Nehemiah 08 Ezra Reads the Law Before the People

 Nehemiah 08

Ezra Reads the Law Before the People

1 Now when the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered together as one man in the street before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear, on the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read from it before the street that was before the Water Gate from the morning until noon, in the presence of men and women, and in the presence of all who could understand; and in the ears of all the people they were attentive to the Book of the Law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose: and there stood by him, on his right hand, Mattathiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Melkiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood up.

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen! And they lifted up their hands, and bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen.

8 And they lifted up their hands, and bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, and Jasmine, and Akkub, and Shabbethai, and Hodiah, and Maaseiah, and Kelita, and Azariah, and Jozabad, and Hanan, and Pelaiah, and the Levites, taught the people the law; and the people stood at their posts. 8 And they read in the book, in the law of God, and they explained and expounded the sense, and caused the reader to understand. 

9 And Nehemiah, who was 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 ye not, neither weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 

10 And he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy to our Lord; therefore do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

11 And the Levites silenced all the people, saying, "Keep quiet, for this day is holy; therefore do not be sad."

12 So all the people went away to eat and drink, and to send portions, and to make great feasts: for they understood the words which were made known to them.