Daily Reading for Thursday, October 5th, 2023

Reading 1, Nehemiah 8:1-4, 5-6, 7-12

¹ all the people gathered as one man in the square in front of the Water Gate, and asked the scribe Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which Yahweh had prescribed for Israel.

² Accordingly, on the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women and all those old enough to understand.

³ In the square in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and of those old enough to understand, he read from the book from dawn till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

⁴ The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose; beside him stood, on his right, Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; on his left, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁵ In full view of all the people -- since he stood higher than them all -- Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

⁶ Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, 'Amen! Amen!'; then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before Yahweh.

⁷ And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabab, Hanan, Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the Law to the people, while the people all kept their places.

⁸ Ezra read from the book of the Law of God, translating and giving the sense; so the reading was understood.

⁹ Then His Excellency Nehemiah and the priest-scribe Ezra and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people, 'Today is sacred to Yahweh your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.' For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ He then said, 'You may go; eat what is rich, drink what is sweet and send a helping to the man who has nothing prepared. For today is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.'

¹¹ And the Levites calmed all the people down, saying, 'Keep quiet; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.'

¹² Then all the people went off to eat and drink and give helpings away and enjoy themselves to the full, since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11

⁸ The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.

⁹ The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgements of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,

¹⁰ more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.

¹¹ Thus your servant is formed by them; observing them brings great reward.

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