Ezra opened the book in plain view ¹  of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, ²  all the people stood up.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the language of one of the other peoples mentioned ¹ ) and were unable to speak the language of Judah.

Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. ¹ 

The people gave their blessing on all the men who volunteered to settle in Jerusalem.

Then Nehemiah the governor, ¹  Ezra the priestly scribe, ²  and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them, ³  “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law.

They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand.

Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

Now the city was spread out ¹  and large, and there were not a lot of people in it. ²  At that time houses had not been rebuilt.

Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.”

The leaders ¹  of the people were as follows: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

“We will not give our daughters in marriage to the neighboring peoples, and we will not take their daughters in marriage for our sons.

Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was an adviser to the king ¹  in every matter pertaining to the people.

When the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to ¹  forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – all of whom were Levites ¹  – were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing.

“Now the rest of the people – the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple attendants, and all those who have separated themselves from the neighboring peoples ¹  because of the law of God, along with their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all of whom are able to understand –

So the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, ¹  while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to settle in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine ²  remained in other cities.

Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations. ¹ 

So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. ¹  The people were enthusiastic in their work. ² 

So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. ¹  I stationed the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows.