Nehemiah 8:1-12

New American Standard Bible

Ezra Reads the Law

8 And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of ^(A)the Water Gate, and they ^[a]asked ^(B)Ezra the scribe to bring ^(C)the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had ^[b]given to Israel. ² Then ^(D)Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on ^(E)the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read from it before the public square which was in front of ^(F)the Water Gate, from ^[c]early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and ^[d]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; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left. ⁵ Then Ezra opened ^(G)the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^(H)stood up. ⁶ Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “^(I)Amen, Amen!” with the raising of their hands; then ^(J)they 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, ^[e]translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

⁹ Then Nehemiah, who was the ^[f](K)governor, and Ezra ^(L)the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^(M)This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(N)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 the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and ^(O)send 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 ^[g]refuge.” 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, ^(P)to send portions, and to ^[h]celebrate a great feast, ^(Q)because they understood the words which had been made known to them.