⁷ And ^(A)there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and ^(B)you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.

¹² And ^(A)you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since ^(B)he has no portion or inheritance with you.

¹⁸ but ^(A)you shall eat them before the Lord your God in ^(B)the place that the Lord your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And ^(C)you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake.

²⁶ and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And ^(A)you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.

This Day Is Holy

⁹ And Nehemiah, who was ^(A)the governor, and Ezra ^(B)the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ^(C)“This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(D)do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and ^(E)send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because ^(F)they had understood the words that were declared to them.