Bible in 90 Days
7 Is there not a tzava (forced hard service in the army) to enosh (man) upon earth? Are not his days also like the yamim of a sachir (hired laborer)?
2 As an eved earnestly longeth for tzel (shade), and as a sachir waiteth for the wage of his work,
3 So am I made to possess months of shav (vanity, futility), and lailot amal (nights of weariness) are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, Mosai (how long) till I arise? But the erev drags on, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto dawn.
5 My basar is clothed with worm and clod of aphar; my ohr (skin) is broken, and become loathsome.
6 My yamim are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without tikveh.
7 O remember that my life is ruach (wind); mine eye shall no more see tov.
8 The ayin (eye) of him that hath seen me shall see me no longer; thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
9 Like the anan that fades and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.
10 He shall return no more to his bais, neither shall his makom know him any more.
11 Therefore I will not curb my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my ruach; I will complain in the mar (bitterness) of my nefesh.
12 Am I a yam, or a tannin (monster of the yam [sea]), that Thou settest a mishmar (guard watch) over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall give me nachamah (comfort), my couch shall ease my complaint,
14 Then Thou frightenest me with chalomot (dreams), and terrifiest me through chezyonot (visions),
15 So that my nefesh chooseth machanak (strangling) and mavet (death) rather than this skeleton.
16 I loathe it; I would not live l’olam, let me alone; for my yamim are hevel (vanity, meaningless).
17 What is enosh (man), that Thou shouldest make much of him? And that Thou shouldest set Thine lev upon him?
18 And that Thou shouldest visit him every boker, and try him every moment?
19 How long dost Thou not look away from me? Nor let me alone till I swallow down my rok (spittle)?
20 Chatati (I have sinned); what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou Notzer HaAdam (Observer of men)? Why hast Thou set me as a mifgah (mark, target, something to be hit) to Thee, so that I am a massa (burden) to Thee?
21 And why dost Thou not pardon my peysha (transgression), and take away my avon (iniquity)? For now shall I sleep in the aphar; and Thou shalt search for me, but I shall be no more.
8 Then answered Bildad the Shuchi, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a raging ruach (wind)?
3 Doth El pervert mishpat (justice)? Or doth Shaddai pervert tzedek?
4 If thy banim have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their peysha (transgression);
5 If thou wouldest seek El (G-d) earnestly, and make thy techinnah (supplication) to Shaddai;
6 If thou wert pure and yashar; surely now He would rouse Himself for thee, and restore the habitation of thy tzedek.
7 Though thy reshit (beginning) was small, yet thy acharit (end) shall be exceedingly great.
8 For inquire, now, of the dor rishon (former age), and consider the research of their avot;
9 —For we are but of temol (yesterday, etmol) and know nothing, because yameinu (our days) upon earth are a tzel (shadow)—
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and bring forth words out of their lev?
11 Can the papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the reed grow without mayim?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before kol khatzir (all grass).
13 So are the paths of all that forget El (G-d), and the tikvat chanef (hope of the hypocrite, the irreligious, the secretly wicked profane person) shall perish,
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose reliance shall be a bais akavish (spider’s web).
15 He shall lean upon his bais, but it shall not stand, he shall cling to it, but it shall not hold.
16 He is like a green plant before the shemesh, and its branch shooteth forth in its gan (garden).
17 Its shorashim (roots) are wrapped about the rock heap, and it looks on the bais avanim (place of stones).
18 But when cast away from its makom, then its place shall deny it, saying, Loh re’iticha (I never saw thee).
19 Behold, thus was the joy of its derech, and others spring forth from the aphar (dust).
20 Surely El (G-d) will not cast away a blameless man, neither will He help the resha’im (evil-doers);
21 Till He fill thy mouth with sechok (laughter), and thy lips with teruah (shouts of joy).
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with bushah (shame), and the ohel resha’im shall be no more.
