Nehemiah 8

All 18 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1All the people gathered together as one man into the street that was before the Water Gate. They spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
2. 2On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding.
3. 3He read from it in the street that was before the Water Gate, from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
4. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. Beside him on his right hand stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. On his left hand stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5. 5Ezra 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.
6. 6Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," with lifting up of their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their place.
8. 8They read from the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9. 9Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10. 10Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. For this day is holy to our LORD. Do not be sorry, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11. 11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for the day is holy. Do not be grieved."
12. 12And 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 to them.
13. 13On the second day, the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered to Ezra the scribe, to understand the words of the law.
14. 14They found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,
15. 15And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mount and bring olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written."
16. 16So the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the Water Gate, and in the street of the Gate of Ephraim.
17. 17The whole congregation of those who had come back out of the captivity made booths and sat under the booths. For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.
18. 18Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, they held a solemn assembly, according to the manner.