Nehemiah

Chapter 8

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe'asep֤u kal-ha'am֙ kּe'i֣yshsh 'echa֔d 'el-ha֣rech֔ob 'ashshe֖r lipene֣y shshaֽ'ar-hamּa֑yim vayּoֽ'meru֙ le'ezera֣ hasּope֔r lehabi֗y 'et-se֨per֙ tּora֣t moshshe֔h 'ashsher-tziua֥h yehva֖h 'et-yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)all the people came together as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

וַיֵּאָסְפ֤וּ כָל־הָעָם֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד אֶל־הָ֣רְח֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמָּ֑יִם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְעֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֔ר לְהָבִ֗יא אֶת־סֵ֨פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabi֣y 'ezera֣ ha֠kּohen 'eֽt-hatּora֞h lipene֤y haqּahal֙ me'i֣yshsh ve'ad-'ishshּa֔h veko֖l mebi֣yn lishshemo֑'a bּey֥om 'echa֖d lacho֥deshsh hashshּebiy'iֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

וַיָּבִ֣יא עֶזְרָ֣א הַ֠כֹּהֵן אֶֽת־הַתּוֹרָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַקָּהָל֙ מֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְכֹ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqera'-bo֩ lipene֨y harech֜ob 'ashshe֣r ׀ lipene֣y shshaֽ'ar-hamּa֗yim min-ha'or֙ 'ad-machatzi֣yt hayּ֔om ne֛ged ha'anashshi֥ym vehanּashshi֖ym vehamּebiyni֑ym ve'azene֥y kal-ha'a֖m 'el-se֥per hatּoraֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

וַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ֩ לִפְנֵ֨י הָרְח֜וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמַּ֗יִם מִן־הָאוֹר֙ עַד־מַחֲצִ֣ית הַיּ֔וֹם נֶ֛גֶד הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־סֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vֽayּa'amo֞d 'ezera֣ hasּope֗r 'aֽl-migedּal-'etz֮ 'ashshe֣r 'ashs֣u ladּabar֒ vayּaֽ'amo֣d 'etzel֡o matּiteya֡h veshshe֡ma va֠'anayah ve'uriyּa֧h vechileqiyּa֛h uma'ashseya֖h 'al-yemiyn֑o umishsּemo'l֗o pּe֠dayah umiֽyshsha'e֧l umalekּiyּa֛h vechashshu֥m vechashshebּadּa֖nah zekareya֥h meshshulּaֽm׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Ezra the teacher stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד עֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר עַֽל־מִגְדַּל־עֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ לַדָּבָר֒ וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד אֶצְל֡וֹ מַתִּתְיָ֡ה וְשֶׁ֡מַע וַ֠עֲנָיָה וְאוּרִיָּ֧ה וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְחָשֻׁ֥ם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה זְכַרְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּipetּa֨ch 'ezera֤ hasּe֨per֙ le'eyne֣y kal-ha'a֔m kּiֽy-me'a֥l kּal-ha'a֖m haya֑h ukepitech֖o 'aֽmed֥u kal-ha'aֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַסֵּ֨פֶר֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־מֵעַ֥ל כָּל־הָעָ֖ם הָיָ֑ה וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ עָֽמְד֥וּ כָל־הָעָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayeba֣reke 'ezera֔ 'et-yehva֥h ha'elohi֖ym hagּad֑ol vayּaֽ'an֨u kal-ha'a֜m 'ame֤n ׀ 'amen֙ bּemo֣'al yedeyhe֔m vayּiqּed֧u vayּishshetּachau֛ layhva֖h 'apּa֥yim 'aֽretzah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ עֶזְרָ֔א אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הַגָּד֑וֹל וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ כָל־הָעָ֜ם אָמֵ֤ן ׀ אָמֵן֙ בְּמֹ֣עַל יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְּד֧וּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוֻּ֛ לַיהוָ֖ה אַפַּ֥יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veyeshsh֡u'a ubani֡y veshshere֥beya֣h ׀ yami֡yn 'aqּ֡ub shshabּeta֣y ׀ hֽodiyּa֡h ma'ashseya֡h qeliyta֣ 'azareyah֩ yozaba֨d chana֤n pּela'yah֙ vehaleviyּi֔m mebiyni֥ym 'et-ha'a֖m latּora֑h veha'a֖m 'al-'amedaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah, instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there.

