What Is My Purpose? Learning to Love God and Love Others

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New International Version

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      <div class="chapter ch9" data-usfm="EZR.9.5+EZR.9.6+EZR.9.7+EZR.9.8+EZR.9.9+EZR.9.10+EZR.9.11+EZR.9.12+EZR.9.13+EZR.9.14+EZR.9.15">
         <div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EZR.9.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> my God </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.9.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">and prayed:</span></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.9.6"><span class="content">&#8220;I am too ashamed 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. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EZR.9.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.</span></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EZR.9.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EZR.9.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">&#8220;But now, for a brief moment, the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">9:8 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">a foothold</span></span></span><span class="content"> in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.9.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness 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, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.</span></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.9.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.9.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">&#8220;But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EZR.9.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: &#8216;The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EZR.9.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">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 at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="pm"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EZR.9.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EZR.9.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">&#8220;What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EZR.9.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EZR.9.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, the God of Israel, you are righteous! 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 in your presence.&#8221;</span></span></div>
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The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

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      <div class="chapter ch10" data-usfm="EZR.10">
         <div class="label">10</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">The People&#8217;s Confession of Sin</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="EZR.10.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites&#8212;men, women and children&#8212;gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="EZR.10.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, &#8220;We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="EZR.10.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EZR.10.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="EZR.10.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="EZR.10.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.10.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="EZR.10.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="EZR.10.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EZR.10.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="EZR.10.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="EZR.10.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="EZR.10.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, &#8220;You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel&#8217;s guilt. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EZR.10.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Now honor</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">10:11 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">Now make confession to</span></span></span><span class="content"> the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="EZR.10.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="EZR.10.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: &#8220;You are right! We must do as you say. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="EZR.10.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="EZR.10.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EZR.10.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="EZR.10.15"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="EZR.10.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="EZR.10.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Those Guilty of Intermarriage</span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="EZR.10.17"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EZR.10.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Among the descendants of the priests, the following had married foreign women:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="EZR.10.18"><span class="content">From the descendants of Joshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah. </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="EZR.10.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">(They all gave their hands in pledge to put away their wives, and for their guilt they each presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.)</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="EZR.10.19"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EZR.10.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Immer:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EZR.10.20"><span class="content">Hanani and Zebadiah.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="EZR.10.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="EZR.10.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Harim:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="EZR.10.21"><span class="content">Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel and Uzziah.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="EZR.10.21"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="EZR.10.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Pashhur:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="EZR.10.22"><span class="content">Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="EZR.10.22"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="EZR.10.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">Among the Levites:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="EZR.10.23"><span class="content">Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="EZR.10.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="EZR.10.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">From the musicians:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="EZR.10.24"><span class="content">Eliashib.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="EZR.10.24"><span class="content">From the gatekeepers:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="EZR.10.24"><span class="content">Shallum, Telem and Uri.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="EZR.10.24"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="EZR.10.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">And among the other Israelites:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="EZR.10.25"><span class="content">From the descendants of Parosh:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="EZR.10.25"><span class="content">Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="EZR.10.25"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="EZR.10.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Elam:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="EZR.10.26"><span class="content">Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="EZR.10.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="EZR.10.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Zattu:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="EZR.10.27"><span class="content">Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="EZR.10.27"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="EZR.10.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Bebai:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="EZR.10.28"><span class="content">Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai and Athlai.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="EZR.10.28"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="EZR.10.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Bani:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="EZR.10.29"><span class="content">Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal and Jeremoth.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="EZR.10.29"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="EZR.10.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Pahath-Moab:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="EZR.10.30"><span class="content">Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="EZR.10.30"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="EZR.10.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Harim:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="EZR.10.31"><span class="content">Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, </span></span><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="EZR.10.32"><span class="label">32</span><span class="content">Benjamin, Malluk and Shemariah.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="EZR.10.32"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="EZR.10.33"><span class="label">33</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Hashum:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="EZR.10.33"><span class="content">Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="EZR.10.33"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="EZR.10.34"><span class="label">34</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Bani:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="EZR.10.34"><span class="content">Maadai, Amram, Uel, </span></span><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="EZR.10.35"><span class="label">35</span><span class="content">Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, </span></span><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="EZR.10.36"><span class="label">36</span><span class="content">Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, </span></span><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="EZR.10.37"><span class="label">37</span><span class="content">Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasu.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="EZR.10.37"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="EZR.10.38"><span class="label">38</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Binnui:</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">10:37,38 </span><span class="ft">See Septuagint (also 1 Esdras 9:34); Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">Jaasu </span><span class="fv">38 </span><span class="fqa">and Bani and Binnui,</span></span></span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="EZR.10.38"><span class="content">Shimei, </span></span><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="EZR.10.39"><span class="label">39</span><span class="content">Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, </span></span><span class="verse v40" data-usfm="EZR.10.40"><span class="label">40</span><span class="content">Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai, </span></span><span class="verse v41" data-usfm="EZR.10.41"><span class="label">41</span><span class="content">Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, </span></span><span class="verse v42" data-usfm="EZR.10.42"><span class="label">42</span><span class="content">Shallum, Amariah and Joseph.</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v42" data-usfm="EZR.10.42"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v43" data-usfm="EZR.10.43"><span class="label">43</span><span class="content">From the descendants of Nebo:</span></span></div><div class="li2"><span class="verse v43" data-usfm="EZR.10.43"><span class="content">Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v43" data-usfm="EZR.10.43"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v44" data-usfm="EZR.10.44"><span class="label">44</span><span class="content">All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">10:44 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">and they sent them away with their children</span></span></span></span></div>
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What Is My Purpose? Learning to Love God and Love Others