Nehemiah 8:1-5

New American Standard Bible 1995

Ezra Reads the Law

8 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. ² 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. ³ 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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.