Nehemiah 8:8-10

New American Standard Bible

⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God, ^[a]translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

⁹ Then Nehemiah, who was the ^[b](A)governor, and Ezra ^(B)the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^(C)This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(D)do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and ^(E)send 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 ^[c]refuge.”