1Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,

2and lodged there, and did eat no bread nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.

3And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:

4and that whosoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of them that were of the captivity.

5And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.

6And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather.

7So Esdras arose up and said unto them, ye have transgressed the law and married strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.

8And now make confession and give glory unto the Lord, the God of our fathers,

9and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.

10Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.

11But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:

12therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

13and with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

14Then Jonathan the son of Azael and ¹⁵⁷Ezekias the son of Thocanus accordingly took the matter upon them: and Mosollamus and Levis and Sabbateus were assessors to them.

15And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.

16And Esdras the priest chose unto him principal men of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month they were shut in together to examine the matter.

17So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.

18And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found;

19of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedek, and his brethren; ¹⁵⁸Mathelas, and Eleazar, and ¹⁵⁹Joribus, and ¹⁶⁰Joadanus.

20And they gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their error.

21And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and ¹⁶¹Manes, and ¹⁶²Sameus, and ¹⁶³Hiereel, and ¹⁶⁴Azarias.

22And of the sons of ¹⁶⁵Phaisur; Elionas, Massias, Ismael, and Nathanael, and ¹⁶⁶Ocidelus, and ¹⁶⁷Saloas.

23And of the Levites; Jozabdus, and Semeis, and ¹⁶⁸Colius, who was called ¹⁶⁹Calitas, and ¹⁷⁰Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

24Of the holy singers; ¹⁷¹Eliasibus, Bacchurus.

25Of the porters: Sallumus, and ¹⁷²Tolbanes.

26Of Israel, of the sons of ¹⁷³Phoros; ¹⁷⁴Hiermas, and ¹⁷⁵Ieddias, and Melchias, and ¹⁷⁶Maelus, and Eleazar, and ¹⁷⁷Asibas, and Banneas.

27Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and ¹⁷⁸Jezrielus, and Oabdius, and Hieremoth, and ¹⁷⁹Aedias.

28And of the sons of ¹⁸⁰Zamoth; ¹⁸¹Eliadas, ¹⁸²Eliasimus, ¹⁸³Othonias, Jarimoth, and ¹⁸⁴Sabathus, and ¹⁸⁵Zardeus.

29Of the sons of Bebai; Joannes, and Ananias, and ¹⁸⁶Jozabdus, and ¹⁸⁷Ematheis.

30Of the sons of ¹⁸⁸Mani; ¹⁸⁹Olamus, ¹⁹⁰Mamuchus, ¹⁹¹Jedeus, Jasubas, and ¹⁹²Jasaelus, and Hieremoth.

31And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moossias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

32And of the sons of Annas; Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

33And of the sons of Asom; ¹⁹³Maltanneus, and ¹⁹⁴Mattathias, and ¹⁹⁵Sabanneus, Eliphalat, and Manasses, and Semei.

34And of the sons of Baani; Jeremias, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mamdai, and Pedias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitamenus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Someis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ezora; Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri, Josephus.

35And of the sons of Nooma; Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, Juel, Banaias.

36All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.

37And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the children of Israel in their habitations.

38And the whole multitude were gathered together with one accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple toward the east:

39and they said unto Esdras the priest and reader, Bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord, the God of Israel.

40So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole multitude both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of the seventh month.

41And he read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning unto mid-day, before both men and women; and ¹⁹⁶all the multitude gave heed unto the law.

42And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon the pulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose.

43And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, ¹⁹⁷Ezekias, Baalsamus, upon the right hand:

44and upon his left hand, ¹⁹⁸Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias, ¹⁹⁹Lothasubus, Nabarias, Zacharias.

45Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honourably in the first place before all.

46And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.

47And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

48Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, ²⁰⁰Auteas, Maiannas, and Calitas, Azarias, and Jozabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, ²⁰¹and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.

49Then said Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all,

50This day is holy unto the Lord; (now they all wept when they heard the law:)

51go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing;

52for the day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour.

53So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy; be not sorrowful.

54Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give portions to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;

55because they ²⁰²understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.