Then Esdras the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those that could understand, in the first day of the seventh month.
And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.
Observe diligently that thou incur not the stroke of the leprosy: but thou shalt do whatsoever the priests of the Levitical race shall teach thee, according to what I have commanded them. And fulfil thou it carefully.
The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? And they that held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols.
And Ezechias spoke to the heart of all the Levites that had good understanding, concerning the Lord. And they ate during the seven days of the solemnity, immolating victims of peace-offerings, and praising the Lord the God of their fathers.
And they taught the people in Juda, having with them the book of the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Juda, and instructed the people.