Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artachshasta gave to Ezra the Kohen, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the mitzvot of the LORD, and of his statutes to Yisra'el:
this Ezra went up from Bavel: and he was a ready scribe in the Torah of Moshe, which the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him.
All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which the LORD had commanded to Yisra'el.
Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the Kohen the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.