Nehemiah 8:9

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.

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.

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

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
WEB: Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is holy to the LORD your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
ASV: And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
DARBY: And Nehemiah, that is, the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that explained to the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Jehovah your God: mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
BLB: And Nehemiah (he [was] the Tirshatha) said—and Ezra the priest [and] the scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people—to all the people, “This day [is] holy to YHWH your⁺ God. Do not mourn and do not weep.” For all the people wept at their hearing the words of the Law.

ÅB: Og stattholderen Nehemias og presten Esras, den skriftlærde, og levittene som lærte folket, sa til alt folket: Denne dag er helliget Herren deres Gud, sørg ikke og gråt ikke! For alt folket gråt da de hørte lovens ord.
OTB: Da sa Nehemja, stattholderen, Esra, presten og den skriftlærde, og levittene som underviste folket til dem alle: "Denne dagen er hellig for Herren deres Gud. Sørg ikke og gråt ikke." For hele folket gråt da de hørte lovens ord.
B1930: Og stattholderen Nehemias og presten Esras, den skriftlærde, og levittene som lærte folket, sa til alt folket: Denne dag er helliget Herren eders Gud, sørg ikke og gråt ikke! For alt folket gråt da de hørte lovens ord.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Nehemiah 7:65
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
Read in context
Nehemiah 7:70
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 12:12
And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 16:11
and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.
Read in context
Nehemiah 8:2
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.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 16:14–15
And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.
Read in context
Ezra 2:63
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
Read in context
Isaiah 61:3
to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Read in context