Nehemiah 8:1–12

8all the people gathered togetherⁱ at the square in front of the Water Gate.^j They asked the scribe Ezra^k to bring the book of the law of Moses^l that the Lord had given Israel. ²On the first day of the seventh month,^m the priest Ezraⁿ brought the law^o before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. ³While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,^p he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively^D to the book of the law.^{q 4}The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform^r made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted^s all the people said, “Amen, Amen!”^t Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.^u

⁷Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,^v who were Levites,^w explained the law^x to the people as they stood in their places. ⁸They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. ⁹Nehemiah the governor,^y Ezra the priest and scribe,^z and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day^aa is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”^ab For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared,^ac since today^ad is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”^{Bae 11}And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still,^a since today^b is holy. Don’t grieve.” ¹²Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,^c because they had understood the words that were explained to them.