1 Esdras 9

Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib, ²and remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude. ³And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem: ⁴and that whosoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.

^5aAnd in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month. ⁶And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather. ⁷So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel. ⁸And now ^bby confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers, ⁹and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women. ¹⁰Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do. ¹¹But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far: ¹²therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed, ¹³and with them the ^crulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter. ¹⁴Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them. ¹⁵And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things. ¹⁶And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter. ¹⁷So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end ^din the first day of the first month.

¹⁸And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found; ¹⁹of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; ^eMatthelas, and Eleazar, and ^fJoribus, and ^gJoadanus. ²⁰And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their ^ggerrors. ²¹And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and ^hEanes, and ⁱSameius, and ^jHiereel, and ^kAzarias. ²²And of the sons of ^lPhaisur; Elionas, Massias, Ismael, and Nathanael, and ^mOcidelus, and ⁿTalsas.

²³And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and ^oColius, who was called ^pCalitas, and ^qPatheus, and Judas, and Jonas. ²⁴Of the holy singers; ^rEleazurus, Bacchurus. ²⁵Of the porters; Sallumus, and ^sTolbanes.

²⁶Of them of Israel, of the sons of ^tPhoros; ^uHiermas, and ^wEddias, and Melchias, and ^xMaelus, and Eleazar, and ^yAsibias, and Baanias. ²⁷Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and ^zHierielus, and Hieremoth, and ^aAedias. ²⁸And of the sons of ^bZamoth; ^cEliadas, ^dElisimus, ^eOthonias, Jarimoth, and ^fSabatus, and ^gSardeus. ²⁹Of the sons of Bebai; Johannes, and Ananias, and ^hJozabad, and ⁱAmatheis. ³⁰Of the sons of ^kMani; ^lOlamus, ^mMamuchus, ⁿJedeus, Jasubus, ^oJasael, and Hieremoth. ³¹And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas. ³²And of the sons of Annas; Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus. ³³And of the sons of Asom; ^pAltaneus, and ^qMatthias, and ^rBannaia, Eliphalat, and Manasses, and Semei. ³⁴And of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and ^sof the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus. ³⁵And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias. ³⁶All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.

^37tAnd the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, ^uin the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel were in their ^whabitations. ^38xAnd the whole multitude came together with one accord into ^ythe broad place of the holy porch ^ztoward the east: ³⁹and they spake unto Esdras the priest and ^areader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was given of ^bthe Lord God of Israel. ⁴⁰So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear the law ^cin the first day of the seventh month. ⁴¹And he read in ^dthe broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before both men and women; and all the multitude gave heed unto the law. ⁴²And Esdras the priest and ^areader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose. ⁴³And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, ^eEzecias, ^fBalasamus, upon the right hand: ⁴⁴and upon his left hand stood ^gPhaldaius, Misael, Melchias, ^hLothasubus, and ⁱNabarias. ⁴⁵Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all. ⁴⁶And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts, ^kAlmighty. ⁴⁷And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord. ⁴⁸Also Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, ^lAuteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Azarias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, making them withal to ^munderstand it.

⁴⁹Then spake ⁿAttharates unto Esdras the ^ochief priest and ^areader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying, ⁵⁰This day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:) ⁵¹go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing; ⁵²for this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour. ⁵³So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful. ⁵⁴Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give ^ppart to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer; ⁵⁵because they ^munderstood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.