Nehemiah 8 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

All the people gathered together as one in the open area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh had given to Israel.

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly—men, women, and everyone old enough to understand.

He read from it facing the open area in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men, women, and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people—he was standing above everyone—and as he opened it, all the people stood up.

Ezra praised Yahweh, the great God, and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Yes! Yes!" Then they bowed down and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—the Levites—helped the people understand the Law while the people remained standing.

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to all of them, "This day is set apart for Yahweh your God. Don't mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

Then he said to them, "Go and eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, because this day is set apart for our Lord. Don't be grieved, because the joy of Yahweh is your strength."

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still—this is a day set apart. Don't be grieved."

Then all the people went to eat, drink, send portions, and celebrate with great joy, because they had understood the words that had been explained to them.

On the second day, the heads of the families of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law more deeply.

They found written in the Law — which Yahweh had commanded through Moses — that the people of Israel should live in shelters during the festival of the seventh month,

and that they should proclaim and spread this word throughout all their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out to the hills and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, as it is written."

So the people went out and brought branches and built shelters for themselves—on their rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God's house, in the open area by the Water Gate, and in the open area by the Gate of Ephraim.

The whole assembly of those who had returned from captivity made shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the people of Israel had not done this. And there was tremendous joy.

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, as the Law required.