⁶ —came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses,^(A) which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested^(B) because the hand of the Lord his God was on him.^(C)

8 all the people gathered together^(A) at the square in front of the Water Gate.^(B) They asked the scribe Ezra^(C) to bring the book of the law of Moses^(D) that the Lord had given Israel.

⁹ Nehemiah the governor,^(A) Ezra the priest and scribe,^(B) and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day^(C) is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”^(D) For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.