Nehemiah 8:4-8

Christian Standard Bible

⁴ The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform^(A) made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶ Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted^(B) all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” ^(C) Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.^(D)

⁷ Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,^(E) who were Levites,^[a](F) explained the law^(G) to the people as they stood in their places. ⁸ They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.