Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of ^athe Water Gate; and they asked ^bEzra the scribe to bring ^cthe Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 So ^aEzra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on ^bthe first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate, from ¹early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and ²all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a large wooden platform which they had constructed for this purpose. And beside him on the platform stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left. 5 Ezra opened ^athe book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people ^bstood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, “^aAmen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; and ^bthey knelt down and worshiped the LORD with their faces toward the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, explained the Law to the people, and the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and explaining it so that the people understood the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ^agovernor, and Ezra ^bthe priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^cThis day is holy to the LORD your God; ^ddo not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then Ezra said to them, “Go your way, eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and ^asend portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the LORD is your strength and your stronghold.” 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be worried.” 12 Then all the people went on their way to eat, to drink, ^ato send portions of food to others and to celebrate a great festival, ^bbecause they understood the words which had been ¹communicated to them.

13 On the second day, all of the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of ¹the Law (divine instruction) . 14 They found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites ^ashould live in booths (huts) during the feast of the seventh month. 15 ^aSo they proclaimed and published an announcement in all their cities and ^bin Jerusalem, saying, “^cGo out to the hills and bring olive branches, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written.” Lev 23:39, 40 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each ^aon the roof of his house, and in their courtyards and the courtyards of God’s house, and in the open square of ^bthe Water Gate and in the square of ^cthe Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. Indeed since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that very day, the Israelites ^ahad not done so. And ^bthere was great rejoicing and celebration. 18 Every day, from the first day to the last, ^aEzra read from the Book of the Law of God. They ^bcelebrated the feast for seven days; on ^cthe eighth day there was a closing solemn assembly in accordance with the ordinance.

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate, and they ¹asked ^bEzra the scribe to bring ^cthe book of the law of Moses which the LORD had ²given to Israel. 2 Then ^aEzra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on ^bthe first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it before the square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate from ¹early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 Ezra opened ^athe book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^bstood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, “^aAmen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then ^bthey bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, ¹translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ^1agovernor, and Ezra ^bthe priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^cThis day is holy to the LORD your God; ^ddo not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and ^asend portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 All the people went away to eat, to drink, ^ato send portions and to ¹celebrate a great festival, ^bbecause they understood the words which had been made known to them.

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel ^ashould live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15 ^1aSo they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and ^bin Jerusalem, saying, “^cGo out to the hills, and bring olive branches and ²wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each ^aon his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at ^bthe Water Gate and in the square at ^cthe Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in ¹them. The sons of Israel ^ahad indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And ^bthere was great rejoicing. 18 ^aHe read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they ^bcelebrated the feast seven days, and on ^cthe eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate, and they said to ^bEzra the scribe to bring ^cthe book of the law of Moses which Yahweh had commanded to Israel. 2 Then ^aEzra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could understand when listening, on ^bthe first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate from ¹early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened ^athe book in the sight of all the people for he was above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^bstood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh the great God. And all the people answered, “^aAmen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then ^bthey bowed low and worshiped Yahweh with their ¹faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, were providing understanding of the law to the people while the people stood in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, ¹explaining and ²giving insight, and they provided understanding of the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ^1agovernor, and Ezra ^bthe priest and scribe, and the Levites, who provided the people with understanding, said to all the people, “^cThis day is holy to Yahweh your God; ^ddo not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and ^asend portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat, to drink, ^ato send portions, and to celebrate with great gladness, ^bbecause they understood the words which had been made known to them.

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses that the sons of Israel ^ashould live in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 ^aand that they should make the report heard and make a proclamation of it pass throughout all their cities and ^bin Jerusalem, saying, “^cGo out to the hills, and bring olive branches and ¹wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each ^aon his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at ^bthe Water Gate and in the square at ^cthe Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. The sons of Israel ^ahad indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And ^bthere was exceedingly great gladness. 18 ^aAnd he read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they ^bcelebrated the feast seven days, and on ^cthe eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the legal judgment.

And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate, and they ¹asked ^bEzra the scribe to bring ^cthe Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had ²given to Israel. 2 Then ^aEzra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on ^bthe first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the public square which was in front of ^athe Water Gate, from ¹early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and ²all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left. 5 Then Ezra opened ^athe book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^bstood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, “^aAmen, Amen!” with the raising of their hands; then ^bthey kneeled down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites explained the Law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, ¹translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ^1agovernor, and Ezra ^bthe priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^cThis day is holy to the LORD your God; ^ddo not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and ^asend portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your ¹refuge.” 11 So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat, drink, ^ato send portions, and to ¹celebrate a great feast, ^bbecause they understood the words which had been made known to them.

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law. 14 And they found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel ^awere to live in ¹booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15 ^aAnd that they were to proclaim and circulate a proclamation in all their cities and ^bin Jerusalem, saying, “^cGo out to the hills, and bring olive branches and ¹wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other trees with thick branches, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each ^aon his roof, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the public square at ^bthe Water Gate, and in the square at ^cthe Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. Indeed, the sons of Israel ^ahad not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And ^bthere was very great rejoicing. 18 ^aHe read from the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they ^bcelebrated the feast seven days, and on ^cthe eighth day there was a festive assembly in accordance with the ordinance.