At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”

They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.

I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!”The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.

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.

The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God—