So the Levites acted as interpreters; and besides explaining the words, they also opened out the meaning of what was read.
'The Levites caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.' And at the end of six hours there came tears--there was not a dry eye in the crowd--men and women alike wept like children.

There was Ezra in his pulpit, his voice faltering as he read, and there were the people below, sobbing as they heard the words.
What was the matter?
What had filled them with grief?
St.Paul tells us the secret of their tears (Rom.iii.

20).
'By the law is the knowledge of sin.' You draw a line.

How shall you know if it be straight or not?
Lay the ruler beside it, and you will soon find out its crookedness.
You build a wall.