5
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.
6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered,
1"Amen, Amen,"
2lifting up their hands.
3And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7
4Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,
5helped the people to understand the Law,
6while the people remained in their places.
8
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was
7the governor, and Ezra
8the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
9"This day is holy to the LORD your God;
10do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.
10
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and
11send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11
So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
12
And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because
12they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Feast of Booths Celebrated
13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.
14
And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses
13that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
15
and that they should proclaim it and
14publish it in all their towns and
15in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring
16branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written."