1all the people gathered togethera at the square in front of the Water Gate.b They asked the scribe Ezrac to bring the book of the law of Mosesd that the Lord had given Israel. 2On the first day of the seventh month,a the priest Ezrab brought the lawc 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,a he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentivelyA to the book of the law.b 4The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platforma 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 uplifteda all the people said, “Amen, Amen! ”b Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.c

7Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,a who were Levites,a b explained the lawc 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,a Ezra the priest and scribe,b and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This dayc is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”d 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,a since todayb is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”a c 11And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still,a since todayb is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,a because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

Festival of Shelters Observed

13On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites,a assembled before the scribe Ezrab to study the words of the law. 14They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.a 15So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.”a 16The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftopsa and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate,b and the square by the Ephraim Gate.c 17The whole community that had returned from exilea made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day.b And there was tremendous joy.c 18EzraA read out of the book of the law of Goda every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.b