Nehemiah 8:2-8

2Then 1Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on 2the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it before the square which was in front of 3the Water Gate from 4early 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 5the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people 6stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “7Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then 8they 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, 9translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.