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

The People Confess Their Sin

1 While Ezra prayed and made ^sconfession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.