The goal of Bible study is not just learning but living.

研读圣经，不只求知，乃切实遵行。

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Nehemiah 8:8

他们清清楚楚地念上帝的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。

-尼希米记8章8节

When the sun came up on the first day of the seventh month in 444bc, Ezra started reading the law of Moses (what we know as the first five books of the Bible). Standing on a platform in front of the people in Jerusalem, he read it straight through for the next six hours. 

公元前444年，犹太历七月初一的太阳升起时，以斯拉在耶路撒冷的百姓面前，站立在平台上，宣读摩西的律法书（也就是摩西五经），从清晨直到正午，读了六个小时。

Men, women, and children had gathered at the entrance to the city known as the Water Gate to observe the Festival of Trumpets—one of the feasts prescribed for them by God. As they listened, four reactions stand out.  

所有的百姓不分男女，连同孩子们，都在水门前的城门口聚集，一同吹号角作纪念，因为这是上帝所订的节日。百姓仔细聆听以斯拉诵读律法书，并以四种谦恭的态度回应。

They stood up in reverence for the Book of the Law (Neh. 8:5). They praised God by lifting their hands and saying “Amen.” They bowed down in humble worship (v. 6). Then they listened carefully as the Scriptures were both read and explained to them (v. 8). What an amazing day as the book that “theLordhad commanded for Israel” (v. 1) was read aloud inside Jerusalem’s newly rebuilt walls!

当以斯拉一展开书卷，百姓全都恭敬地站起来 (尼希米记8章5节) ；以斯拉称颂耶和华，百姓都举手应声说：“阿们！”接着，百姓谦卑地面伏于地，敬拜耶和华 (6节) ；当宣读并讲解律法书时，百姓都仔细聆听 (8节) 。这实在是令人难忘的一天，在耶路撒冷新建的城墙内，他们大声宣读“耶和华传给以色列人的律法书” (1节) 。

Ezra’s marathon reading session can remind us that God’s words to us are still meant to be a source of praise, worship, and learning. When we open the Bible and learn more about Christ, let’s praise God, worship Him, and seek to discover what He is saying to us now.

以斯拉马拉松式的朗读圣经，可以提醒我们，上帝的话是赞美、敬拜和学习的根源。每当我们翻开圣经，学习更认识基督时，别忘了要赞美上帝，敬拜祂，求祂让我们明白祂要对我们说的话。

Lord, thank You for this amazing book we call the Bible.

 Thank You for inspiring its creation

 by the writers You chose to pen its words.

Thank You for preserving this book t

hrough the ages so we can learn Your people’s story

and the good news of Your love.

感谢天父赐下，奇妙圣书。
感谢圣灵启示，笔之于书。
感谢世代保守，流传这书，
给我留下榜样，认识耶稣。

Nehemiah 8:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

8 1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

尼希米记

民请以斯拉宣读律书

8 到了七月，以色列人住在自己的城里，那时他们如同一人聚集在水门前的宽阔处，请文士以斯拉将耶和华借摩西传给以色列人的律法书带来。 2 七月初一日，祭司以斯拉将律法书带到听了能明白的男女会众面前， 3 在水门前的宽阔处，从清早到晌午，在众男女一切听了能明白的人面前读这律法书，众民侧耳而听。 4 文士以斯拉站在为这事特备的木台上，玛他提雅、示玛、亚奈雅、乌利亚、希勒家和玛西雅站在他的右边，毗大雅、米沙利、玛基雅、哈顺、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亚和米书兰站在他的左边。 5 以斯拉站在众民以上，在众民眼前展开这书。他一展开，众民就都站起来。 6 以斯拉称颂耶和华至大的神，众民都举手应声说“阿门！阿门！”，就低头，面伏于地，敬拜耶和华。 7 耶书亚、巴尼、示利比、雅悯、亚谷、沙比太、荷第雅、玛西雅、基利他、亚撒利雅、约撒拔、哈难、毗莱雅和利未人使百姓明白律法，百姓都站在自己的地方。 8 他们清清楚楚地念神的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。