² So Ezra the priest brought ^(A)the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding ^(B)on the first day of the seventh month. ³ Then he ^(C)read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate ^[a]from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

⁴ So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁵ And Ezra opened 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 ^(A)stood up. ⁶ And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.

Then all the people ^(B)answered, “Amen, Amen!” while ^(C)lifting up their hands. And they ^(D)bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

⁸ So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

^9 (A)And Nehemiah, who was the ^[a]governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ^(B)“This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(C)do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, ^(D)and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”