¹⁴ The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:

⁷ “For the lips of a priest^(A) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger^(B) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.^{(C) 8} But you have turned from the way^(D) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(E) you have violated the covenant^(F) with Levi,”^(G) says the Lord Almighty. ⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised^(H) and humiliated^(I) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality^(J) in matters of the law.”^(K)

⁷ The Levites^(A)—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed^(B) the people in the Law while the people were standing there. ⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear^[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

³³ All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical^(A) priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born^(B) were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal,^(C) as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.