^{8 Ref} And they gave out the words of the book the law of God, clearly, and gave the sense of it, so that their minds were able to take it in.

^{9 Ref} And Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the Lord your God; let there be no sorrow or weeping; for all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law.

^{10 Ref} Then he said to them, Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready: for this day is holy to our Lord: and let there be no grief in your hearts; for the joy of the Lord is your strong place.

^{11 Ref} So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying, Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief.

^{12 Ref} And all the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words which were said to them had been made clear.