8 all the people gathered togetheri at the square in front of the Water Gate.j They asked the scribe Ezrak to bring the book of the law of Mosesl that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month,m the priest Ezran brought the lawo before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,p he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentivelyD to the book of the law.q 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platformr 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.