9 Then Iyov answered and said,
2 I know it is indeed thus, but how should yitzdak Enosh im El (Man be in the right, justified, before G-d)?
3 If he will contend with Him, once of a thousand can Man not answer G-d back.
4 G-d is chochom in lev, and mighty in ko’ach; who hath hardened himself to defy Him and remained unhurt?
5 Which removeth the harim (mountains), and they know not; which overturneth them in His anger;
6 Which shaketh eretz out of its place, and the ammudim thereof tremble;
7 Which commandeth the cheres (sun), and it riseth not; and sealeth up the kokhavim;
8 Which spreadeth out Shomayim by Himself alone, and treadeth upon the waves of the yam;
9 Which maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the constellations on the south side of the heavens;
10 Which doeth gedolot past finding out; yea, and nifla’ot (wonders) without number.
11 Hen (lo), He passeth by me, and I see Him not; He goeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 Hinei, He taketh away, who can stop Him? Who will say unto Him, Mah ta’aseh (what are You doing)?
13 If Eloah restraineth not His anger, the helpers of Rahab must bow themselves under Him.
14 How much less shall I dispute with Him, and choose my dvarim with Him?
15 Whom, though I were tzaddik (righteous, innocent, in the right), yet would I not answer, but I would make techinnah (supplication, plea for mercy) for my mishpat (right).
16 If I had summoned, and He had responded to me, yet would I not believe that He had paid heed unto my kol (voice);
17 For He breaketh me in a sa’arah (tempest, storm), and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to take my ruach (breath), but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If I speak of ko’ach, hinei, He is mighty, and if of mishpat, who can give Him a court summons?
20 If etzdak (I am justified, in the right), mine own mouth would condemn me; if I say, I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.
21 Though I were blameless, yet would I not know my nefesh; I would despise my life.
22 This is one thing; therefore I said it, He destroyeth the tam (blameless) and the rasha (wicked).
23 If the shot (scourge) slay suddenly, He laugheth at the melting away [in anguish] of the nekiyim (innocent ones, the guiltless ones).
24 Eretz is given into the yad of the resha; He blindfoldeth the faces of the shofetim (judges) thereof; if not, then, who doeth it?
25 Now my yamim are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no tovah.
26 They slip by like oniyyot (boats) of reed; as the nesher that swoopeth down on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my si’akh (complaint), I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I have da’as that Thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labor I in hevel (vain)?
30 If I wash myself with sheleg (snow), and make my hands clean with lye,
31 Yet shalt Thou plunge me in the shachat (slime pit), and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For He is not an ish, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in mishpat (in the court).
33 Neither is there any mochiach (arbitrator) between us, that might lay his yad upon us both.
34 Let Him take His shevet (rod) away from me, and let not His fear terrify me.
35 Then would I speak, and not fear Him; but it is not ken (so) with me.
10 My nefesh is sick of my life; I will give free rein to my si’akh (complaint); I will speak in the mar (bitterness) of my nefesh.
2 I will say unto Eloah, Do not condemn me; show me what charge Thou dost contend with me.
3 Is it hatov (pleasing) unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, that Thou shouldest reject the work of Thine hands, and shine [favor] upon the etzah (scheme) of the resha’im?
4 Hast Thou eyes of basar? Or seest Thou as enosh seeth?
5 Are Thy yamim like the yamim of enosh? Are Thy years like the days of gever (man),
6 That Thou seekest after mine avon, and searchest after my chattat?
7 Though Thou has da’as that I am not a resha, and there is none that can deliver out of Thine yad,
8 Thine yadayim have formed me and altogether round about have fashioned me; yet Thou hast now swallowed me.
9 Remember, now, that Thou hast molded me like the chomer (clay), and wilt Thou turn me into aphar again?
10 Hast Thou not poured me out like cholov, and curdled me like gvinah (cheese)?
11 Thou hast clothed me with ohr and basar, and hast knitted me together with atzmot and sinews.
12 Thou hast granted me chayyim and chesed, and Thy visitation hath been shomer over my ruach.
13 And these things hast Thou hid in Thine lev; I have da’as that this was in Thy mind.
14 If I sin, then Thou art shomer over me, and Thou wilt not let my avon go unpunished.
15 If I am guilty, woe unto me; even if I be tzaddik (innocent), yet will I not lift up my head, being full of kalon (shame) and conscious of my oni (misery),
16 For if my head is held high, Thou stalkest me like a fierce lion, and ever Thou displayest Thy awesome power against me.
17 Thou bringest Thy fresh edim (witnesses) against me, and increasest Thine hot indignation toward me; in waves Thy tzava troop against me.
18 Why then hast Thou brought me forth out of the rechem (womb)? Oh that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had never been; I should have been carried from the beten straight to the kever.