וְיֵשׁ֡וּעַ וּבָנִ֡י וְשֵׁרֵ֥בְיָ֣ה ׀ יָמִ֡ין עַקּ֡וּב שַׁבְּתַ֣י ׀ הֽוֹדִיָּ֡ה מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה קְלִיטָ֣א עֲזַרְיָה֩ יוֹזָבָ֨ד חָנָ֤ן פְּלָאיָה֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מְבִינִ֥ים אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לַתּוֹרָ֑ה וְהָעָ֖ם עַל־עָמְדָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּiqere'֥u basּe֛per bּetora֥t ha'elohi֖ym mepora֑shsh veshs֣om shse֔kel vayּabi֖ynu bּamּiqeraֽ'׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the sense [1] so that the people could understand what was being read.

וַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בְּתוֹרַ֥ת הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer nechemeya֣h h֣u hatּireshsha֡ta ve'ezera֣ hakּohe֣n ׀ hasּope֡r vehaleviyּim֩ hamּebiyni֨ym 'et-ha'a֜m lekal-ha'a֗m hayּ֤om qadoֽshsh-hu'֙ layhva֣h 'eloheyke֔m 'al-tּiֽte'abּel֖u ve'al-tּibekּ֑u kּi֤y bokiym֙ kּal-ha'a֔m kּeshshame'a֖m 'et-dּibere֥y hatּoraֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר נְחֶמְיָ֣ה ה֣וּא הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא וְעֶזְרָ֣א הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ הַמְּבִינִ֨ים אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לְכָל־הָעָ֗ם הַיּ֤וֹם קָדֹֽשׁ־הוּא֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם אַל־תִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּ וְאַל־תִּבְכּ֑וּ כִּ֤י בוֹכִים֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם כְּשָׁמְעָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer lahe֡m leku֩ 'ikel֨u mashshemanּi֜ym ushshet֣u maֽmetaqּi֗ym veshshilech֤u manot֙ le'e֣yn nak֣on l֔o kּiֽy-qad֥oshsh hayּ֖om la'adone֑ynu ve'al-tּe֣'atze֔bu kּiֽy-chedeva֥t yehva֖h hi֥y maֽ'uzּekeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם לְכוּ֩ אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּשְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְאֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַיּ֖וֹם לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ וְאַל־תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ כִּֽי־חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaleviyּi֞m macheshshi֤ym lekal-ha'am֙ le'mo֣r ha֔sּu kּi֥y hayּ֖om qado֑shsh ve'al-tּe'atzeֽbu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve."

וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם מַחְשִׁ֤ים לְכָל־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר הַ֔סּוּ כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם קָדֹ֑שׁ וְאַל־תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּelek֨u kal-ha'a֜m le'eko֤l velishshetּot֙ uleshshalּa֣ch man֔ot vela'ashs֖ot shsimecha֣h gedola֑h kּi֤y hebi֨ynu֙ bּadּebari֔ym 'ashshe֥r hodi֖y'u laheֽm׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

וַיֵּלְכ֨וּ כָל־הָעָ֜ם לֶאֱכֹ֤ל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָנ֔וֹת וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה כִּ֤י הֵבִ֨ינוּ֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹדִ֖יעוּ לָהֶֽם׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubayּ֣om hashshּeni֡y ne'esepu֩ ra'shshe֨y ha'ab֜ot lekal-ha'a֗m hakּoֽhaniym֙ vehaleviyּi֔m 'el-'ezera֖ hasּope֑r ulehashsekּi֖yl 'el-dּibere֥y hatּoraֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.

וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִ֡י נֶאֶסְפוּ֩ רָאשֵׁ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת לְכָל־הָעָ֗ם הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־עֶזְרָ֖א הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּimetze'֖u kּat֣ub bּatּora֑h 'ashshe֨r tziua֤h yehvah֙ bּeyad-moshshe֔h 'ashsher֩ yeshsheb֨u beneֽy-yishsera'e֧l bּasּukּ֛ot bּecha֖g bּacho֥deshsh hashshּebiy'iֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month

וַֽיִּמְצְא֖וּ כָּת֣וּב בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֩ יֵשְׁב֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל בַּסֻּכּ֛וֹת בֶּחָ֖ג בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ashshe֣r yashshemi֗y'u veya'abi֨yru q֥ol bּekal-'areyhem֮ ubiyrushshala֣im le'mor֒ tze'֣u haha֗r vehabi֨y'u֙ 'aley-za֨yit֙ va'aley-'e֣tz shshe֔men va'ale֤y hadas֙ va'ale֣y temari֔ym va'ale֖y 'e֣tz 'abo֑t la'ashso֥t sukּo֖t kּakּatֽub׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters", as it is written.

וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יַשְׁמִ֗יעוּ וְיַעֲבִ֨ירוּ ק֥וֹל בְּכָל־עָרֵיהֶם֮ וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ צְא֣וּ הָהָ֗ר וְהָבִ֨יאוּ֙ עֲלֵי־זַ֨יִת֙ וַעֲלֵי־עֵ֣ץ שֶׁ֔מֶן וַעֲלֵ֤י הֲדַס֙ וַעֲלֵ֣י תְמָרִ֔ים וַעֲלֵ֖י עֵ֣ץ עָבֹ֑ת לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת סֻכֹּ֖ת כַּכָּתֽוּב׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּetze'֣u ha'am֮ vayּabiy'u֒ vayּa'ashsu֩ lahe֨m sukּ֜ot 'i֤yshsh 'al-gּagּo֙ ubechatzero֣teyhe֔m ubechatzer֖ot bּe֣yt ha'elohi֑ym ubirechob֙ shsha֣'ar hamּa֔yim ubirech֖ob shsha֥'ar 'eperaֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim.

וַיֵּצְא֣וּ הָעָם֮ וַיָּבִיאוּ֒ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ לָהֶ֨ם סֻכּ֜וֹת אִ֤ישׁ עַל־גַּגּוֹ֙ וּבְחַצְרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְחַצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבִרְחוֹב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הַמַּ֔יִם וּבִרְח֖וֹב שַׁ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּaֽ'ashs֣u kaֽl-ha֠qּahal hashshּabi֨ym min-hashshּebi֥y ׀ sukּot֮ vayּeshsheb֣u basּukּot֒ kּi֣y loֽ'-'ashs֡u miymey֩ yeshsh֨u'a bּin-n֥un kּen֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l 'a֖d hayּ֣om hah֑u vatּehi֥y shsimecha֖h gּedola֥h me'oֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֣וּ כָֽל־הַ֠קָּהָל הַשָּׁבִ֨ים מִן־הַשְּׁבִ֥י ׀ סֻכּוֹת֮ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ בַסֻּכּוֹת֒ כִּ֣י לֹֽא־עָשׂ֡וּ מִימֵי֩ יֵשׁ֨וּעַ בִּן־נ֥וּן כֵּן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va֠yּiqera bּese֨per tּora֤t ha'elohiym֙ y֣om ׀ bּey֔om min-hayּom֙ haֽri'shsh֔on 'a֖d hayּ֣om ha'achar֑on vayּaֽ'ashsu-chag֙ shshibe'a֣t yami֔ym ubayּ֧om hashshּemiyni֛y 'atze֖ret kּamּishshepּaֽt׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)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, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.

וַ֠יִּקְרָא בְּסֵ֨פֶר תּוֹרַ֤ת הָאֱלֹהִים֙ י֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֔וֹם מִן־הַיּוֹם֙ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הָאַחֲר֑וֹן וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־חָג֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וּבַיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֛י עֲצֶ֖רֶת כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃פ