Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law. They spoke up. So did the Levites who were teaching the people. All these men said to the people,“ This day is set apart to honor the Lord your God. So don’t weep. Don’t be sad.” All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

省长尼希米和作祭司的文士以斯拉，并教训百姓的利未人，对众民说：“今日是耶和华你们神的圣日，不要悲哀哭泣。”这是因为众民听见律法书上的话都哭了；

尼希米省长、以斯拉祭司文士，和教导百姓的利未人对众百姓说：“今日是耶和华—你们上帝的圣日，不要悲哀，也不要哭泣。”这是因为众百姓听见律法书上的话都哭了。

尼希米省长、以斯拉祭司文士，和教导百姓的利未人对众百姓说：“今日是耶和华—你们神的圣日，不要悲哀，也不要哭泣。”这是因为众百姓听见律法书上的话都哭了。

全体民众听到律法书上的话都哭了。尼希米省长、律法教师以斯拉祭司和教导民众的利未人对他们说：“今天是你们上帝耶和华的圣日，不要悲哀、哭泣。”

省长尼希米和祭司兼经学家以斯拉，以及教导人民明白律法的利未人对众民说：“今天是耶和华你们的神的圣日，你们不要悲哀哭泣。”因为众人听见律法书上的话，都哭了。

省長尼希米和作祭司的文士以斯拉，並教訓百姓的利未人，對眾民說：「今日是耶和華－你們神的聖日，不要悲哀哭泣。」這是因為眾民聽見律法書上的話都哭了；

尼希米省長、以斯拉祭司文士，和教導百姓的利未人對眾百姓說：「今日是耶和華－你們上帝的聖日，不要悲哀，也不要哭泣。」這是因為眾百姓聽見律法書上的話都哭了。

尼希米省長、以斯拉祭司文士，和教導百姓的利未人對眾百姓說：「今日是耶和華－你們神的聖日，不要悲哀，也不要哭泣。」這是因為眾百姓聽見律法書上的話都哭了。

全體民眾聽到律法書上的話都哭了。尼希米省長、律法教師以斯拉祭司和教導民眾的利未人對他們說：「今天是你們上帝耶和華的聖日，不要悲哀、哭泣。」

省長尼希米和祭司兼經學家以斯拉，以及教導人民明白律法的利未人對眾民說：“今天是耶和華你們的神的聖日，你們不要悲哀哭泣。”因為眾人聽見律法書上的話，都哭了。

做省長的尼希米、和做祭司的經學士以斯拉、跟教導人民的利未人、對眾民說：『今天是永恆主你們的上帝的聖日；你們不要悲哀哭泣』；這是因為眾民聽見律法書上的話、都哭了。

民聞律詞、咸哭、方伯尼希米、文士祭司以斯拉、與訓民之利未人、告之曰、今乃爾上帝耶和華之聖日、毋悲毋哭、

民聞書所云、咸哭、方伯尼希米、選士祭司以士喇、與訓民之利未人、告眾曰、今乃聖日、奉事爾之上帝耶和華、毋哀哭。

民聞律法之言咸哭、方伯尼希米、為祭司之文士以斯拉、與訓民之利未人、告民曰、今乃主爾天主之聖日、勿悲哀哭泣、

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, 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.

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 as they heard the words of the Law.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them,“ Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them,“ This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them,“ This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

And Nehemiah, which[ is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day[ is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priestly scribe, and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them,“ This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people,“ Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

Some of the family leaders helped pay for the work. The governor gave 19 pounds of gold to be added to the temple treasure. He also gave 50 bowls and 530 sets of clothes for the priests.

The governor gave them an order. He told them not to eat any of the most sacred food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim. The priest would use them to get decisions from the Lord.

Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men, women, and children old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read.

You and your families will eat at the place the Lord your God will choose. He will be with you there. You will find joy in everything you have done. That’s because he has blessed you.

Be filled with joy there in the sight of the Lord your God. Your children should also be joyful. So should your male and female servants. And so should the Levites from your towns. The Levites won’t receive any part of the land as their share.

There is a time to weep. And there’s a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad. And there’s a time to dance.

