Nehemiah:8

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* 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 Esdras the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which the Lord commanded Israel . * So Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women , and every one who had understanding was present to hearken , on the first day of the seventh month . * And he read in it from the time of sun-rise to the middle of the day , before the men and the women ; and they (note :)Gr . participle (:note ) understood it , and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law . * And Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden stage , and there stood next to him Mattathias , and Samaeas , and Ananias , and Urias , and Chelcia , and Massia , on his right hand ; and on his left Phadaeas , and Misael , and Melchias , and Asom , and Asabadma , and Zacharias , and Mesollam . * And Esdras 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 . * And Esdras 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 (note :)Gr . on (:note ) with their face to the ground . * And Jesus and Banaias and Sarabias instructed the people in the law , and the people stood in their place . * And they read in the book of the law of God , and Esdras taught , and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord , and the people understood the law in the reading . * And Neemias , and Esdras 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 . * And the governor said to them , Go , eat the fat , and drink the sweet , and send portions to them that have nothing ; for the day is holy to our Lord : and faint not , for the Lord is our strength . * And the Levites caused all the people to be silent , saying , Be silent , for it is a holy day , and despond not . * So all the people departed to eat , and to drink , and to send portions , and to make great mirth , for they understood the words which he made known to them . * And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people , also the priests and Levites , to Esdras the scribe , to attend to all the words of the law . * 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 : * and that they should (note :)Gr . give a signal (:note ) sound with trumpets in all their cities , and in Jerusalem . And Esdras said , Go forth to the mountain , and bring Gr . leaves branches of olive , 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 . * 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 . * 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 Jesus the son of Naue until that day : and there was great joy . * And Esdras 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 a solemn assembly , according to the ordinance .

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