This translation is from the New Revised Standard Version. The bolded hyperlink below will take you to additional translations.
Information about the meaning the original Hebrew of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
Links to collections of other scriptures addressing principles similar to those set out in these readings are provided at the very end of this post
1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Attentive = אֹזֶן= 'ōzen Blue Letter Bible ear, as organ of hearing; to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation; a hearing (responsive, obedient) ear
understood = בִּין= bîn Blue Letter Bible to discern, understand, consider; to perceive; consider diligently; to separate mentally (or distinguish); have intelligence, know, look well to; deal wisely; to declare, explain; to be skilled in, to be acquainted with
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught 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 wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
mourn = אָבַל= 'āḇal Blue Letter Bible lament; bewail; be languid, walk with your head cast down
weep, wept = בָּכָה= bāḵâ Blue Letter Bible weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy); bewail, cry, shed tears, complain, make lamentation; flow by drops
grieved = עָצַב= ʿāṣaḇ Blue Letter Bible to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex, wrest; to be in pain, be pained, be grieved; to shape, fashion, make, form, stretch into shape;to form, copy, fashion; a primitive root; properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger; to toil with pain, suffer; to put in pain or grief, afflict; labor, become angry
joy = חֶדְוָה= ḥeḏvâ Blue Letter Bible joy, gladness; rejoicing:—gladness, joy
strength = מָעוֹז= māʿôz Blue Letter Bible place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence
stilled = חָשָׁה= ḥāšâ Blue Letter Bible to be silent, quiet, still, inactive;to hush or keep quiet:—hold peace; rest
rejoicing = שִׂמְחָה= śimḥâ Blue Letter Bible mirth, gladness; gaiety, pleasure; glad result, happy issue;blithesomeness or glee; to be very joyful
understood—see above
13 On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law. 14 And they found it written in the law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the people of Israel should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month, 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem as follows, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each on the roofs of their houses, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them; for from the days of Jeshua son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
study= שָׂכַל= sakal Blue Letter Bible have insight; to give attention to, consider, ponder; to have insight, have comprehension; to cause to consider, give insight, teach; to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely; to prosper, have success; wisdom
rejoicing—see above
What this scripture tells us about God/His ways:
This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep
Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord
do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength
this day is holy; do not be grieved
great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves
And there was very great rejoicing
What this scripture tells us to do:
the people gathered together
They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses
the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law
Ezra blessed the Lord
they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground
the Levites, helped the people to understand the law
the people understood the reading.
send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared
do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength
this day is holy; do not be grieved
great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
in order to study the words of the law
day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God
Other scriptures addressing the principles underlying this scripture are collected atWisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin and Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security
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