“I am too ashamed^(P) and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.^{(Q) 7} From the days of our ancestors^(R) until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword^(S) and captivity,^(T) to pillage and humiliation^(U) at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.

⁸ “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious^(V) in leaving us a remnant^(W) and giving us a firm place^[a](X) in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes^(Y) and a little relief in our bondage. ⁹ Though we are slaves,^(Z) our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness^(AA) in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,^(AB) and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

¹⁰ “But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands^{(AC) 11} you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering^(AD) to possess is a land polluted^(AE) by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices^(AF) they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. ¹² Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them^(AG) at any time, that you may be strong^(AH) and eat the good things^(AI) of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’^(AJ)

¹³ “What has happened to us is a result of our evil^(AK) deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved^(AL) and have given us a remnant like this. ¹⁴ Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry^(AM) with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us,^(AN) leaving us no remnant^(AO) or survivor? ¹⁵ Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous!^(AP) We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand^(AQ) in your presence.^(AR)”

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,^(C) who keeps his covenant of love^(D) with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear^(E) the prayer^(F) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess^(G) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly^(H) toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸ “Remember^(I) the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter^(J) you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather^(K) them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’^(L)

¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.^{(M) 11} Lord, let your ear be attentive^(N) to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor^(O) in the presence of this man.”