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 all the people ^H5971 gathered themselves together ^H622 as one ^H259 man ^H376 into the street ^H7339 that was before ^H6440 the water ^H4325 gate; ^H8179 and they spake ^H559 unto Ezra ^H5830 the scribe ^H5608 to bring ^H935 the book ^H5612 of the law ^H8451 of Moses, ^H4872 which the LORD ^H3068 had commanded ^H6680 to Israel. ^H3478

² And Ezra ^H5830 the priest ^H3548 brought ^H935 the law ^H8451 before ^H6440 the congregation ^H6951 both of men ^H376 and women, ^H802 and all that could hear ^H8085 with understanding, ^H995 upon the first ^H259 day ^H3117 of the seventh ^H7637 month. ^H2320

³ And he read ^H7121 therein before ^H6440 the street ^H7339 that was before ^H6440 the water ^H4325 gate ^H8179 from the morning ^H216 until midday, ^{H4276 H3117} before the men ^H582 and the women, ^H802 and those that could understand; ^H995 and the ears ^H241 of all the people ^H5971 were attentive unto the book ^H5612 of the law. ^H8451

⁴ And Ezra ^H5830 the scribe ^H5608 stood ^H5975 upon a pulpit ^H4026 of wood, ^H6086 which they had made ^H6213 for the purpose; ^H1697 and beside ^H681 him stood ^H5975 Mattithiah, ^H4993 and Shema, ^H8087 and Anaiah, ^H6043 and Urijah, ^H223 and Hilkiah, ^H2518 and Maaseiah, ^H4641 on his right hand; ^H3225 and on his left hand, ^H8040 Pedaiah, ^H6305 and Mishael, ^H4332 and Malchiah, ^H4441 and Hashum, ^H2828 and Hashbadana, ^H2806 Zechariah, ^H2148 and Meshullam. ^H4918

⁵ And Ezra ^H5830 opened ^H6605 the book ^H5612 in the sight ^H5869 of all the people; ^H5971 (for he was above all the people;) ^H5971 and when he opened ^H6605 it, all the people ^H5971 stood up: ^H5975

⁶ And Ezra ^H5830 blessed ^H1288 the LORD, ^H3068 the great ^H1419 God. ^H430 And all the people ^H5971 answered, ^H6030 Amen, ^H543 Amen, ^H543 with lifting up ^H4607 their hands: ^H3027 and they bowed ^H6915 their heads, and worshipped ^H7812 the LORD ^H3068 with their faces ^H639 to the ground. ^H776

⁷ Also Jeshua, ^H3442 and Bani, ^H1137 and Sherebiah, ^H8274 Jamin, ^H3226 Akkub, ^H6126 Shabbethai, ^H7678 Hodijah, ^H1941 Maaseiah, ^H4641 Kelita, ^H7042 Azariah, ^H5838 Jozabad, ^H3107 Hanan, ^H2605 Pelaiah, ^H6411 and the Levites, ^H3881 caused the people ^H5971 to understand ^H995 the law: ^H8451 and the people ^H5971 stood in their place. ^H5977

⁸ So they read ^H7121 in the book ^H5612 in the law ^H8451 of God ^H430 distinctly, ^H6567 and gave ^H7760 the sense, ^H7922 and caused them to understand ^H995 the reading. ^H4744

⁹ And Nehemiah, ^H5166 which is the Tirshatha, ^H8660 and Ezra ^H5830 the priest ^H3548 the scribe, ^H5608 and the Levites ^H3881 that taught ^H995 the people, ^H5971 said ^H559 unto all the people, ^H5971 This day ^H3117 is holy ^H6918 unto the LORD ^H3068 your God; ^H430 mourn ^H56 not, nor weep. ^H1058 For all the people ^H5971 wept, ^H1058 when they heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of the law. ^H8451

¹⁰ Then he said ^H559 unto them, Go your way, ^H3212 eat ^H398 the fat, ^H4924 and drink ^H8354 the sweet, ^H4477 and send ^H7971 portions ^H4490 unto them for whom nothing is prepared: ^H3559 for this day ^H3117 is holy ^H6918 unto our Lord: ^H113 neither be ye sorry; ^H6087 for the joy ^H2304 of the LORD ^H3068 is your strength. ^H4581

¹¹ So the Levites ^H3881 stilled ^H2814 all the people, ^H5971 saying, ^H559 Hold your peace, ^H2013 for the day ^H3117 is holy; ^H6918 neither be ye grieved. ^H6087

¹² And all the people ^H5971 went their way ^H3212 to eat, ^H398 and to drink, ^H8354 and to send ^H7971 portions, ^H4490 and to make ^H6213 great ^H1419 mirth, ^H8057 because they had understood ^H995 the words ^H1697 that were declared ^H3045 unto them.

