Nehemiah 8:1-9

1And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of 1the Water Gate, and they 2asked 3Ezra the scribe to bring 4the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had 5given to Israel. 2Then 6Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on 7the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it before the square which was in front of 8the Water Gate from 9early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5Ezra opened 10the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people 11stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “12Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then 13they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8They read from the book, from the law of God, 14translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

9Then Nehemiah, who was the 1516governor, and Ezra 17the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “18This day is holy to the Lord your God; 19do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.