16_NEH_08_01 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 .
16_NEH_08_02 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 .
16_NEH_08_03 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 .
16_NEH_08_04 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 .
16_NEH_08_05 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 :
16_NEH_08_06 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 .
16_NEH_08_07 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 .
16_NEH_08_08 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly , And gave the sense , And caused [ them ] to understand the reading .
16_NEH_08_09 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 .
16_NEH_08_10 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 .
16_NEH_08_11 So the Levites stilled all the people , saying , hold your peace , for the day [ Is ] holy ; neither be ye grieved .
16_NEH_08_12 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 .
16_NEH_08_13 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 .
16_NEH_08_14 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 :
16_NEH_08_15 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_NEH_08_16 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 .
16_NEH_08_17 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 .
16_NEH_08_18 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 .