Nehemiah:8:1-12

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* And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate sha #ar #; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which the LORD had commanded to Israel Yisra #el #. * 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 . * And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday machatsiyth #, 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 . * 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 Ma #aseyah #, on his right hand ; and on his left hand s @mo #wl #, Pedaiah , and Mishael Miysha #el #, and Malchiah , and Hashum , and Hashbadana , Zechariah , and Meshullam . * 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 : * 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 . * Also Jeshua , and Bani , and Sherebiah , Jamin , Akkub , Shabbethai , Hodijah , Maaseiah Ma #aseyah #, Kelita , Azariah , Jozabad , Hanan , Pelaiah , and the Levites , caused the people to understand the law : and the people stood in their place . * So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly , and gave the sense , and caused them to understand the reading . * 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 . * 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 ma #owz #. * So the Levites stilled all the people , saying , Hold your peace , for the day is holy ; neither be ye grieved . * 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 .

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