20 Are not my yamim few? Then cease, and let me alone, that I may take a little cheer
21 Before I go from where I shall not return, even to the Eretz Choshech V’Tzalmavet,
22 An eretz of darkness, like darkness itself; and of tzalmavet, no sedarim (order), where the light is like darkness.
11 Then answered Tzophar the Na’amati, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of dvarim be answered? And should an ish full of talk yitzdak (be justified)?
3 Should thy vain talk silence men, so that thou mockest, v’ein machlim (without anyone putting thee to shame)?
4 For thou hast said, My lekach (doctrine, teaching, belief) is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.
5 But oh that Eloah would speak, and open His lips against thee,
6 And that He would show thee the secrets of chochmah, that tushiyyah (true wisdom) has two sides! Have da’as therefore that Eloah forgetteth much of thy avon.
7 Canst thou search out the cheker Eloah (depths of G-d)? Canst thou probe to the tachlis Shaddai (the end, completeness of Almighty)?
8 It is like the heights of Shomayim; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; of what canst thou have da’as?
9 The measure thereof is longer than ha’aretz, and broader than the yam (sea).
10 When Eloah passes by and arrests and convenes for judgment, who then can constrain Him?
11 For He has da’as of deceitful men; He seeth wickedness also; will He not then take note of it?
12 But before a witless ish can become wise, a colt of a pereh (wild donkey) would be born an adam!
13 If thou direct thine lev, and stretch out thine hands to Him,
14 If iniquity be in thine yad, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy ohalim.
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without mum; yea, thou shalt be firm, and shalt not fear,
16 Because thou shalt forget thy amal (grief), and remember it as waters that flow by,
17 And thine cheled (duration of life) shall be brighter than the tzohorayim (noonday); thou shalt shine forth; thou shalt be as the boker.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because now there is tikveh; yea, thou shalt search, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, rabbim (many) shall court thy favor.
20 But the eyes of the resha’im faileth, and they shall not escape, and their tikveh shall be as the last gasp of the nefesh.
12 And Iyov answered and said,
2 Doubtless then ye are the people, and chochmah shall die with you.
3 But I have levav (understanding) as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 I am as a laughingstock to his neighbor: The man who calleth upon Eloah [they say of me], and He answereth him! [To them I am] a laughingstock, the tzaddik, the tamim (blameless one)!
5 Those at ease have buz (contempt) for a downfall which awaits the one whose regel is slipping.
6 The ohalim of shodedim (robbers) remain in peace; they that defy El are secure, who Eloah brought forth by His yad.
7 But ask now the behemot, and they shall teach thee, and the oph haShomayim (birds of the air), and they shall tell thee;
8 Or speak to ha’aretz, and it shall teach thee; and the dagim of the yam shall declare unto thee.
9 Of all of these, who lacketh da’as that the yad Hashem hath wrought this?
10 In whose yad is the nefesh of every living thing, and the ruach of kol basar ish.
11 Doth not the ozen (ear) test words? And the mouth tastes its ochel?
12 With the ancient ones is chochmah; and in orech yamim (length of days) is binah (understanding).
13 With Him is chochmah and gevurah; He hath etzah and understanding.
14 See, what He tears down cannot be reconstructed; He shutteth up an ish, and there can be no prison release.
15 See, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn eretz.
16 With Him is oz (strength) and tushiyyah (true wisdom); the deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leadeth yoatzim (counsellors) away stripped, and maketh the shofetim (judges) fools.
18 He looseth the shackle of melachim (kings), and girdeth their loins with loincloth.
19 He leadeth kohanim away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He removeth the speech of the ne’emanim (trusted ones), and taketh away the understanding of the zekenim.
21 He poureth buz (contempt) upon nobles, and loosens the belt of the mighty.
22 He uncovers the depths of choshech, and bringeth tzalmavet to light.
23 He giveth prosperity to the Goyim, and then destroyeth them; He enlargeth them, and then carrieth the Goyim away.
24 He taketh away the lev (understanding) of the Rashei Am HaAretz, and sendeth them to tohu lo derech (trackless wilderness).
25 They grope in the choshech without ohr, and He maketh them to stagger like a shikkor (drunken man).
13 See, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ozen hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, of the same I have da’as also; I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to Shaddai, and I desire to reason with El (G-d).
