Se reunió todo el pueblo como un solo hombre en la plaza que estaba delante de la puerta de las Aguas^a, y pidieron¹ al escriba Esdras^b que trajera el libro de la ley de Moisés que el SEÑOR había dado² a Israel^c. 2 Entonces el sacerdote Esdras trajo la ley^a delante de la asamblea de hombres y mujeres y de todos los que podían entender lo que oían. Era el primer día del mes séptimo^b. 3 Y leyó en el libro¹ frente a la plaza que estaba delante de la puerta de las Aguas^a, desde el amanecer² hasta el mediodía, en presencia de hombres y mujeres y de los que podían entender; y los oídos de todo el pueblo estaban atentos al libro de la ley. 4 El escriba Esdras estaba sobre un estrado de madera que habían hecho para esta ocasión. Junto a él, a su derecha, estaban Matatías, Sema, Anías, Urías, Hilcías y Maasías; y a su izquierda, Pedaías, Misael, Malquías, Hasum, Hasbadana, Zacarías y Mesulam. 5 Y abrió Esdras el libro a la vista de todo el pueblo^a, pues él estaba más alto que todo el pueblo; y cuando lo abrió, todo el pueblo se puso en pie^b. 6 Entonces Esdras bendijo al SEÑOR, el gran Dios. Y todo el pueblo respondió: ¡Amén, Amén^a!, mientras alzaban las manos; después se postraron y adoraron al SEÑOR rostro en tierra^b. 7 También Jesúa, Bani, Serebías, Jamín, Acub, Sabetai, Hodías, Maasías, Kelita, Azarías, Jozabed, Hanán, Pelaías, y los levitas, explicaban la ley al pueblo mientras el pueblo permanecía en su lugar. 8 Y leyeron en el libro de la ley de Dios, traduciéndolo¹ y dándole el sentido para que entendieran la lectura.

9 Entonces Nehemías, que era el gobernador^1a, y Esdras, el sacerdote y escriba^b, y los levitas que enseñaban al pueblo, dijeron a todo el pueblo: Este día es santo para el SEÑOR vuestro Dios^c; no os entristezcáis, ni lloréis; porque todo el pueblo lloraba al oír las palabras de la ley^d. 10 También les dijo: Id, comed de la grosura, bebed de lo dulce, y mandad raciones a los que no tienen nada preparado^a; porque este día es santo para nuestro Señor. No os entristezcáis, porque la alegría del SEÑOR es vuestra fortaleza. 11 Los levitas calmaron a todo el pueblo diciendo: Callad, porque el día es santo, no os entristezcáis. 12 Y todo el pueblo se fue a comer, a beber, a mandar porciones^a y a celebrar una gran fiesta¹, porque comprendieron las palabras que les habían enseñado^b.

13 Al segundo día los jefes de casas paternas de todo el pueblo, los sacerdotes y los levitas se reunieron junto al escriba Esdras para entender las palabras de la ley. 14 Y encontraron escrito en la ley que el SEÑOR había mandado por medio¹ de Moisés que los hijos de Israel habitaran en tabernáculos² durante la fiesta del mes séptimo^a. 15 Y ellos proclamaron y circularon¹ pregón^a en todas sus ciudades y en Jerusalén^b, diciendo: Salid al monte y traed ramas de olivo, ramas de olivo silvestre², ramas de mirto, ramas de palmera y ramas de otros árboles frondosos, para hacer tabernáculos, como está escrito^c. 16 El pueblo salió y las trajeron e hicieron tabernáculos para sí, cada uno en su terrado^a, en sus patios, en los patios de la casa de Dios, en la plaza de la puerta de las Aguas^b y en la plaza de la puerta de Efraín^c. 17 Toda la asamblea de los que habían regresado de la cautividad hicieron tabernáculos y habitaron en ellos¹. Los hijos de Israel ciertamente no habían hecho de esta manera desde los días de Josué, hijo de Nun, hasta aquel día^a. Y hubo gran regocijo^b. 18 Y leyó Esdras del libro de la ley de Dios^a cada día, desde el primer día hasta el último día. Celebraron la fiesta siete días, y al octavo día hubo una asamblea solemne según lo establecido^b.

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 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.