There was not a wordof allthat Moseshad commandedwhichJoshuadid not readbeforeallthe assemblyof Israelwith the womenand the littleonesand the strangerswho were livingamongthem.
Now while Ezrawas prayingand makingconfession,weepingand prostratinghimself beforethe houseof God,a verylargeassembly,men,womenand children,gatheredto him from Israel;for the peopleweptbitterly.
Then Ezrathe priestbroughtthe lawbeforethe assemblyof men,womenand allwho [could] listenwith understanding,on the firstdayof the seventhmonth.
He readfrom it beforethe squarewhichwas in frontof the WaterGatefrom earlymorninguntilmidday,in the presenceof menand women,those who could understand;and allthe peoplewere attentiveto the bookof the law.
A mixedmultitudealsowentup with them, along with flocksand herds,a verylargenumberof livestock.
"Thussaysthe LORD,Standin the courtof the LORD'Shouse,and speakto allthe citiesof Judahwho have cometo worship[in] the LORD'Shouseallthe wordsthat I have commandedyou to speakto them. Do not omita word!
Gatherthe people,sanctifythe congregation,Assemblethe elders,Gatherthe childrenand the nursinginfants.Let the bridegroomcomeout of his roomAnd the brideout of her [bridal] chamber.
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'In thosedaystenmenfrom allthe nationswill graspthe garmentof a Jew,saying,"Let us gowith you, for we have heardthat Godis with you."'"
But when Jesussawthis, He was indignantand saidto them, "Permitthe childrento cometo Me; do not hinderthem; for the kingdomof Godbelongsto such as these.
"For I did not shrinkfrom declaringto you the wholepurposeof God.
Whenour daysthere were ended,we leftand startedon our journey,while they all,with wivesand children,escortedus until[we were] out of the city.After kneelingdownon the beachand praying,we said farewellto one another.
"You standtoday,allof you, beforethe LORDyour God:your chiefs,your tribes,your eldersand your officers,[even] allthe menof Israel,
your littleones,your wives,and the alienwhois withinyour camps,from the one who chopsyour woodto the one who drawsyour water,
"So keepthe wordsof thiscovenantto dothem, that you may prosperin allthat you do.
"Assemblethe people,the menand the womenand childrenand the alienwhois in your town,sothat they may hearand learnand fearthe LORDyour God,and be carefulto observeallthe wordsof thislaw.
"You shall not addto the wordwhichI am commandingyou, nortakeawayfrom it, that you may keepthe commandmentsof the LORDyour GodwhichI commandyou.
