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”^{(A) 12} Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said.

¹² Therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’^{(A) 13} After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this,^{(B) 14} shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor?^(C)