Nehemiah 8:9-18

9Then Nehemiah, who was the 12governor, and Ezra 3the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “4This day is holy to the Lord your God; 5do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and 6send 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, 7to send portions and to 8celebrate a great festival, 9because 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 10should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 151112So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and 13in Jerusalem, saying, “14Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and 15wild 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 16on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at 17the Water Gate and in the square at 18the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in 19them. The sons of Israel 20had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And 21there was great rejoicing. 1822He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they 23celebrated the feast seven days, and on 24the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.