Here are the names of those who put their official marks on the agreement. Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah He was the governor. Zedekiah,

Be filled with joy at your feast. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites, the outsiders, and the widows living in your towns. And so should the children whose fathers have died.For seven days celebrate the feast to honor the Lord your God. Do it at the place he will choose. The Lord will bless you when you gather all your crops. He’ll bless you in everything you do. And you will be full of joy.

“ Say to the Israelites,‘ On the first day of the seventh month you must have a day of sabbath rest. It must be a special service announced with trumpet blasts.

Be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. Be joyful at the special place he will choose for his Name. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites living in your towns. So should the outsiders and widows living among you. And so should the children whose fathers have died.

The governor gave them an order. He told them not to eat any of the most sacred food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim. The priest would use them to find out what the Lord wanted the people to do.

“‘ On the first day of the seventh month, come together for a special service. Do not do any regular work. Blow the trumpets on that day.Sacrifice a burnt offering. Its smell will please the Lord. Sacrifice one young bull and one ram. Also sacrifice seven male lambs a year old. They must not have any flaws.Present a grain offering along with the bull. It must have 24 cups of the finest flour. Mix it with olive oil. Offer 16 cups along with the ram.Offer eight cups along with each of the seven lambs.Include a male goat as a sin offering. It will pay for your sin.Each month and each day you must sacrifice burnt offerings. Sacrifice them along with their grain offerings and drink offerings as they are required. The offerings for the Feast of Trumpets are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings. They are food offerings presented to the Lord. They have a pleasant smell.

Before I knew about the law, I was alive. But then the commandment came. Sin came to life, and I died.

Ezra was a priest and teacher of the Law. He was an educated man. He knew the Lord’ s commands and rules for Israel very well. Here is a copy of a letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra. It said,

He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow. I will put beautiful crowns on their heads in place of ashes. I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy instead of sorrow. I will give them a spirit of praise in place of a spirit of sadness. They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight. The Lord himself will plant them in the land. That will show how glorious he is.

I haven’t eaten any part of your sacred share while I mourned over someone who had died. I haven’t taken any of it from my house while I was‘ unclean.’ And I haven’t offered any of it to the dead. Lord my God, I’ve obeyed you. I’ve done everything you commanded me to do.

The Levites taught all the people of Israel. The Levites had been set apart to the Lord. Josiah said to them,“ Put the sacred ark of the covenant in the temple Solomon built. He was the son of David and king of Israel. The ark must not be carried around on your shoulders. Serve the Lord your God. Serve his people Israel.

The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read.

Hezekiah spoke words that gave hope to all the Levites. They understood how to serve the Lord well. For the seven days of the feast they ate the share given to them. They also sacrificed friendship offerings. They praised the Lord, the God of their people.

“ Your heart was tender. You made yourself humble in the eyes of the Lord. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. I said they would be under a curse. I told them they would be destroyed. You tore your royal robes and wept in front of me. And I have heard you,” announces the Lord.

Now I am happy. I’m not happy because you were made sad. I’m happy because your sadness led you to turn away from your sins. You became sad just as God wanted you to. So you were not hurt in any way by us.Godly sadness causes us to turn away from our sins and be saved. And we are certainly not sorry about that! But worldly sadness brings death.Look at what that godly sadness has produced in you. You are working hard to clear yourselves. You are angry and alarmed. You are longing to see me. You are concerned. You are ready to make sure that the right thing is done. In every way you have proved that you are not guilty in that matter.

My people are destroyed because they do not know me.“ You priests have refused to obey me. So I will refuse to accept you as my priests. You have not paid any attention to my law. So I will not let your children be my priests.

They served in the days of Joiakim. He was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Jozadak. They also served in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law.

The king heard the words of the Book of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes.

So no one will be considered right with God by obeying the law. Instead, the law makes us more aware of our sin.

For a long time Israel didn’t worship the true God. They didn’t have a priest who taught them. So they didn’t know God’s law.

Here’s something else you do. You flood the Lord’ s altar with your tears. You weep and cry because your offerings don’t please him anymore. He doesn’t accept them with pleasure from your hands.

The king heard the words of the Law. When he did, he tore his royal robes.

“ Go. Ask the Lord for advice. Ask him about what is written in this book that has been found. Do it for me. Also do it for the people who remain in Israel and Judah. The Lord has been very angry with us. That’s because our people before us didn’t obey what the Lord had said. They didn’t do everything written in this book.”