all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate.g They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,h which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh monthi Ezra the priest brought the Lawj before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gatek in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platforml built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standingm above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their handsn and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 The Leviteso—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructedp the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it cleara and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.