1
All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the Sofer to bring the book of the law of Moshe, which the LORD had commanded to Yisra'el.
2
Ezra the Kohen 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
He read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.
4
Ezra the Sofer stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattityah, and Shema, and `Anayah, and Uriyah, and Hilkiyah, and Ma`aseyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayahu, and Misha'el, and Malkiyah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zekharyah, [and] Meshullam.
5
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 up:
6
and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, Amein, Amein, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7
Also Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherevyah, Yamin, `Akkuv, Shabbetai, Hodiyah, Ma`aseyah, Kelita, `Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan, Pelayah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.
8
They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
9
Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the Kohen the Sofer, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.