The Book Opened

1And all the people gathered as one man at the square that was before the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.

2Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.

3And he read from it before the square that was in front of the Water Gate, from daybreak 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.

4Ezra 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.

5Ezra 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.

6And Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” while lifting up their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.

7And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites explained the law to the people, while the people remained in their places.

8They read from the book, from the law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.