Nehemiah 8

1 At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

1 全体民众齐心聚集在水门前的广场上。他们请律法教师以斯拉带来耶和华借摩西颁给以色列人的律法书。

2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.

2 七月一日，以斯拉祭司把律法书带到能听懂的男女会众面前，

3 So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

3 面向水门前的广场，从清早到正午一直向他们宣读律法书，民众都侧耳倾听。

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

4 律法教师以斯拉站在为这聚会预备的木台上，站在他右边的是玛他提雅、示玛、亚奈雅、乌利亚、希勒迦和玛西雅；站在他左边的是毗大雅、米沙利、玛基雅、哈顺、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亚和米书兰。

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.

5 以斯拉站在高处，他在全体会众面前一打开书卷，他们都站了起来。

6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

6 以斯拉称颂伟大的上帝耶和华，全体民众都举手应声说：“阿们！阿们！”他们又面伏于地，俯伏敬拜耶和华。

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.

7 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、毗莱雅和利未人帮助民众明白律法，当时民众都站在那里。

8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.

8 他们宣读上帝的律法书，并解释清楚，使民众明白所宣读的。

9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

9 全体民众听到律法书上的话都哭了。尼希米省长、律法教师以斯拉祭司和教导民众的利未人对他们说：“今天是你们上帝耶和华的圣日，不要悲哀、哭泣。”

10 Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

10 尼希米又说：“你们去吃肥美的肉，喝甘甜的酒，并分些给没有预备的人，因为今天是我们主的圣日。不要悲伤，因为从耶和华而来的喜乐是你们的力量。”

11 And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

11 利未人使全体民众安静，说：“请安静，因为今天是圣日。不要悲伤。”

12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

12 于是，全体民众去吃喝，并分给他人，非常欢喜，因为他们明白了教导给他们的话。

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.

13 第二天，全体民众的族长、祭司和利未人都到律法教师以斯拉那里，要深入研究律法上的话。

14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,

14 当时，他们发现耶和华借摩西吩咐的律法上记载，以色列人要在七月节期期间住在棚子里，

15 and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

15 并且要在各城邑和耶路撒冷宣布和传扬以下信息：“你们要上山取橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树和其他茂密树木的枝子，照着所规定的搭棚。”

16 And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.

16 于是，民众都出去取来树枝，在自家的屋顶上、庭院里、上帝殿的院子里、水门的广场上和以法莲门的广场上搭棚。

17 The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

17 从流亡之地归回的民众都搭起棚子，住在里面。从嫩的儿子约书亚时代直到那天，以色列人从没有这样做过。民众非常欢喜。

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.

18 从第一天到最后一天，以斯拉每天都诵读上帝的律法书。他们守节期七天，第八天根据典章举行庄严的聚会。