Nehemiah 8

Ezra read the Book of the Law aloud to all the people from morning until midday at the Water Gate, and the Levites helped the people understand it. The people wept when they heard the law, but Nehemiah told them to rejoice; they then celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles.

v	King James Version	Modern English
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.	All the people gathered together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
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.	So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly — both men and women and all who could understand — on the first day of the seventh month.
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.	He read from it in the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
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.	Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. Standing beside him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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:	Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them. When he opened it, all the people stood up.
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.	Ezra praised the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" lifting up their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
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.	Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah — the Levites — helped the people understand the Law while the people stood in their places.
8	So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.	They read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and explaining it so that the people could understand what was being read.
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.	Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching 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 had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
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.	Nehemiah said to them, "Go, eat rich food and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is Your strength."
11	So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.	The Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for this day is holy; do not grieve."
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.	Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions and celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
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.	On the second day the heads of families of all the people, together with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.
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:	They found written in the Law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the people of Israel should live in shelters during the feast of the seventh month,
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.	that they should proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters," as it is written.
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.	So the people went out and brought branches and built shelters for themselves — each on His rooftop, in His courtyard, in the courts of the house of God, in the square at the Water Gate, and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.
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.	The whole assembly of those who had returned from exile built shelters and lived in them. The people of Israel had not done this from the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day. And there was very great rejoicing.
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.	Day after 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, and on the eighth day held a solemn assembly, according to the rule.