⁷ There, in the presence^(A) of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice^(B) in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

¹² And there rejoice^(A) before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites^(B) from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance^(C) of their own.

¹⁸ Instead, you are to eat^(A) them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose^(B)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice^(C) before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.

²⁶ Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink,^(A) or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.^(B)

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites^(A) who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”^(B) For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing^(C) prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy^(D) of the Lord is your strength.”

¹¹ The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”

¹² Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy,^(E) because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.