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Nehemiah

Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and reforms the community.

Chapter 8

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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.

*Everyone came together like one person in a street near the water gate. They asked Ezra, the person who writes things down, to read the book with God's rules that He gave to 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.

*Ezra the priest shared the rules with everyone - men, women, and those 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 a book in front of the water gate, from morning to noon, for both men and women and anyone who understood. Everyone listened carefully 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 writer stood on a wooden platform, where they placed him to read. Next to him were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, Maaseiah, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his right side, while on his left side stood Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, 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 displayed the book for everyone to see. Since he was higher than everyone else, when he opened it, everyone 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 God, the great Lord. Everyone replied, "Yes, yes," while raising their hands and bowing down. They showed respect to God by putting their faces on 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, and others taught the people the laws. The people understood and stayed in their place.

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

*So they clearly read from the book of God's laws and explained the meaning, making sure everyone understood 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.

*Nehemiah, the leader, Ezra the priest, and the teaching Levites told everyone, "Today is special for God. Don't be sad or cry. But the people cried when they heard about God's rules.

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.

*Then he told them, "Go eat delicious food and drink sweet drinks. Also, share some with those who have nothing ready, because today is special for God. Don't feel sad, because being happy in God gives you power."

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

*So the Levites calmed everyone down, telling them to be quiet because it's a special day, and not to be sad.

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.

*Everyone went to eat, drink, share food, and have a big celebration because they understood the message they were told.

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, important leaders, priests, and Levites came together with Ezra, the scribe, to understand the meaning 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 discovered in the rules given by God through Moses that during a special celebration in the seventh month, the people of Israel must live in temporary shelters.

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.

*They should announce in all their cities and Jerusalem: "Go get branches from olive trees, pine trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and other large trees. Use these branches to create shelters, just like the scriptures say."

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 moved out, got materials, and built shelters on their rooftops, in their courtyards, at God's house, near the water gate, and by the Ephraim gate.

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.

*All the returned captives built shelters and sat under them. This hadn't been done since Joshua's time. The people of Israel were extremely happy.

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.

*Every day, starting from the first day until the last day, he read from the book of God's laws. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day, there was a special gathering, just like it was supposed to be done.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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