4 But ye are forgers of sheker, ye are all rofim (physicians) of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it should be your chochmah.
6 Hear now my tokhachat (protest, public argumentation), and pay heed to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye talk wickedly on behalf of El (G-d) and speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Will ye be partial to Him? Will ye play the part of the defense attorney for El?
9 Is it hatov that He should search you out? Or do you play the jester with Him, as one plays the jester with enosh?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do act with partiality beseter (secretly).
11 Shall not His majesty make you afraid? And the pachad of Him fall upon you?
12 Your zichron meshalim (memorable sayings) are like unto ashes, your defenses are strongholds of chomer (clay).
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that Ani (I) may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Why do I take my basar in my teeth, and take my nefesh in mine yad?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I wait for and trust in Him; but I will maintain my derech before Him.
16 He also shall be my Yeshuah (salvation); for a chanef (irreligious man, hypocrite) shall not come before Him.
17 Hear diligently my confession, and my declaration with your oznayim.
18 Hinei now, I have prepared my mishpat (cause, case); I know that I shall be acquitted.
19 Who is he that can contend against me? For atah (now), if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.
20 Only do not shtayim (two things) unto me; then will I not hide myself from Thee.
21 Withdraw Thine hand far from me, and let not Thy eimah (dread, terror) make me afraid.
22 Then kerah (summon), and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer me.
23 How many are mine avonot and chatta’ot? Make me to know my peysha and my chattat.
24 Lammah (why) hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?
25 Wilt Thou frighten away a leaf driven to and fro? And wilt Thou pursue the dry kash (straw, chaff)?
26 For Thou writest down merorot (bitter things) against me, and makest me to inherit the avonot of my neurim (youth).
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and observest kol orkhot (paths, ways) of me; Thou settest a mark upon the soles of my raglayim,
28 Around one who wastes away as a rotten thing, as a beged (garment) that is moth eaten.
14 Adam that is born of isha is of few yamim and full of rogez (unrest).
2 He cometh forth like a tzitz (flower), and is cut down; he fleeth also as a tzel, and continueth not.
3 And doth Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into mishpat with Thee?
4 Who can bring a tahor (clean thing) out of a tameh (an unclean, cf Ro 5:12)? Loh echad (No one).
5 Seeing his yamim are determined, the number of his chodashim (months) are with Thee, Thou hast appointed his limits that he cannot exceed.
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a sachir (a hired man), his day.
7 For there is tikveh of an etz, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the shoresh (root) thereof grow old in ha’aretz, and the stump thereof die in the aphar (dust),
9 Yet through the scent of mayim it will bud, and bring forth branches like a young plant.
10 But gever dieth, and wasteth away; yea, adam breathes his last, and where is he?
11 As the mayim flow away from the yam, and the nahar (stream) becomes parched and drieth up,
12 So ish lieth down, and riseth not, till Shomayim be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that Thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that Thou wouldest conceal me until Thy wrath has passed, that Thou wouldest appoint me a chok (set time), and remember me!
14 If a gever die, shall he live again? All the days of my tzava (hard army service) will I wait, till my chalifah (changing, renewal) come.
15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee; Thou wilt have a desire for the ma’aseh (work) of Thine hands.
16 For now Thou countest my steps. Dost Thou not watch over my chattat?
17 My peysha is sealed up in a bag, and Thou would cover over mine avon.
18 And surely the har (mountain) falling crumbles, and the tzur (rock) is moved out of its place.
19 The mayim wear away the avanim; Thou washest away the things which grow out of the aphar aretz; and Thou destroyest the tikvat enosh.
20 Thou prevailest lanetzach (forever) against him, and he passeth away; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 His banim come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 Only his basar shall have pain upon him, and his nefesh within him shall mourn.
15 Then answered Eliphaz the Temani, and said,
2 Should a chacham (wise man) utter vain knowledge, and fill his inner being with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable davar (talk)? Or with speeches wherewith no good is done?
4 Yea, thou makest void yireh [Elohim], and doth diminish si’akh (meditation) before El.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine avon, and thou choosest the leshon arumim (tongue of the crafty).
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and loh Ani (not I); yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou harishon adam (the first man) that was born? Or wast thou made before the hills?
8 Hast thou attended to the sod Eloah (counsel of G-d)? And dost thou limit chochmah to thyself?
9 Of what dost thou have da’as, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 Both the grayheaded and very aged men are among us, much elder than avicha.
