עזרא, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ו

Ezra concludes his prayer with a full admission of the people's guilt and a deep recognition of God's grace. When acknowledging God as righteous, this is not a reference to strict justice, but rather to the profound kindness God has shown. The very survival of a small remnant of the people is a direct result of God's mercy, as He punished them far less than they truly deserved [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, God's righteousness operates on two levels: it reflects the grace He has extended in the past, while also validating the justice of any future punishment—even complete destruction—should it arrive because the people have sinned once again [מלבי״ם].

The community now stands before God while still actively holding onto their wrongdoing; their guilt remains in their hands, completely uncorrected [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because of this unresolved state, they are left entirely defenseless. The primary approach among commentators is that the people possess no merit, inner strength, or good deeds that can protect them or atone for their actions. The surviving group exists solely because of God's continuing kindness [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This profound helplessness is especially striking given the specific nature of their offense—taking foreign wives—an act for which absolutely no justification or defense can be offered before Him [מלבי״ם].