Nehemiah 8

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 all the people gathered as one man in the square in front of the Water Gate, and asked the scribe Ezrato bring the Book of the Law of Moses which Yahweh had prescribed for Israel.	1 Now when the seventh month came, the whole people gathered as one man in the open space before the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
2 Accordingly, on the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the Law before theassembly, consisting of men, women and al those old enough to understand.	2 On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand.
3 In the square in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and of those oldenough to understand, he read from the book from dawn till noon; al the people listened attentively to the Bookof the Law.	3 Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose; beside him stood, on his right,Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; on his left, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum,Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshul am.	4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion; at his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam.
5 In full view of al the people -- since he stood higher than them al -- Ezra opened the book; and whenhe opened it, al the people stood up.	5 Ezra opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and al the people raised their hands and answered, 'Amen!Amen!'; then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before Yahweh.	6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, "Amen, amen!" Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground.
7 And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabab,Hanan, Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the Law to the people, while the people al kept their places.	7 (The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah explained the law to the people, who remained in their places.)
8 Ezra read from the book of the Law of God, translating and giving the sense; so the reading wasunderstood.	8 Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
9 Then His Excel ency Nehemiah and the priest-scribe Ezra and the Levites who were instructing thepeople said to al the people, 'Today is sacred to Yahweh your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.' For thepeople were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.	9 Then (Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and) Ezra the priest-scribe (and the Levites who were instructing the people) said to all the people: "Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep"-for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
10 He then said, 'You may go; eat what is rich, drink what is sweet and send a helping to the man whohas nothing prepared. For today is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.'	10 He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"
11 And the Levites calmed al the people down, saying, 'Keep quiet; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.'	11 (And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.")
12 Then al the people went off to eat and drink and give helpings away and enjoy themselves to the ful ,since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.	12 Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.
13 On the second day, the heads of families of the whole people, and the priests and Levites, gatheredround the scribe Ezra to study the words of the Law.	13 On the second day, the family heads of the whole people and also the priests and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scribe and examined the words of the law more closely.
14 And written in the Law that Yahweh had prescribed through Moses they found that the Israelites wereto live in shelters during the feast of the seventh month.	14 They found it written in the law prescribed by the LORD through Moses that the Israelites must dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month;
15 So they issued a proclamation and had it circulated in al their towns and in Jerusalem: 'Go into thehil s and bring branches of olive, pine, myrtle, palm and other leafy trees to make shelters, as it says in the book.'	15 and that they should have this proclamation made throughout their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring in branches of olive trees, oleasters, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as the law prescribes."
16 The people went out; they brought branches and made shelters for themselves, each man on his roof,in their courtyards, in the precincts of the Temple of God, in the square of the Water Gate and in the square ofthe Ephraim Gate.	16 The people went out and brought in branches with which they made booths for themselves, on the roof of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the open spaces of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim.
17 The whole assembly, al who had returned from the captivity, put up shelters and lived in them; thisthe Israelites had not done from the days of Joshua son of Nun til that day, and there was very greatmerrymaking.	17 Thus the entire assembly of the returned exiles made booths and dwelt in them. Now the Israelites had done nothing of this sort from the days of Jeshua, son of Nun, until this occasion; therefore there was very great joy.
18 Each day, from the first day to the last one, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. Theycelebrated the feast for seven days; on the eighth day, as prescribed, they held a solemn assembly.	18 Ezra read from the book of the law of God day after day, from the first day to the last. They kept the feast for seven days, and the solemn assembly on the eighth day, as was required.