These[served] in the daysof Joiakimthe sonof Jeshua,the sonof Jozadak,and in the daysof Nehemiahthe governorand of Ezrathe priest[and] scribe.
He was the rulerover allthe kingsfrom the EuphratesRivereven to the landof the Philistines,and as faras the borderof Egypt.
Now thisis the copyof the decreewhichKingArtaxerxesgaveto Ezrathe priest,the scribe,learnedin the wordsof the commandmentsof the LORDand His statutesto Israel:
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
And allthe peoplegatheredas onemanat the squarewhichwas in frontof the WaterGate,and they askedEzrathe scribeto bringthe bookof the lawof Moseswhichthe LORDhad givento Israel.
Then Nehemiah,whowas the governor,and Ezrathe priest[and] scribe,and the Leviteswho taughtthe peoplesaidto allthe people,"Thisdayis holyto the LORDyour God;do not mournor weep."For allthe peoplewere weepingwhen they heardthe wordsof the law.
