3
1And 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 platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam 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 as he opened it all the people stood.
6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered,
2"Amen, Amen,"
3lifting up their hands.
4And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7
5Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,
6helped the people to understand the Law,
7while the people remained in their places.
8
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was
8the governor, and Ezra
9the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
10"This day is holy to the LORD your God;
11do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.
10
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and
12send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11
So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
12
And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because
13they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Feast of Booths Celebrated
13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.