I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding.

The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet.

Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

So now, our God—the great, mighty,
and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant—
do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us,
our kings and leaders,
our priests and prophets,
our ancestors and all Your people,
from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.

In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.