The people gathered and Ezra read from the law. Nehemiah said, "This day is holy. Do not mourn." The people held the Feast of Booths. The Israelites confessed. The Levites said, "LORD, you brought our fathers out of Egypt. They rebelled but you did not forsake them." The leaders sealed a covenant. The people made an oath: "We will not marry foreigners. We will bring the offerings for the temple."