Study Desk

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of ^(a)the Water Gate, and they ^[a]asked ^(b)Ezra the scribe to bring ^(c)the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had ^[b]given to Israel.

Then ^(d)Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on ^(e)the first day of the seventh month.

He read from it before the square which was in front of ^(f)the Water Gate from ^[c]early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which 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.

Ezra opened ^(g)the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^(h)stood up.

Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, "⁽ⁱ⁾Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then ^(j)they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

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

They read from the book, from the law of God, ^[d]translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.