The templeservantslivingin Ophel[made repairs] as faras the frontof the WaterGatetoward the eastand the projectingtower.
Now the firstwholivedin their possessionsin their cities[were] Israel,the priests,the Levitesand the templeservants.
He builtthe uppergateof the houseof the LORD,and he builtextensivelythe wallof Ophel.
Now afterthishe builtthe outerwallof the cityof Davidon the westsideof Gihon,in the valley,even to the entranceof the FishGate;and he encircledthe Ophel[with it] and madeit veryhigh.Then he putarmycommandersin allthe fortifiedcitiesof Judah.
Now the restof the people,the priests,the Levites,the gatekeepers,the singers,the templeservantsand allthose who had separatedthemselves from the peoplesof the landsto the lawof God,their wives,their sonsand their daughters,allthose who hadknowledgeand understanding,
But the templeservantswere livingin Ophel,and Zihaand Gishpawere in chargeof the templeservants.
At the FountainGatethey wentdirectlyup the stepsof the cityof Davidby the stairwayof the wallabovethe houseof Davidto the WaterGateon the east.
Afterthem the Tekoitesrepairedanothersectionin frontof the greatprojectingtowerand as faras the wallof Ophel.
And allthe peoplegatheredas onemanat the squarewhichwas in frontof the WaterGate,and they askedEzrathe scribeto bringthe bookof the lawof Moseswhichthe LORDhad givento Israel.
So the peoplewentout and brought[them] and madeboothsfor themselves, eachon his roof,and in their courtsand in the courtsof the houseof God,and in the squareat the WaterGateand in the squareat the Gateof Ephraim.
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.
Becausethe palacehas been abandoned,the populatedcityforsaken.Hilland watch-towerhave becomecavesforever,A delightfor wilddonkeys,a pasturefor flocks;
