Ezra Reads the Law
(Deuteronomy 31:9–13)

1  וַיֵּאָסְפ֤וּ (And gathered together) כָל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) כְּאִ֣ישׁ (as man) אֶחָ֔ד (one) אֶל־ (in) הָ֣רְח֔וֹב (the open square) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that was) לִפְנֵ֣י (in front) שַֽׁעַר־ (of Gate); הַמָּ֑יִם (the Water) וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and they said) לְעֶזְרָ֣א (to Ezra) הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (the scribe) לְהָבִ֗יא (to bring) אֶת־ (-) סֵ֙פֶר֙ (the Book) תּוֹרַ֣ת (of the Law) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (of Moses), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) צִוָּ֥ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (for) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

2  וַיָּבִ֣יא (And brought) עֶזְרָ֣א (Ezra) הַ֠כֹּהֵן (the priest) אֶֽת־ (-) הַתּוֹרָ֞ה (the Law) לִפְנֵ֤י (before the face of) הַקָּהָל֙ (the assembly) מֵאִ֣ישׁ (of men) וְעַד־ (and also) אִשָּׁ֔ה (women) וְכֹ֖ל (and all) מֵבִ֣ין (with understanding) לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ (to hear) בְּי֥וֹם (on the day) אֶחָ֖ד (first) לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ (seventh). 3  וַיִּקְרָא־ (And he read) בוֹ֩ (from it) לִפְנֵ֨י (before the face of) הָרְח֜וֹב (the open square) אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ (that was) לִפְנֵ֣י (in front) שַֽׁעַר־ (of Gate) הַמַּ֗יִם (the Water) מִן־ (from) הָאוֹר֙ (the morning) עַד־ (until) מַחֲצִ֣ית (the middle) הַיּ֔וֹם (of the day) נֶ֛גֶד (before) הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (the men) וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (and the women) וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים (and those with understanding).

וְאָזְנֵ֥י (And the ears) כָל־ (of all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֶל־ (were toward) סֵ֥פֶר (the Book) הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (of the Law).

4  וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד (And stood) עֶזְרָ֣א (Ezra) הַסֹּפֵ֗ר (the scribe) עַֽל־ (on) מִגְדַּל־ (a tower) עֵץ֮ (of wood) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשׂ֣וּ (they had made) לַדָּבָר֒ (for the purpose). וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד (And stood) אֶצְל֡וֹ (beside him) מַתִּתְיָ֡ה (Mattithiah), וְשֶׁ֡מַע (and Shema), וַ֠עֲנָיָה (and Anaiah), וְאוּרִיָּ֧ה (and Urijah), וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה (and Hilkiah), וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה (and Maaseiah) עַל־ (at) יְמִינ֑וֹ (his right hand), וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ (and at his left hand), פְּ֠דָיָה (Pedaiah), וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל (and Mishael), וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה (and Malchijah), וְחָשֻׁ֥ם (and Hashum), וְחַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה (and Hashbadana), זְכַרְיָ֥ה (Zechariah), מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃פ (and Meshullam).

5  וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח (And opened) עֶזְרָ֤א (Ezra) הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ (the book) לְעֵינֵ֣י (before the eyes) כָל־ (of all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), כִּֽי־ (for) מֵעַ֥ל (above) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) הָיָ֑ה (he was). וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ (And at his opening it), עָֽמְד֥וּ (stood up) כָל־ (all) הָעָֽם׃ (the people). 6  וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ (And blessed) עֶזְרָ֔א (Ezra) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) הַגָּד֑וֹל (the great), וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ (and answered) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֜ם (the people) אָמֵ֤ן׀ (Amen), אָמֵן֙ (Amen)! בְּמֹ֣עַל (With lifting up) יְדֵיהֶ֔ם (of their hands), וַיִּקְּד֧וּ (and they bowed) וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוֻּ֛ (and prostrated themselves) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH)— אַפַּ֥יִם (nostrils) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground).

