1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before
the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the
book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both
men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on
the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate
from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men
and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of
all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had
made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah,
Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right
hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, Malchi'jah, Hashum,
Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his left hand.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for
he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the
people stood.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people
answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they
bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to
the ground.
7 Also Jesh'ua, Bani, Sherebi'ah, Jamin, Akkub, Shab'bethai,
Hodi'ah, Ma-asei'ah, Keli'ta, Azari'ah, Jo'zabad, Hanan,
Pelai'ah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the
law, while the people remained in their places.
8 And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly;
and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the
reading.