Ezra 3:12

3:12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders ¹  – older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established ²  – were weeping loudly, ³  and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout.

Ezra 10:1

The People Confess Their Sins

10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites – men, women, and children alike – gathered around him. The people wept loudly. ⁴ 

Ezra 10:13

10:13 However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season. ⁵  We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter.

¹ tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”

² sn The temple had been destroyed some fifty years earlier by the Babylonians in 586 b.c.

³ tn Heb “with a great voice.”

⁴ tn Heb “with much weeping.”

⁷ tn Heb “the time [is] rain showers.”