Nehemiah 8:1–12

¹all the people gathered together ^zat the square in front of the Water Gate. ^aThey asked Ezra the scribe ^bto bring the book of the law of Moses ^cthat the Lord had given Israel. ²On the first day of the seventh month, ^dEzra the priest ^ebrought the law ^fbefore the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. ³While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, ^ghe read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively ^hto the book of the law. ⁱ⁴Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform ^jmade 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 praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted ^kall the people said, “Amen, Amen!” ^lThen they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ^m

⁷Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, ⁿwho were Levites, ^opexplained the law ^qto 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, ^rEzra the priest and scribe, ^sand the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day ^tis holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” ^uFor 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, ^vsince today ^wis holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.” ^x11And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, ^ysince today ^zis holy. Do not grieve.” ¹²Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, ^abecause they had understood the words that were explained to them.