8 1 When the seventh month came, all the people gathered as one into the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which our Father had commanded for Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly — men and women and all who were able to understand what they heard — on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it, facing the square before the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them; and as he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 Then Ezra praised our Father, the great God, and all the people lifted their hands and answered, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped our Father with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites — Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah — helped the people understand the Law while they stood in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of our Father, explaining it clearly and making the meaning plain, so that the people understood what was read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to them all, "This day is holy to your Father. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said to them, "Go, enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Sovereign Father. Do not grieve, for the joy of our Father is your strength."
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this day is holy. Do not grieve."
12 So all the people went away to eat and drink, to share food, and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been explained to them.
Keeping the Feast of Shelters
13 On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law. 14 There they found it written in the Law that our Father had commanded through Moses that the Israelites were to live in shelters during the festival of the seventh month. 15 and that they should proclaim and spread this word throughout all their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out to the hills and bring back branches of olive and wild olive, of myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written."
16 So the people went out, brought the branches, and made shelters for themselves — each on his own roof, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of our Father, and in the squares by the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. 17 Everyone who had returned from captivity made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not done this since the days of Joshua son of Nun, and their joy was very great. 18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of our Father. They kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as the Law required.