1
all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate.
They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,
which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2
So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law
before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all`
who were able to understand.
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3
He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before
the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and other 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 the occasion.
Beside him on his rightstood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and
Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum,
Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was
standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
6
Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people lifted their hands
and responded, "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, Aariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah -
instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there..
8
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving
the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
9
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe,
and the Levites who were instructing the people saidto them all,
"This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep."
For all the people had been weeping as they listened tothe words
of the Law.
10
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks,
This day is sacred to our LORD. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD
is your strength."
11
The Levites calmed all the people, saying,
"Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
12
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food
and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understand 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 the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention
to the words of the Law.
14
They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses,
that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month
15
and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns
and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches
from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees,
to make booths" - as it is written.
16
So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves
booths on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house
of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate
of Ephraim.
17
The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived
in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day,
the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.
18
Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of
the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days,
and on the eighth day in accordance with the regulation,
there were an assembly.
