And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and {when} he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for {your} pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, {that they are} the enemies of the cross of Christ:

{And} lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and {that} I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, {saying}, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. {cursed: or, reviled}

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. {invade...: or, cut them in pieces}

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Then Daniel, whose name {was} Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream {be} to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed {us}, so that {there should be} no remnant nor escaping?

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. {set a mark: Heb. mark a mark}

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. {my very...: Heb. the walls of my heart}

And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.