Work and Rest

⁸ They read aloud from the scroll, the Instruction from God, explaining and interpreting it so the people could understand what they heard. ⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Don’t mourn or weep.” They said this because all the people wept when they heard the words of the Instruction. ¹⁰ “Go, eat rich food, and drink something sweet,” he said to them, “and send portions of this to any who have nothing ready! This day is holy to our LORD. Don’t be sad, because the joy from the LORD is your strength!” ¹¹ The Levites also calmed all of the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Don’t be sad!” ¹² Then all of the people went to eat and to drink, to send portions, and to have a great celebration, because they understood what had been said to them.