9. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the public square of the house of God trembling because of this matter and from the rains.
10. Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broke faith and married foreign women, increasing the guilt of Israel.
11. Now make a confession to Yahweh the God of your ancestors and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.”
12. Then all the assembly answered with a great voice and said, “It is so. We must do according to your words.
13. But the people are many, and it is the time of rain; we are unable to stand outside. The task is not for one day or two, for we greatly rebelled in this matter.