Nehemiah 8:9-15

This Day Is Holy

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ¹^agovernor, and Ezra ^bthe priest and scribe, and the Levites, who provided the people with understanding, said to all the people, “^cThis day is holy to Yahweh your God; ^ddo 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 ^asend portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat, to drink, ^ato send portions, and to celebrate with great gladness, ^bbecause they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored

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. 14 They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses that the sons of Israel ^ashould live in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 ^aand that they should make the report heard and make a proclamation of it pass throughout all their cities and ^bin Jerusalem, saying, “^cGo out to the hills, and bring olive branches and ¹wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”