27 At the dedication of the wall around Yerushalem, they summoned Levites from all over the region to come to Yerushalem to perform the dedication with rejoicing and thanksgiving, and with musical instruments and singing, 28 plus the next generation of singers came both from Yerushalem and its surrounds, and from the Netofati villages. 29 They also came from Beyt-Gilgal, and from the fields of Geva and Azmavet, because the singers had built villages near Yerushalem to live in. 30 The priests and Levites held a purification ceremony for themselves, then they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

31 Then I assembled Yehudah’s leaders together up on top of the wall, and I assigned them into two large groups who would give thanks as they walked around it.

The first group headed towards the Dung Gate on the right. 32 Hoshayah and half of Yehudah’s officials were in that group 33 along with Azaryah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Yehudah, Benyamin, Shemayah, and Yirmeyah, 35 plus some of the next generation of priests with trumpets: Zekaryah (son of Yonatan, son of Shemayah, son of Mattanyah, son of Mikayah, son of Zakkur, son of Asaf) 36 and his brothers Shemayah, Azar’el, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma’ai, Nethan’el, Yehudah, and Hanani. They used the instruments as per the instructions of the late King David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them. 37 When they got to the Fountain Gate, they went up the stairs at the City of David, and along the higher portion of the wall by David’s palace as far as the Water Gate (on the east side of the city).

38 The other group giving thanks with the other half of the people went in the opposite direction around the top of the wall—going past the Tower of the Ovens to the wider part of the wall. 39 We passed Efraim Gate, the Old Gate, Fish Gate, and Hananel Tower, the Tower of the Hundred, and all the way to the Sheep Gate, and we stopped at the Guard Gate.

40 Then both groups ended up at the temple and stood there. I was there with the half of the city officials who’d accompanied me, 41 as well as the priests with their trumpets: Elyakim, Ma’aseyah, Minyamin, Mikayah, Elyeoenai, Zekaryah, Hanayah, 42 another Ma’aseyah, Shemayah, El’azar, Uzzi, Yehohanan, Malkiyyah, Eylam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with their leader Yizrahyah.

43 Then that same day they offered many sacrifices, and they celebrated because God had made them very pleased. The women and children also celebrated, in fact the sound of the celebrations in Yerushalem was so loud that it can be heard far away.