1
And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel [were settled] in their cities. And all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel.
2
So Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and everyone who had understanding [was present] to hear, on the first day of the seventh month.
3
And he read in it from sunrise until midday, before the men and the women; and they understood [it], and the ears of all the people [were attentive] to the Book of the Law.
4
And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden stage, and there stood next to him Mattithiah, Shema, Hanani, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and at his left [stood] Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5
And Ezra opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, [that] all the people stood.
6
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, and said, Amen, lifting up their hands. And they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their face to the ground.
7
And Jeshua, Bani and Sherebiah instructed the people in the law, and the people [stood] in their place.
8
And they read in the Book of the Law of God, and Ezra taught, and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord, and the people understood from the reading.
9
And Nehemiah and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, and they that instructed the people, spoke and said to all the people, It is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.
10
And [the governor] said to them, Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; for this day is holy to our Lord: and faint not, for the Lord is our strength.
11
And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for [it is] a holy day, and do not be grieved.
12
So all the people departed to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, for they understood the words which he made known to them.
13
And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, [also] the priests and Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to attend to all the words of the Law.
14
And they found written in the law which the Lord commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast in the seventh month,
15
and that they should sound with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Ezra said, Go forth to the mountain, and bring olive branches, and branches of cypress trees, and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of [every] thick tree, to make booths, according to that which was written.
16
And the people went forth, and brought [them], and made booths for themselves, each one upon his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the city, and as far as the gate of Ephraim.
17
And all the congregation who had returned from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in booths, for the children of Israel [had] not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day. And there was great joy.
18
And [Ezra] read in the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day even to the last day; and they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
