Nehemiah 8
1 And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel [were settled] in their cities; and all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the water-gate, and they told Esdras the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel.
到了七月，以色列人住在自己的城里。那时，他们如同一人聚集在水门前的宽阔处，请文士以斯拉将耶和华借摩西传给以色列人的律法书带来。
2 So Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and every one who had understanding [was present] to listen, on the first day of the seventh month.
七月初一日，祭司以斯拉将律法书带到听了能明白的男女会众面前。
3 And he read in it from the time of sunrise to the middle of the day, before the men and the women; and they understood [it], and the ears of all the people [were attentive] to the book of the law.
在水门前的宽阔处，从清早到晌午，在众男女、一切听了能明白的人面前读这律法书。众民侧耳而听。
4 And Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden stage, and there stood next to him Mattathias, and Samaeas, and Ananias, and Urias, and Chelcia, and Massia, on his right hand; and on his left Phadaeas, and Misael, and Melchias, and Asom, and Asabadma, and Zacharias, and Mesollam.
文士以斯拉站在为这事特备的木台上。玛他提雅、示玛、亚奈雅、乌利亚、希勒家，和玛西雅站在他的右边；毗大雅、米沙利、玛基雅、哈顺、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亚，和米书兰站在他的左边。
5 And Esdras opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, [that] all the people stood.
以斯拉站在众民以上，在众民眼前展开这书。他一展开，众民就都站起来。
6 And Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, and said, Amen, lifting up their hands: and they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their face to the ground.
以斯拉称颂耶和华至大的 神；众民都举手应声说：“阿们！阿们！”就低头，面伏于地，敬拜耶和华。
7 And Jesus and Banaias and Sarabias instructed the people in the law, and the people [stood] in their place.
耶书亚、巴尼、示利比、雅悯、亚谷、沙比太、荷第雅、玛西雅、基利他、亚撒利雅、约撒拔、哈难、毗莱雅，和利未人使百姓明白律法；百姓都站在自己的地方。
8 And they read in the book of the law of God, and Esdras taught, and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord, and the people understood [the law] in the reading.
他们清清楚楚地念 神的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。
9 And Neemias, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites, and they that instructed the people, spoke and said to all the people, It is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
省长尼希米和作祭司的文士以斯拉，并教训百姓的利未人，对众民说：“今日是耶和华—你们 神的圣日，不要悲哀哭泣。”这是因为众民听见律法书上的话都哭了；
10 And [the governor] said to them, Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; for the day is holy to our Lord: and faint not, for the Lord is our strength.
又对他们说：“你们去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能预备的就分给他，因为今日是我们主的圣日。你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。”
11 And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for [it is] a holy day, and despond not.
于是利未人使众民静默，说：“今日是圣日；不要作声，也不要忧愁。”
12 So all the people departed to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, for they understood the words which he made known to them.
众民都去吃喝，也分给人，大大快乐，因为他们明白所教训他们的话。
13 And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, [also] the priests and Levites, to Esdras the scribe, to attend to all the words of the law.
次日，众民的族长、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那里，要留心听律法上的话。
14 And they found written in the law which the Lord commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast in the seventh month:
他们见律法上写着，耶和华借摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月节住棚，
15 and that they should sound with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Esdras said, Go forth to the mountain, and bring branches of olive, and branches of cypress trees, and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of [every] thick tree, to make booths, according to that which was written.
并要在各城和耶路撒冷宣传报告说：“你们当上山，将橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树，和各样茂密树的枝子取来，照着所写的搭棚。”
16 And the people went forth, and brought [them], and made booths for themselves, each one upon his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the city, and as far as the gate of Ephraim.
于是百姓出去，取了树枝来，各人在自己的房顶上，或院内，或 神殿的院内，或水门的宽阔处，或以法莲门的宽阔处搭棚。
17 And all the congregation who had returned from the captivity, made booths, and lived in booths: for the children of Israel [had] not done so from the days of Jesus the son of Naue until that day: and there was great joy.
从掳到之地归回的全会众就搭棚，住在棚里。从嫩的儿子约书亚的时候直到这日，以色列人没有这样行。于是众人大大喜乐。
18 And [Esdras] read in the book of the law of God daily, from the first day even to the last day: and they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
从头一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念 神的律法书。众人守节七日，第八日照例有严肃会。
