1 Now all ^athe people gathered together as one man in the open square that was ^bin front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the ^cscribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel.  ‡

3 Then he ^aread from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate¹ from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.  ‡

4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.