6 For our fathers have acted unfaithfully and have done what is evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and they have abandoned Him. They have turned their face from the sanctuary of the Lord and have turned their back.
7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and have extinguished the lamps, nor have they burned incense or burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.
8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord has come on Judah and Jerusalem for a terror, horror, and scorn as you all can see with your own eyes.
9 Observe, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and now our sons, daughters, and wives are in captivity for all this.
10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel so that His burning anger might turn away from us.
11 My people, do not now be negligent for the Lord has chosen you all to stand in His presence, to serve Him, and to be ministers and make sacrifices for Him.”
12 Then the Levites arose:from the Kohathites,Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah;from the Merarites,Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel;from the Gershonites,Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;