Nehemiah, Chapter 8:

Verses from Nehemiah, Chapter 8 of the book of Nehemiah in the Bible.

Nehemiah - Old Testament — Nehemiah – Old Testament

Ezra reads the law

1. In the seventh month, when the Israelites were already installed in their cities, all the people gathered as one man in the square, in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.
2. On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the Law before the assembly, made up of men, women and everyone who could understand.
3. He read it aloud from dawn until noon, facing the square, in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of men, women and everyone who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the reading of the Book of the Law.
4. Ezra stood on a raised wooden platform, built especially for this occasion. On his right side were Mattithiah, Shema, Ananias, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left side were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hasun, Hasbadana, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5. Ezra opened the Book before all the people, and they could see it, because it was in a higher place. When the Book was opened, all the people stood up.
6. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!" Then they fell on their faces and worshiped the Lord.
7. The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Achub, Sabetai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Chelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah instructed the people in the Law, and they all remained there.
8They read the Book of the Law of God, interpreting and explaining it so that the people could understand what was being read.
9. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord our God. Do not be sad or cry!” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.
10. Nehemiah added, “Now you may go and eat and drink the best you have, and share it with those who have nothing prepared. This day is consecrated to our Lord. Do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
11. The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Don’t be sad!”
12. Then all the people went out to eat, drink, share with those in need and celebrate with great joy, as they now understood the words that were explained to them.
1. 3On the second day of the month, the leaders of the families, the priests and the Levites met with the scribe Ezra to study the words of the Law.
14. They discovered in the Law that the Lord had commanded, through Moses, that the Israelites should live in tents during the festival of the seventh month.
15. Therefore they announced in all the cities and in Jerusalem: “Go to the mountains and bring olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, date palm branches, and branches of leafy trees to make tents, as it is written.”
16. Then the people went out and brought the branches, building tents in their terraces, in the courtyards of the temple of God, in the courtyards of the houses and in the squares, at the Water Gate and at the Ephraim Gate.
17. All those who had returned from exile built tents and lived in them. Since the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated in this way. And there was great joy among them.
18. From the first to the last day of the festival, Ezra read the Book of the Law of God daily. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the regulations.