Nehemiah 8:9-12
New American Standard Bible
This Day Is Holy
9 Then Nehemiah, who was the [a](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 [b]refuge.” 11 So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat, drink, (F)to send portions, and to [c]celebrate a great feast, (G)because they understood the words which had been made known to them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Nehemiah 8:9 Heb Tirshatha, a Persian title
- Nehemiah 8:10 Or stronghold
- Nehemiah 8:12 Lit make a great rejoicing
Nehemiah 8:9-12
International Standard Version
A Declaration to Rejoice
9 Because all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law, Nehemiah the governor,[a] Ezra the priest and scribe, and the descendants of Levi who taught the people told everyone, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” 10 He also told them, “Go eat the best food, drink the best wine,[b] and give something to those who have nothing, since this day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sorrowful, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
11 The descendants of Levi also calmed all the people by saying, “Be still, for the day is holy. Don’t be sorrowful!”
12 So all the people went to eat, to drink, to send something to those who had nothing,[c] and to celebrate with great joy, because they understood the words that were being declared to them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Nehemiah 8:9 Lit. Tirshatha; i.e. a Persian title
- Nehemiah 8:10 Or drink sweet drinks
- Nehemiah 8:12 The Heb. lacks to those who had nothing
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