1
And all the peoplegathered as oneman at the squarewhich was in front of the WaterGate, and they askedEzra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moseswhich the LORD had given to Israel.
2
Then Ezra the priestbrought the lawbefore the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the firstday of the seventhmonth.
3
He read from it before the squarewhich was in front of the WaterGate from earlymorninguntilmidday*, 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 scribestood at a woodenpodiumwhich they had made for the purpose. And beside him stoodMattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his righthand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his lefthand.
6
Then Ezrablessed the LORD the greatGod. And all the peopleanswered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowedlow 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.
9
Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the peoplesaid to all the people, "Thisday is holy to the LORD your God; do 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 sendportions to him who has nothingprepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
12
All the peoplewent away to eat, to drink, to sendportions and to celebrate a greatfestival, because they understood the wordswhich had been madeknown to them.
13
Then on the secondday the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gaininsight into the words of the law.
14
They foundwritten in the lawhow the LORD had commandedthroughMoses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventhmonth.
15
So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hills, and bringolivebranches and wild*olivebranches, myrtlebranches, palmbranches and branches of other leafytrees, to makebooths, as it is written."
16
So the peoplewent out and brought them and madebooths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the WaterGate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.
17
The entireassembly of those who had returned from the captivitymadebooths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not doneso from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was greatrejoicing.
18
He read from the book of the law of Goddaily, from the firstday to the lastday. And they celebrated the feastsevendays, and on the eighthday there was a solemnassembly according to the ordinance.