67. They and their families have intermarried with their daughters, and the holy nation has been intermixed with the land’s foreigners. The leaders and the officials have been sharing in this unlawful practice right from the start."
68. As soon as I heard about these things, I tore my clothes and my priest’s robe. I pulled out hair from my head and beard, and I sat down depressed and very sad.
69. Everyone who was moved by the word of the Lord of Israel gathered around me as I mourned over this unlawful deed, and I sat there depressed until the evening sacrifice.
70. After rising from my fast, with my clothes and priest’s robe still torn, I knelt down, stretching out my hands to the Lord, and spoke:
71. Lord, I’m ashamed and disgraced before you.
72. Our sins are greater than what we imagined. Our ignorant deeds have reached heaven.
73. From the times of our ancestors, we exist in great sin to this very day.
74. Because of our sin and our ancestors’ sin, we were handed over—with our brothers, sisters, kings, and priests—to the kings of the earth for death, exile, and plunder. We continue to bear the shame until today.