Neh 8 | ABEn | STEP | And [ 4 arrived 3 month 1 the 2 seventh], and the sons of Israel were in their cities. And [ 4 gathered together 1 all 2 the 3 people] as [ 2 man 1 one] into the wide place in front of [ 3 gate 1 the 2 water]. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the law of Moses, which the lord gave charge to Israel.

Nehemiah 8

CHAPTER 8 Ezra Reads the Scroll of the Law

1 And [⁴arrived ³month ¹the ²seventh], and the sons of Israel were in their cities. And [⁴gathered together ¹all ²the ³people] as [²man ¹one] into the wide place in front of [³gate ¹the ²water]. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the law of Moses, which the lord gave charge to Israel. 2 And [⁴brought ¹Ezra ²the ³priest] the law before the assembly, from man unto woman, and all the ones perceiving to hear, on day one of the [²month ¹seventh]. 3 And he read in it before the square of the one before the gate of the waters, from the hour of the illuminating by the sun until the middle of the day, before men and women. And they were perceiving, even all the ears of the people, to the scroll of the law. 4 And [⁴stood ¹Ezra ²the ³scribe] upon [²rostrum ¹the wooden], the one he made for delivering a public address. And stood next to him, Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah at his right. And at the left, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, and Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the scroll before all the people, for he was above the people. And it came to pass when he opened it, [⁴stood ¹all ²the ³people]. 6 And Ezra blessed the lord, the [²God ¹great]. And [⁴answered ¹all ²the ³people], and said, Amen, amen, lifting up their hands; and they bowed and did obeisance to the lord with their face upon the ground. 7 And Joshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, and Akkub, Shabbethai, and Hodijah, and Maaseiah, and Kelita, and Azariah, and Jozabad and Hanan, and Pelaiah, and the Levites, were bringing understanding to the people in the law. And the people were at their station. 8 And they read in the scroll of the law of God; and Ezra taught and gave orders in a higher knowledge of the lord, and [³perceived ¹the ²people] in the reading.

Understanding Brought to the People

9 And Nehemiah spoke, who is the Artasastha, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, the ones bringing understanding to the people. And they said to all the people, [³day ²a holy ¹It is] to the lord our God, do not mourn nor weep! for [⁴wept ¹all ²the ³people] as they heard the words of the law. 10 And he said to them, Go and eat fatness, and drink sweetness, and send portions to the ones not having! for [⁴holy ³is ¹the ²day] to the lord our God. And do not faint! for the joy of the lord, this is our strength. 11 And the Levites quelled all the people, saying, Keep silent, for the day is holy, and do not fall down! 12 And [⁴went forth ¹all ²the ³people] to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make [²gladness ¹great]; for they perceived the words which he made known to them. 13 And on the [²day ¹second] [⁵gathered together ¹the ²rulers ³of the ⁴families] with all the people, and the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to attend to all the words of the law.

The Holiday of Tents

14 And they found written in the law which the lord gave charge to Moses, that [⁴should dwell ¹the ²sons ³of Israel] in tents in the holiday in [³month ¹the ²seventh]; 15 and that they should signify with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Ezra said, Go forth unto the mountain, and bring [²leaves ¹olive], and leaves [²trees ¹of cypress], and leaves of a myrtle tree, and leaves of palms, and leaves [²tree ¹of the bushy]! to make tents according to the writing. 16 And [³went forth ¹the ²people], and brought, and they made for themselves tents, each man upon his roof, and in their courtyards, and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the squares of the gate of the waters, and in the squares of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And [⁹made ¹all ²the ³assembly ⁴of the ⁵ones returning ⁶from ⁷the ⁸captivity] tents, and they stayed in tents; for [⁴did not ⁵do ⁷from ⁸the days ⁹of Joshua ¹⁰son ¹¹of Nun ⁶thus ¹the ²sons ³of Israel] until that day. And there became [²gladness ¹a great] -- exceedingly much. 18 And he read in the scroll of the law of God day by day; from the [²day ¹first] until the [²day ¹last]. And they observed the holiday seven days, and the [²day ¹eighth] was a holiday recess, according to the distinguishing manner.