尼希米記 8

¹到了七月，以色列人住在自己的城裡。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。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.

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。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.

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。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.

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；毘大雅、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。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.

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。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.

⁶以斯拉稱頌耶和華至大的　神；眾民都舉手應聲說：「阿們！阿們！」就低頭，面伏於地，敬拜耶和華。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.

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、毘萊雅，和利未人使百姓明白律法；百姓都站在自己的地方。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.

⁸他們清清楚楚地念　神的律法書，講明意思，使百姓明白所念的。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.

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　神的聖日，不要悲哀哭泣。」這是因為眾民聽見律法書上的話都哭了；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.

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。」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.”

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

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。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.

¹³次日，眾民的族長、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那裡，要留心聽律法上的話。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.

¹⁴他們見律法上寫著，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 commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of 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，照著所寫的搭棚。」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.”

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　神殿的院內，或水門的寬闊處，或以法蓮門的寬闊處搭棚。And the people went 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.

¹⁷從擄到之地歸回的全會眾就搭棚，住在棚裡。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。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.

¹⁸從頭一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念　神的律法書。眾人守節七日，第八日照例有嚴肅會。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.