Bible: Ezra 3:10-13

3:10 When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, 1  and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by 2  King David of Israel. 3  3:11 With antiphonal response they sang, 4  praising and glorifying the Lord:

“For he is good;

his loyal love toward Israel is forever.”

All the people gave a loud 5  shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established. 3:12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders 6  – older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established 7  – were weeping loudly, 8  and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. 3:13 People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly 9  that the sound was heard a long way off.

NET Bible Study Environment