Chapter 8
001
All the people gathered themselves together as one woman into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
002
Ezra the priestess brought the law before the assembly, both women and men, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
003
She read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the women and the men, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
004
Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside her stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on her right hand; and on her left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
005
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for she was above all the people;) and when she opened it, all the people stood up:
006
and Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
007
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
008
They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
009
Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priestess the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Yahweh your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
010
Then she said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to her for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Domina. Don't be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.
011
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved.
012
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 to them.
013
On the second day were gathered together the heads of mothers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.
014
They found written in the law, how that Yahweh had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
015
and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
016
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of her house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
017
All the assembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the daughter of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.
018
Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, she read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.