7  וְיֵשׁ֡וּעַ (And Jeshua), וּבָנִ֡י (and Bani), וְשֵׁרֵ֥בְיָ֣ה׀ (and Sherebiah), יָמִ֡ין (Jamin), עַקּ֡וּב (Akkub), שַׁבְּתַ֣י׀ (Shabbethai), הֽוֹדִיָּ֡ה (Hodijah), מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה (Maaseiah), קְלִיטָ֣א (Kelita), עֲזַרְיָה֩ (Azariah), יוֹזָבָ֨ד (Jozabad), חָנָ֤ן (Hanan), פְּלָאיָה֙ (Pelaiah), וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם (and the Levites) מְבִינִ֥ים (instructed) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לַתּוֹרָ֑ה (in the law), וְהָעָ֖ם (and the people) עַל־ (were on) עָמְדָֽם׃ (their stations). 8  וַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ (And they read) בַסֵּ֛פֶר (from the Book) בְּתוֹרַ֥ת (of the Law) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) מְפֹרָ֑שׁ (explaining it), וְשׂ֣וֹם (and giving) שֶׂ֔כֶל (the meaning), וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ (and they gave understanding) בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃ס (to the convocation).

9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) נְחֶמְיָ֣ה (Nehemiah)— ה֣וּא (he was) הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא (the Tirshatha) וְעֶזְרָ֣א (and Ezra) הַכֹּהֵ֣ן׀ (the priest) הַסֹּפֵ֡ר (and the scribe), וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ (and the Levites) הַמְּבִינִ֨ים (who were instructing) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֜ם (the people), לְכָל־ (to all) הָעָ֗ם (the people), הַיּ֤וֹם (The day) קָדֹֽשׁ־ (is holy) הוּא֙ (this) לַיהוָ֣ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ God). אַל־ (Not) תִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּ (do mourn) וְאַל־ (and not) תִּבְכּ֑וּ (do weep).

כִּ֤י (For) בוֹכִים֙ (wept) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) כְּשָׁמְעָ֖ם (at their hearing) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (of the Law).

10  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֡ם (to them), לְכוּ֩ (Go), אִכְל֨וּ (eat) מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים (the fat), וּשְׁת֣וּ (and drink) מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים (the sweet), וְשִׁלְח֤וּ (and send) מָנוֹת֙ (portions) לְאֵ֣ין (to those with nothing) נָכ֣וֹן (prepared) ל֔וֹ (for them), כִּֽי־ (for) קָד֥וֹשׁ (holy) הַיּ֖וֹם (the day is) לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ (to our Lord). וְאַל־ (And not) תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ (do be grieved), כִּֽי־ (for) חֶדְוַ֥ת (the joy) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הִ֥יא (is) מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ strength).

11  וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם (And the Levites) מַחְשִׁ֤ים (quieted) לְכָל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people), לֵאמֹ֣ר (saying), הַ֔סּוּ (Be still), כִּ֥י (for) הַיּ֖וֹם (the day is) קָדֹ֑שׁ (holy); וְאַל־ (and not) תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃ (do be grieved).

12  וַיֵּלְכ֨וּ (And went their way) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֜ם (the people) לֶאֱכֹ֤ל (to eat), וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ (and to drink), וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח (and to send) מָנ֔וֹת (portions), וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (and) שִׂמְחָ֣ה (to rejoice) גְדוֹלָ֑ה (greatly), כִּ֤י (because) הֵבִ֙ינוּ֙ (they understood) בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים (concerning the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הוֹדִ֖יעוּ (were declared) לָהֶֽם׃ס (to them).

