1 And the whole people assembled in unity at the square in front of the Water Gate, and they requested Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD {YHWH, Command Giver} had commanded for Israel {Yisrael: covenant nation}.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the Torah {hatorah: instruction} before the assembled community—men and women, and all who could understand {mevin: discerning insight}—on the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read from it in the public square {rechov: public gathering place} in front of the Water Gate, from first light until midday, before the men, the women, and those who could understand; and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law {Torah: covenant instruction}.
4 Ezra the scribe {ha-sofer: official recorder} stood on a raised wooden platform {migdal-ets: raised wooden platform} that had been made for this purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.
5 And Ezra opened the book {sefer: sacred scroll} where all the people could see it, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood {amdu: rose to their feet}.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Guardian}, the great God {Elohim, Mighty Protector}; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting their hands; then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Yamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people understand the Law {torah: divine instruction}, as the people stood in their places {omed: upright presence}.
8 And they read from the Book of the Law of God {Elohim, Divine Instructor}, making it distinct {meforash: made clear} and giving understanding, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, he who was the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who caused the people to understand, said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikhem, Day Sanctifier}; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Torah {torah: instruction}.
10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich foods {mashmanim: rich fare} and drink sweet drinks {mamtaqqim: festive beverages}, and send portions to anyone for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord {adonenu, Divine Authority}; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD {YHWH, Strength Giver} is your strength.”
11 And the Levites {leviyim: Temple ministers} hushed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this day is holy; and do not grieve {teatzvu: become deeply sad}.”
12 And all the people went away to eat and to drink, and to send portions {manot: distributed shares} and to make great joy {simcha: public celebration}, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.
13 And on the second day, the heads of the fathers of all the people, together with the priests and Levites, gathered with Ezra the scribe {sofer: skilled writer} in order to acquire insight {haskil: careful insight} into the Law’s words.
14 And they found written in the Torah that the LORD {YHWH, Lawgiver} had commanded by the hand of Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths {sukkot: temporary shelters} during the feast in the seventh month.
15 And they were to proclaim {yashmiu: public declaration} and spread the message throughout all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring branches of olive and branches of oil tree and branches of myrtle and branches of palms and branches of thick-leaved trees, to make booths {sukkot: festival shelters}, as it is written.”
16 And the people went out, brought them, and erected booths {sukkot: festival booths} for themselves—each on the roof of his own house, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God {Elohim, Sacred Dwelling}, and on the square by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the assembly {kol-haqahal: whole gathered group} of those who had returned from the captivity made booths {sukkot: temporary shelters} and dwelled in the booths. For from the days of Joshua son of Nun the sons of Israel had not done so until that day; and there was very great joy.
18 And each day, from the first through the last, he read from the Book of the Law of God {Elohim, Covenant Instructor}. They kept the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day a solemn assembly {atzeret: solemn gathering} was held as prescribed by the ordinance.