Ezra 9: Ezra's Prayer of Confession

Leaders told Ezra that many of the people, priests, and Levites had not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands and their abominations, but had married their daughters. Ezra tore his garment and robe and sat appalled until the evening offering. Then he fell on his knees, spread out his hands to Yahweh, and confessed the sins of the people. He praised God for leaving a remnant and showing loving kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia, and he admitted that no one could stand before God in their guilt.

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Bible:

Read Ezra 9

World English Bible · 15 verses

¹ Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ “Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land to which you go to possess is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ shall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Ezra 9 · Preschool

Ezra Prays

Name Date

Color Ezra praying on his knees. He told God he was sorry for the people's sin.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”

Ezra 9:15 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Ezra knelt and prayed. He told God that the people had done wrong. When we do wrong, we can tell God we are sorry.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ezra 9 · Grade 4

A Prayer of Confession

Name Date

Read and Think

Some leaders came to Ezra. They said many people had not kept apart from the ways of the nations around them. They had married into those families, and leaders had been first in this trespass. God had warned in the law that such marriages would turn Israel's hearts to other gods.

Ezra tore his garment and robe, pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat appalled. All who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered to him. At the evening offering, he fell on his knees and spread out his hands to Yahweh.

Ezra did not say they but we. He confessed that their iniquities had risen over their heads. He said God had punished them less than they deserved. God had left some of them alive. God had shown them kindness through the kings of Persia. He asked whether they would again break God's commandments, and admitted that no one could stand before God in their guilt.

Show What You Know

Who had been first in this trespass?
What had God warned such marriages would do?
What word did Ezra use instead of they?
What three kindnesses did Ezra remember?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godkindnessrobeknees

Ezra tore his garment and , pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat appalled.
All who trembled at the words of the of Israel gathered to him.
At the evening offering, he fell on his and spread out his hands to Yahweh.
God had shown them through the kings of Persia.

Think About It

Ezra prayed using we instead of they. How can you pray for your family, church, or nation in a humble way?
Ezra was grieved by sin, but he also remembered God's grace. How can you hold both together when you confess sin?

Memory Verse

“Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.”

Ezra 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for forgiving me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How did Ezra include himself in the prayer?
How did Ezra describe God's grace?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ezra 9 · Grade 5

Grace for a Little Moment

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezra 9 shows the danger of drifting. The leaders reported that the people, the priests, and the Levites had married into the peoples of the lands and joined in their abominations. The issue in the text is faithfulness to God: the law and the prophets had warned that joining with those who worshiped false gods would turn Israel away from Yahweh, the very sin that had led to exile.

Ezra's grief was public and deep. He tore his clothes, pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat appalled until the evening offering. Those who trembled at God's words gathered to him. Then he knelt, spread out his hands to Yahweh, and prayed one of the great confessions of Scripture.

Ezra identified himself with the people and called their guilt our guilt. He described God's mercy: for a little moment grace had been shown, a remnant had escaped, and God had given them a stake in His holy place, revived them, and extended loving kindness before the kings of Persia. He made no excuse, but declared that Yahweh is righteous and that they stood before Him in their guiltiness. In the New Testament, John writes that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

Show What You Know

What was the issue in the text?
How did Ezra show his grief?
How did Ezra identify with the people?
What had God given the remnant in His holy place?
What does John write about confession?

Crossword

Across

spread out my ____ to Yahweh my God
I fell on my ____

Down

God showed them this, giving them a reviving.
How Ezra felt about the sins.
I tore my garment and my ____

Think About It

Ezra confessed sin without making excuses. Why is it important to be honest with God about our sin?
God showed grace for a little moment to an undeserving people. How does the grace of God in Jesus Christ give you hope when you fail?

Memory Verse

Ezra 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for forgiving me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does confession lead to forgiveness?
How can you pray humbly for others this week?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ezra 9: Ezra's Prayer of Confession

Read Ezra 9

Worksheets

Ezra Prays

Prayer

Take It Home

Sorry, God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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A Sorry Prayer

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

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Ezra Says Sorry

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Ezra Confesses to God

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Ezra Prays

Prayer

Take It Home

A Prayer of Confession

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Grace for a Little Moment

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options