The Feast of Tabernacles
(Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21)

13  וּבַיּ֣וֹם (And on the day) הַשֵּׁנִ֡י (second) נֶאֶסְפוּ֩ (were gathered) רָאשֵׁ֨י (the heads) הָאָב֜וֹת (of the fathers) לְכָל־ (of all) הָעָ֗ם (the people), הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (the priests), וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם (and the Levites) אֶל־ (to) עֶזְרָ֖א (Ezra) הַסֹּפֵ֑ר (the scribe), וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל (even to act wisely) אֶל־ (concerning) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (of the Law). 14  וַֽיִּמְצְא֖וּ (And they found) כָּת֣וּב (written) בַּתּוֹרָ֑ה (in the Law) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) צִוָּ֤ה (had commanded) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּיַד־ (by) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) יֵשְׁב֨וּ (should dwell) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל (of Israel) בַּסֻּכּ֛וֹת (in booths) בֶּחָ֖ג (during the feast) בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ (seventh), 15  וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר (and that) יַשְׁמִ֗יעוּ (they should proclaim) וְיַעֲבִ֨ירוּ (and cause to pass over) ק֥וֹל (a voice) בְּכָל־ (in all) עָרֵיהֶם֮ (their cities) וּבִירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם (and in Jerusalem), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), צְא֣וּ (Go out) הָהָ֗ר (to the mountain) וְהָבִ֙יאוּ֙ (and bring) עֲלֵי־ (branches) זַ֙יִת֙ (olive), וַעֲלֵי־ (and branches) עֵ֣ץ (of the tree) שֶׁ֔מֶן (oil) וַעֲלֵ֤י (and branches) הֲדַס֙ (of myrtle), וַעֲלֵ֣י (and branches) תְמָרִ֔ים (of palm trees), וַעֲלֵ֖י (and branches) עֵ֣ץ (of a tree) עָבֹ֑ת (leafy), לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת (to make) סֻכֹּ֖ת (booths), כַּכָּתֽוּב׃פ (as it is written).

16  וַיֵּצְא֣וּ (And went out) הָעָם֮ (the people) וַיָּבִיאוּ֒ (and brought them in) וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ (and made) לָהֶ֨ם (for themselves) סֻכּ֜וֹת (booths), אִ֤ישׁ (each man) עַל־ (on) גַּגּוֹ֙ (his roof), וּבְחַצְרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם (and in their courtyards), וּבְחַצְר֖וֹת (and in the courtyards) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God), וּבִרְחוֹב֙ (and in the open square) שַׁ֣עַר (of Gate) הַמַּ֔יִם (the Water), וּבִרְח֖וֹב (and in the open square) שַׁ֥עַר (of the Gate) אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ (of Ephraim). 17  וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֣וּ (And made) כָֽל־ (all) הַ֠קָּהָל (the assembly) הַשָּׁבִ֨ים (who had returned) מִן־ (from) הַשְּׁבִ֥י׀ (the captivity) סֻכּוֹת֮ (booths), וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (and they sat) בַסֻּכּוֹת֒ (in the booths), כִּ֣י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) עָשׂ֡וּ (had done) מִימֵי֩ (from the days) יֵשׁ֨וּעַ (of Jeshua) בִּן־ (son) נ֥וּן (of Nun) כֵּן֙ (so) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), עַ֖ד (until) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַה֑וּא (that). וַתְּהִ֥י (And there was) שִׂמְחָ֖ה (gladness) גְּדוֹלָ֥ה (great) מְאֹֽד׃ (very).

18  וַ֠יִּקְרָא (And he read) בְּסֵ֨פֶר (from the Book) תּוֹרַ֤ת (of the Law) הָאֱלֹהִים֙ (of God) י֣וֹם׀ (day) בְּי֔וֹם (by day), מִן־ (from) הַיּוֹם֙ (the day) הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן (first) עַ֖ד (until) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הָאַחֲר֑וֹן (last), וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (and they kept) חָג֙ (the feast) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) יָמִ֔ים (days), וּבַיּ֧וֹם (and on the day) הַשְּׁמִינִ֛י (eighth) עֲצֶ֖רֶת (was a sacred assembly) כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃פ (according to the ordinance).