¹³ And on the second ^H8145 day ^H3117 were gathered together ^H622 the chief ^H7218 of the fathers ^H1 of all the people, ^H5971 the priests, ^H3548 and the Levites, ^H3881 unto Ezra ^H5830 the scribe, ^H5608 even to understand ^H7919 the words ^H1697 of the law. ^H8451

¹⁴ And they found ^H4672 written ^H3789 in the law ^H8451 which the LORD ^H3068 had commanded ^H6680 by ^H3027 Moses, ^H4872 that the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 should dwell ^H3427 in booths ^H5521 in the feast ^H2282 of the seventh ^H7637 month: ^H2320

¹⁵ And that they should publish ^H8085 and proclaim ^{H5674 H6963} in all their cities, ^H5892 and in Jerusalem, ^H3389 saying, ^H559 Go forth ^H3318 unto the mount, ^H2022 and fetch ^H935 olive ^H2132 branches, ^H5929 and pine ^H8081 branches, ^{H6086 H5929} and myrtle ^H1918 branches, ^H5929 and palm ^H8558 branches, ^H5929 and branches ^H5929 of thick ^H5687 trees, ^H6086 to make ^H6213 booths, ^H5521 as it is written. ^H3789

¹⁶ So the people ^H5971 went forth, ^H3318 and brought ^H935 them, and made ^H6213 themselves booths, ^H5521 every one ^H376 upon the roof of his house, ^H1406 and in their courts, ^H2691 and in the courts ^H2691 of the house ^H1004 of God, ^H430 and in the street ^H7339 of the water ^H4325 gate, ^H8179 and in the street ^H7339 of the gate ^H8179 of Ephraim. ^H669

¹⁷ And all the congregation ^H6951 of them that were come again ^H7725 out of the captivity ^H7628 made ^H6213 booths, ^H5521 and sat ^H3427 under the booths: ^H5521 for since the days ^H3117 of Jeshua ^H3442 the son ^H1121 of Nun ^H5126 unto that day ^H3117 had not the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 done so. ^H6213 And there was very ^H3966 great ^H1419 gladness. ^H8057

¹⁸ Also day ^H3117 by day, ^H3117 from the first ^H7223 day ^H3117 unto the last ^H314 day, ^H3117 he read ^H7121 in the book ^H5612 of the law ^H8451 of God. ^H430 And they kept ^H6213 the feast ^H2282 seven ^H7651 days; ^H3117 and on the eighth ^H8066 day ^H3117 was a solemn assembly, ^H6116 according unto the manner. ^H4941

---

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

² And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both 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 broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of 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 Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, 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 Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.

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

⁸ And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

⁹ And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah 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 him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of Jehovah 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 heads of fathers' `houses' of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.

¹⁴ And they found written in the law, how that Jehovah 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 branches of wild olive, 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 broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

¹⁷ And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in 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 ordinance.

---

¹ And all the people are gathered as one man unto the broad place that `is' before the water-gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that Jehovah commanded Israel.

² And Ezra the priest bringeth the law before the assembly, both of men and women, and every one intelligent to hear, on the first day of the seventh month,

³ and he readeth in it before the broad place that `is' before the water-gate, from the light till the middle of the day, over-against the men, and the women, and those intelligent, and the ears of all the people `are' unto the book of the law.

⁴ And Ezra the scribe standeth on a tower of wood that they made for the purpose, and Mattithiah standeth near him, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right; and on his left Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, Meshullam.

⁵ And Ezra openeth the book before the eyes of all the people -- for above all the people he hath been -- and at his opening `it' all the people have stood up,

⁶ and Ezra blesseth Jehovah, the great God, and all the people answer, `Amen, Amen,' with lifting up of their hands, and they bow and do obeisance to Jehovah -- faces to the earth.

⁷ And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, giving the people understanding in the law, and the people, `are' on their station,

⁸ and they read in the book, in the law of God, explaining -- so as to give the meaning, and they give understanding to the convocation.

⁹ And Nehemiah -- he `is' the Tirshatha -- saith (and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who are instructing the people) to all the people, `To-day is holy to Jehovah your God, do not mourn, nor weep:' for all the people are weeping at their hearing the words of the law.

¹⁰ And he saith to them, `Go, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and sent portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for to-day `is' holy to our Lord, and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.'

