Nehemiah 8:2-5

Christian Standard Bible

² On the first day of the seventh month,^(A) the priest Ezra^(B) brought the law^(C) 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,^(D) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively^[a] to the book of the law.^{(E) 4} The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform^(F) 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.