Nehemiah 8

1 At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.

3 So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.

8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.

9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

10 Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

11 And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.

14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,

15 and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

16 And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.

17 The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.

1 ¶ And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.

9 ¶ And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved.

12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

13 ¶ And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as [it is] written.

16 So the people went forth, and brought [them], and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

1 And it came to pass, when the seventh moon was come, and the children of Israel were in their cities, that all the people gathered themselves together as one man unto the broad street before the water gate, and spake unto Ezra the scribe to fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both men and women, and all that heard it, on the first day of the seventh month,

3 And he read within in the broad street that is before the water gate, from light in the morning until noon, before man and woman, and whosoever might hear. And the ears of all the people were turned unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high wooden throne, which they had made for preaching: and next unto him stood Mathithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hazum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book before all the people: for he towered above all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood.

6 And Ezra praised the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, amen, with their hands upward: and they bowed themselves, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, and Jamin, and Akub, and Zabthai, and Hodiah, and Maesiah, and Clita, and Azariah, and Jozabad, and Hanan, and Plaiah, and the Levites, made the people to observe the law: and the people stood in their place.

8 And they read in the book of the law of God plainly and understandingly, that they understood it when they read it.

9 And Nehemiah, which is Hathirsatha, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites, which made the people watch, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God: therefore be not sad, and weep not. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

10 Therefore said he unto them: Go ye, eat that which is fat, and drink that which is sweet; and send part also unto them that have nothing prepared for them: for this day is holy unto our Lord: wherefore be not dismayed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

11 And the Levites quieted all the people, and said, Be still, for the day is holy; be not troubled.

12 And all the people went to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth: for they had understood the words which were made known unto them.

13 And the next day the chief fathers of all the people, and the priests, and the Levites, gathered themselves together unto Ezra the scribe, to teach them the words of the law.

14 And they found it written in the law, that the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in tabernacles for the feast of the seventh month.

15 And they made a noise and proclaimed it in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go ye out into the mountains, and gather olive branches, and balsam branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

16 And the people went out, and took, and made them tabernacles, every man upon his own roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad street of the water gate, and in the broad street of the gate of Ephraim.

17 And all the congregation of them that came again out of prison made tabernacles, and dwelt therein. For the children of Israel had not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto this day: and there was very great joy.

18 And the book of the law of God was read every day from the first day even unto the last: and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day they kept the congregation according to the manner.