3 As soon as I heard this, I ^ktore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and ^lsat appalled. 4 Then all who ^mtrembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat ⁿappalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the ⁿevening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment ^kand my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees ^oand spread out my hands to the Lord my God,

The People Confess Their Sin

1 ^jWhile Ezra prayed and ^kmade confession, weeping and ^lcasting himself down ^mbefore the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.