^9 (A)And Nehemiah, who was the ^[a]governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ^(B)“This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(C)do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, ^(D)and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to ^(E)send portions and rejoice greatly, because they ^(F)understood the words that were declared to them.