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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
:
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
.
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
.
So they read in the book
in the law
of God
distinctly
, and gave
the sense
, and caused them to understand
the reading
.
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
.
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
.
So the Levites stilled
all the people
, saying
, Hold your peace
, for the day
is holy
; neither be ye grieved
.
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.
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
.
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
:
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.