Nehemiah 8:10-17

10Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and 1send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12All the people went away to eat, to drink, 2to send portions and to 3celebrate a great festival, 4because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

13Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel 5should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 1567So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and 8in Jerusalem, saying, “9Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and 10wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each 11on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at 12the Water Gate and in the square at 13the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in 14them. The sons of Israel 15had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And 16there was great rejoicing.