尼希米記 8
1 到了七月，以色列人住在自己的城裏。那時，他們如同一人聚集在水門前的寬闊處，請文士以斯拉將耶和華藉摩西傳給以色列人的律法書帶來。
And the seventh month had arrived. Now the sons of Israel were in their cities. And all the people were gathered together, like one man, in the street which is before the water gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe, so that he would bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had instructed to Israel.
2 七月初一日，祭司以斯拉將律法書帶到聽了能明白的男女會眾面前。
Therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those who were able to understand, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 在水門前的寬闊處，從清早到晌午，在眾男女、一切聽了能明白的人面前讀這律法書。眾民側耳而聽。
And he read it openly in the street which was before the water gate, from morning even until midday, in the sight of the men and women, and those who understood. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book.
4 文士以斯拉站在為這事特備的木臺上。瑪他提雅、示瑪、亞奈雅、烏利亞、希勒家，和瑪西雅站在他的右邊；毗大雅、米沙利、瑪基雅、哈順、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亞，和米書蘭站在他的左邊。
Then Ezra the scribe stood upon a step of wood, which he had made for speaking. And standing beside him were Mattithiah, and Shemaiah, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right. And on the left were Pedaiah, Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 以斯拉站在眾民以上，在眾民眼前展開這書。他一展開，眾民就都站起來。
And Ezra opened the book before all the people. For he stood out above all the people. And when he had opened it, all the people stood up.
6 以斯拉稱頌耶和華至大的上帝；眾民都舉手應聲說：「阿們！阿們！」就低頭，面伏於地，敬拜耶和華。
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people responded, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed down, and they adored God, facing the ground.
7 耶書亞、巴尼、示利比、雅憫、亞谷、沙比太、荷第雅、瑪西雅、基利他、亞撒利雅、約撒拔、哈難、毗萊雅，和利未人使百姓明白律法；百姓都站在自己的地方。
Then Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, caused the people to be silent in order to hear the law. And the people were standing on their feet.
8 他們清清楚楚地念上帝的律法書，講明意思，使百姓明白所念的。
And they read from the book of the law of God, distinctly and plainly, so as to be understood. And when it was read, they did understand.
9 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－你們上帝的聖日，不要悲哀哭泣。」這是因為眾民聽見律法書上的話都哭了；
Then Nehemiah (the same is the cupbearer) and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who were interpreting for all the people, said: “This day has been sanctified to the Lord our God. Do not mourn, and do not weep.” For all of the people were weeping, as they were listening to the words of the law.
10 又對他們說：「你們去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能預備的就分給他，因為今日是我們主的聖日。你們不要憂愁，因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量。」
And he said to them: “Go, eat fat foods and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have not prepared for themselves. For it is the holy day of the Lord. And do not be sad. For the joy of the Lord is also our strength.”
11 於是利未人使眾民靜默，說：「今日是聖日；不要作聲，也不要憂愁。」
Then the Levites caused the people to be silent, saying: “Be quiet. For the day is holy. And do not be sorrowful.”
12 眾民都去吃喝，也分給人，大大快樂，因為他們明白所教訓他們的話。
And so all the people went forth, so that they might eat and drink, and so that they might send portions, and so that they might make a great rejoicing. For they understood the words that he had taught to them.
13 次日，眾民的族長、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那裏，要留心聽律法上的話。
And on the second day, the leaders of the families of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, so that he might interpret for them the words of the law.
14 他們見律法上寫着，耶和華藉摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月節住棚，
And they found written in the law, which the Lord had instructed by the hand of Moses, that the sons of Israel should live in tabernacles on the day of solemnity in the seventh month,
15 並要在各城和耶路撒冷宣傳報告說：「你們當上山，將橄欖樹、野橄欖樹、番石榴樹、棕樹，和各樣茂密樹的枝子取來，照着所寫的搭棚。」
and that they should proclaim and send out a voice in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying: “Go forth to the mount, and bring olive branches, and the branches of beautiful trees, myrtle branches, and palm branches, and the branches of thick trees,” so that they might make tabernacles, just as it was written.
16 於是百姓出去，取了樹枝來，各人在自己的房頂上，或院內，或上帝殿的院內，或水門的寬闊處，或以法蓮門的寬闊處搭棚。
And the people went forth and brought. And they made for themselves tabernacles, each one at his own dwelling, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 從擄到之地歸回的全會眾就搭棚，住在棚裏。從嫩的兒子約書亞的時候直到這日，以色列人沒有這樣行。於是眾人大大喜樂。
Therefore, the entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made tabernacles and lived in tabernacles. For from the days of Jeshua, the son of Nun, even to that day, the sons of Israel had not done so. And there was exceedingly great rejoicing.
18 從頭一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念上帝的律法書。眾人守節七日，第八日照例有嚴肅會。
Now he read in the book of the law of God, throughout each day, from the first day even to the very last day. And they kept the solemnity for seven days. And on the eighth day, there was a gathering according to the ritual.
