Nehemiah Chapter 8
All the homies gathered up like one crew in the street by the water gate; they hit up Ezra the scribe to bring the law book from Moses that God dropped for Israel to follow.
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.
Ezra the priest showed up with the law for everyone, guys and gals, and all who were vibing and understood, on the first day of the seventh month.
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. {that...: Heb. that understood in hearing}
He read aloud in the street by the water gate from morning till midday, right in front of the men and women, and those who were tuned in; everyone was all ears for the law book.
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. {from...: Heb. from the light}
Ezra stood on a wooden platform made just for him; next to him were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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. {pulpit...: Heb. tower of wood}
Ezra opened the book so everyone could peep it; (he was up above them all;) and when he opened it, all the homies stood up:
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: {sight: Heb. eyes}
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. All the homies said, "Amen, Amen," while lifting their hands; they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
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.
Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people get the law; everyone just stood there vibing.
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.
They read the law of God clearly, breaking it down so everyone could catch what was being read.
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused {them} to understand the reading.
Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest, and the Levites who schooled the people said, "Today is a holy day for the Lord your God; don’t be all sad or crying." All the peeps were in their feels when they heard the law.
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. {the Tirshatha: or, the governor}
Then he was like, "Go eat some solid food, drink something sweet, and send portions to those who don’t have anything ready; today is holy for our Lord; don’t be down; the joy of the Lord is your strength."
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.
The Levites calmed everyone down, saying, "Yo, chill, today is holy; don’t be sad."
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day {is} holy; neither be ye grieved.
So all the homies went to eat, drink, and share portions, and they were lit with joy because they understood what was shared with them.
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.
On the second day, the heads of the families, priests, and Levites rolled up to Ezra the scribe to dig deeper into the law.
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. {to understand...: or, that they might instruct in the words of the law}
They found it written in the law that God had commanded through Moses, telling the Israelites to kick back in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
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: {by: Heb. by the hand of}
They were to spread the word in all their cities and Jerusalem, saying, "Go grab olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and thick tree branches to make booths, just like it says."
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.
So the people went out, snatched the branches, and built booths for themselves on their rooftops, in their courts, and at the house of God, and in the street by the water gate, and the street by the gate of Ephraim.
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.
All the congregation that came back from captivity made booths and chilled under them; since the days of Jeshua son of Nun, the Israelites hadn’t done this. And there was major joy.
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.
Day by day, from the first to the last, he read from the law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days; and on the eighth day, they had a big assembly, just like they were supposed to.
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. {a solemn...: Heb. a restraint}