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. 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. 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)

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. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:7 Vg, 1 Esdras 9:48; MT reads Pelaiah and the Levites

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