¹¹ And the Levites are keeping all the people silent, saying, `Be silent, for to-day `is' holy, and be not grieved.'

¹² And all the people go to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great joy, because they have understood concerning the words that they made known to them.

¹³ And on the second day have been gathered heads of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to act wisely concerning the words of the law.

¹⁴ And they find written in the law that Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, that the sons of Israel dwell in booths in the feast, in the seventh month,

¹⁵ and that they proclaim and cause to pass over all their cities, (and in Jerusalem,) saying, `Go ye out to the mount, and bring leaves of the olive, and leaves of the oil tree, and leaves of the myrtle, and leaves of the palms, and leaves of thick trees, to make booths as it is written.'

¹⁶ And the people go out, and bring in, and make for themselves booths, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water-gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

¹⁷ And they make -- all the assembly of the captives of the captivity -- booths, and they sit in booths; for the sons of Israel had not done, from the days of Jeshua son of Nun, so unto that day, and there is very great joy.

¹⁸ And he readeth in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day till the last day, and they make a feast seven days, and on the eighth day a restraint, according to the ordinance.

---

¹ all the people gathered together as one man to the open place that was before the water-gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded Israel.

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

³ And he read in it before the open place that was before the water-gate from the morning until midday, in presence of the men and the women, and those that could understand. And the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.

⁴ And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high stage of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkijah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, 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 Jehovah, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen! with lifting up of their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.

⁷ And 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 And they read in the law of God distinctly out of the book, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.

⁹ And Nehemiah, that is, the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that explained to the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Jehovah your God: mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

¹⁰ And he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared; for the day is holy to our Lord; and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.

¹¹ And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be still! for the day is holy; neither be grieved.

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

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

¹⁴ And they found written in the law which Jehovah had commanded through 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 through all their cities, and at Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive-branches, and wild olive-branches, and myrtle-branches, and palm-branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

¹⁶ And the people went forth and brought [them], and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the open space of the water-gate, and in the open space of the gate of Ephraim.

¹⁷ And all the congregation of them that had come back from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths. For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until 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 to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they observed the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

---

¹ All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.

² Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

³ He read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.

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

⁵ 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 Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.

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

⁸ They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

⁹ Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Yahweh your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be you grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.

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

¹² 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 to them.

¹³ On the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers' [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.

¹⁴ They found written in the law, how that Yahweh 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 to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, 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, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

¹⁷ All the assembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.

¹⁸ Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

---

¹ And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. And all the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the water-doorway; and they made a request to Ezra the scribe that he would put before them the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.

² And Ezra the priest put the law before the meeting of the people, before the men and women and all those who were able to take it in, on the first day of the seventh month.

³ He was reading it in the wide place in front of the water-doorway, from early morning till the middle of the day, in the hearing of all those men and women whose minds were able to take it in; and the ears of all the people were open to the book of the law.

⁴ And Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower of wood which they had made for the purpose; and by his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

⁵ And Ezra took the book, opening it before the eyes of all the people (for he was higher than the people); and when it was open, all the people got to their feet:

⁶ And Ezra gave praise to the Lord, the great God. And all the people in answer said, So be it, so be it; lifting up their hands; and with bent heads they gave worship to the Lord, going down on their faces to the earth.

⁷ And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places.

⁸ And they gave out the words of the book the law of God, clearly, and gave the sense of it, so that their minds were able to take it in.

⁹ And Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the Lord your God; let there be no sorrow or weeping; for all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready: for this day is holy to our Lord: and let there be no grief in your hearts; for the joy of the Lord is your strong place.

¹¹ So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying, Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief.

¹² And all the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words which were said to them had been made clear.

¹³ And on the second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law.

¹⁴ And they saw that it was recorded in the law that the Lord had given orders by Moses, that the children of Israel were to have tents for their living-places in the feast of the seventh month:

¹⁵ And that they were to give out an order, and make it public in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, Go out to the mountain and get olive branches and branches of field olives and of myrtle, and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make tents, as it says in the book.

¹⁶ And the people went out and got them and made themselves tents, every one on the roof of his house, and in the open spaces and in the open squares of the house of God, and in the wide place of the water-doorway, and the wide place of the doorway of Ephraim.

¹⁷ All the people who had been prisoners and had come back, made tents and were living in them: for from the time of Jeshua, the son of Nun, till that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great joy.

¹⁸ And day by day, from the first day till the last, he was reading from the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast for seven days: and on the eighth day there was a holy meeting, as it is ordered in the law.