¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing^(A) prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy^(B) of the Lord is your strength.”

¹² Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy,^(A) because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

¹⁷ In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy^(A) and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear^(B) of the Jews had seized them.^(C)