1All the people gathered together as one person in the open area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, including both men and women, and everyone who was old enough to understand, on the first day of the seventh month.
3He read from the book in the open area in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men, women, and those who could understand. Everyone was paying close attention to the book of the Law.
4Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been built for this purpose. Standing next to him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5Ezra opened the book in front of everyone (he was standing above them all), and when he opened it, everyone stood up.
6Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people responded, “Amen, Amen,” raising their hands. They bowed their heads and worshiped Yahweh with their faces touching the ground.
7Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the other Levites helped the people understand the law. Everyone stayed in their place.
8They clearly read from the book of God’s law and explained it so the people understood what was being read.
9Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to everyone, “Today is a holy day for Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn or weep.” This is because all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
10Then he told them, “Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared, because today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sad, for the joy that Yahweh gives will make you strong.”
11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, because today is holy. Don’t be sad.”
12Everyone went home to eat, drink, give gifts to others, and celebrate, because they understood the words that had been explained to them.
13On the second day, the leaders of the families from all the people, along with the priests and Levites, gathered with Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law.
14They found it written in the law that Yahweh had commanded through Moses for the people of Israel to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month.
15It also said that they should announce and proclaim throughout all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, 'Go to the mountain and get branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and other leafy trees to make temporary shelters, just as it is written.'
16So the people went out, brought the branches, and made temporary shelters for themselves. Everyone made one on the roof of their house, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God's house, in the open space by the Water Gate, and in the open space by Ephraim's Gate.
17All the people who had returned from captivity made temporary shelters and lived in them. The people of Israel had not done this since the days of Jeshua son of Nun until that very day. There was great joy.
18Ezra also read from the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a special assembly, as required.