¹⁷ You must not eat in your own towns the tithe^(A) of your grain and new wine and olive oil,^(B) or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give,^(C) or your freewill offerings or special gifts.^{(D) 18} Instead, you are to eat^(E) them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose^(F)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice^(G) before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.

¹¹ And rejoice^(A) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name^(B)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites^(C) in your towns, and the foreigners,^(D) the fatherless and the widows living among you.^(E)

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

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