rsv Ezra:10:8-14 SEEK
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and that if any one did not come within three days ,
by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited ,
and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles .
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Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days ;
it was the ninth month ,
on the twentieth day of the month .
And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God ,
trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain .
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And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them , "
You have trespassed and married foreign women ,
and so increased the guilt of Israel .
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Now then make confession to the LORD the God of your fathers ,
and do his will ;
separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives ."
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Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice , "
It is so ;
we must do as you have said .
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But the people are many ,
and it is a time of heavy rain ;
we cannot stand in the open .
Nor is this a work for one day or for two ;
for we have greatly transgressed in this matter .
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Let our officials stand for the whole assembly ;
let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times ,
and with them the elders and judges of every city ,
till the fierce wrath of our God over this matter be averted from us ."