1 All the people gathered together as one in the open square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

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 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which included men, women, and all who could understand what they heard. This happened on the first day of the seventh month.

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 He read from it in the open square before the Water Gate, from daybreak until midday, in the presence of the men, women, and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

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 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform made for this purpose. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Ananiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

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 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people because he was standing above them. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

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 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people responded, 'Amen, Amen,' lifting up their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

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 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—helped the people understand the Law as they stood in their places.

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 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of them, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.' For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

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 Nehemiah said, 'Go and celebrate with rich foods and sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'

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 The Levites calmed all the people by saying, 'Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.'

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

12 Then all the people went to eat, drink, send portions of food, and celebrate with great joy because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

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 On the second day, the heads of the families of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of the Law.

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 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month.

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 They were to proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: 'Go out to the hill country and bring branches of olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.'

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 out, brought back branches, and built booths for themselves on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the square by the Water Gate, and in the square by the Gate of Ephraim.

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 The whole assembly of those who had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this, and their joy was very great.

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 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

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.