Ezra Reads The Law To The People

1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of (A)the Water Gate, and they (a)asked (B)Ezra the scribe to bring (C)the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had (b)given to Israel.

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

1 all the people gathered together(A) at the square in front of the Water Gate.(B) They asked Ezra the scribe(C) to bring the book of the law of Moses(D) that the Lord had given Israel.

1 So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Law before the assembled people. Both men and women were in attendance, as well as all who could understand what they were hearing.

1 Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.

2 Then (D)Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on (E)the first day of the seventh month.

2 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.

2 On the first day of the seventh month,(E) Ezra the priest(F) brought the law(G) before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding.

2 Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the Water Gate, from early in the morning until mid-day in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

3 He read from it before the square which was in front of (F)the Water Gate from (c)early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, 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.

3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,(H) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively(a) to the book of the law.(I)

3 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden rostrum erected for that purpose. Beside him to his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maasseiah. Beside him to his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

3 Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of the Water Gate, from (a)early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and (b)all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.

4 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, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform(J) made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

4 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people. Because he was visible above all the people there, as he opened it, all the people stood up.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a [large] wooden platform which they had constructed for this purpose. And beside him [on the platform] stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.

5 Ezra opened (G)the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people (H)stood up.

5 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:

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

5 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with uplifted hands, all the people responded, "Amen! Amen!" They bowed down and worshipped the LORD prostrate on the ground.

5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “(I)Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then (J)they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

6 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.

6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted(K) all the people said, “Amen, Amen!”(L) Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.(M)

6 Seven months later, the Israelis had settled in their own cities.

6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; and they knelt down and worshiped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and 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.

7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,(N) who were Levites,(b)(O) explained the law(P) to the people as they stood in their places.

7 Furthermore, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the descendants of Levi taught the Law to the people while the people remained standing.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, explained the Law to the people, and the people remained in their places.

8 They read from the book, from the law of God, (d)translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

8 All the people gathered as a united body into the plaza in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and explaining it so that the people understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the (e)(K)governor, and Ezra (L)the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “(M)This day is holy to the Lord your God; (N)do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

9 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.

9 Nehemiah the governor,(Q) Ezra the priest and scribe,(R) and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day(S) is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”(T) For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

9 They read from the Book of the Law of God, distinctly communicating its meaning, so they could understand the reading.

9 Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.

10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and (O)send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

10 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.

10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared,(U) since today(V) is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.”(W)

10 Because all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law, Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the descendants of Levi who taught the people told everyone, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep."

10 Then Ezra said to them, “Go [your way], eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still,(X) since today(Y) is holy. Do not grieve.”

11 He also told them, "Go eat the best food, drink the best wine, and give something to those who have nothing, since this day is holy to our Lord. Don't be sorrowful, because the joy of the LORD is your strength."

11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be worried.”

12 All the people went away to eat, to drink, (P)to send portions and to (f)celebrate a great festival, (Q)because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

12 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.

12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,(Z) because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

12 The descendants of Levi also calmed all the people by saying, "Be still, for the day is holy. Don't be sorrowful!"

12 Then all the people went on their way to eat, to drink, to send portions [of food to others] and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been (c)communicated to them.

Festival Of Booths

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law.

13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

13 On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites,(AA) assembled before Ezra the scribe(AB) to study the words of the law.

13 So all the people went to eat, to drink, to send something to those who had nothing, and to celebrate with great joy, because they understood the words that were being declared to them.

13 On the second day, all of the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of (d)the Law (divine instruction).

14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel (R)should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.

14 And they 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:

14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month.(AC)

14 The next day, the heads of the families of all the people were gathered together, along with the priests and the descendants of Levi, to meet with Ezra the scribe in order to understand the words of the Law.

14 They found written in the Law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in booths (huts) during the feast of the seventh month.

15 (g)(S)So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and (T)in Jerusalem, saying, “(U)Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and (h)wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written.”(AD)

15 They found written in the Law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelis were to live in tents during the festival scheduled for the seventh month.

15 So they proclaimed and published an announcement in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hills and bring olive branches, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written.”(A)

16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each (V)on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at (W)the Water Gate and in the square at (X)the Gate of Ephraim.

16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon 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.

16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops,(AE) and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate,(AF) and the square by the Gate of Ephraim.(AG)

16 So they circulated a proclamation throughout their towns and in Jerusalem. It said, "Go out to the hill country and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of mature trees, in order to set up tents, as has been written."

16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on the roof of his house, and in their courtyards and the courtyards of God’s house, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Gate of Ephraim.

17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in (i)them. The sons of Israel (Y)had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And (Z)there was great rejoicing.

17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

17 The whole community that had returned from exile(AH) made booths and lived in them. They had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day.(AI) And there was tremendous joy.(AJ)

17 Then the people went out and found branches to make tents for themselves on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, and in the courts of God's Temple, in the plaza near the Water Gate, and in the plaza near the Gate of Ephraim.

17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. Indeed since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that very day, the Israelites had not done so. And there was great rejoicing and celebration.

18 (AA)He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they (AB)celebrated the feast seven days, and on (AC)the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

18 Ezra(c) read out of the book of the law of God(AK) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.(AL)

18 The entire assembly of those who had returned from exile erected tents and lived in them. Indeed, from the days of Nun's son Joshua until that day the Israelis had not done so. Joy was everywhere,

18 Every day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days; on the eighth day there was a [closing] solemn assembly in accordance with the ordinance.

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