<p class="bodytext">All the land was weeping loudly<n id="1" /> as all these people were leaving.<n id="2" /> As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving<n id="3" /> on the road that leads to the desert.

<p class="bodytext">Then Nehemiah the governor,<n id="1" /> Ezra the priestly scribe,<n id="2" /> and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them,<n id="3" /> &#8220;This day is holy to the <sc>LORDsc> your God. Do not mourn or weep.&#8221; For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law.