11 Are the tanechumot El (consolations of G-d) not enough for thee? Or the davar that deals gently with thee?
12 Why doth thine lev carry thee away? And why do thy eyes flash,
13 That thou ventest thy ruach against El (G-d), and lettest such words pour out of thy mouth?
14 What is enosh, that he should be pure [in the sight of Hashem]? And he which is born of an isha, that yitzdak (he should be in the right)?
15 If He trusteth not His Kadoshim; yea, Shomayim is not pure in His eyes.
16 How much more vile and corrupt is ish, which drinketh iniquity like mayim?
17 I will show thee, shema to me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18 Things which chachamim declare from their avot without concealment;
19 Unto whom alone ha’aretz was given, and no zar passed among them.
20 The reshah travaileth with pain all his yamim, and numbered shanim are reserved for the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his oznayim; during shalom the shoded (destroyer) shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not in a return from choshech, and he is marked for the cherev.
23 He wandereth about after lechem, saying, Where is it? He has da’as the Yom Choshech is near at hand for him.
24 Distress and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall seize him as a melech poised for battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his yad against El (G-d), and with insolence vaunts himself against Shaddai.
26 He charges against Him, with a stiff neck, with the thick bosses of his mogen (shield);
27 Though he covereth his panim with his fatness, and addeth fat on his flanks;
28 And he dwelleth in desolate towns, and in batim (houses) which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to crumble to rubble.
29 He shall not be osher, neither shall his substance continue; neither shall their possessions spread over ha’aretz.
30 He shall not escape from choshech; the flame shall wither his branches, and in the ruach of his mouth shall he perish.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in shav (vanity); for shav shall be his recompense.
32 His Yom is not yet; then it is accomplished, and his branch shall not flourish.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape like the gefen, and shall cast off his blossom like the zayit (olive tree).
34 For the Adat Chanef (congregation of hypocrites) shall be barren, and eish shall consume the ohalim of bribery.
35 They conceive amal (trouble), and give birth to evil, and their belly worketh mirmar (deceit).
16 Then Iyov answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things; menachamei amal (miserable comforters) are ye all.
3 Shall divrei ruach (vain words) have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do; if your nefesh were in place of my nefesh, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my shfatayim (lips) should relieve your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not relieved, and though I forbear, mah (what) alleviation is it for me?
7 But now He hath worn me out; Thou hast made desolate kol adat (whole household) of me.
8 And Thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is an ed (witness) against me; and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who warreth against me; He gnasheth upon me with His shinayim (teeth); mine adversary sharpeneth His eyes against me.
10 They have struck at me with their mouth; they have struck me upon the lekhi (cheek) reproachfully; [Isa 50:6; Lam 3:30] they have conspired themselves together against me.
11 El hath delivered me to evil men, and turned me over into the hands of the resha’im.
12 I was at ease, but He hath shattered me; He hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for His mattarah (object of attack, target).
13 His archers surround me, He pierces my klayot (kidneys), and doth not show mercy; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He bursteth upon me again and again; He runneth upon me like a gibbor (warrior).
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and laid my keren (horn, strength) in the aphar (dust).
16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the tzalmavet;
17 Not for any chamas in mine hands; also my tefillah is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my dahm, and let my outcry have no makom (place of rest).
19 Also now, hinei, my Ed is in Shomayim, and my Sahed (witness, one who vouches for me) is on high [MJ 4:15].
20 My friends scorn me; but mine eye poureth out tears unto Eloah.
21 O that one might plead for a man with Eloah, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!
22 When a few shanot are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
17 My ruach is broken, my yamim are extinct, the kevarim are ready for me.
2 Does not hatulim (mockery) surround me? And doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3 Lay down an eravon (pledge) with Thee; who is he that will put up security for me?
4 For Thou hast hid their lev from seichel; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
5 He that informs on re’im for chelek, even the eyes of his banim shall fail.
6 He hath made me also a mashal (byword) of the peoples; and I am one in whose face they spit.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of ka’as, and all my members are like a tzel (shadow).
8 Yesharim shall be appalled at this and the naki (pure, innocent) shall stir up himself against the chanef (profane, irreligious).
9 The tzaddik also shall hold to his derech, and he whose yadayim are tahor shall grow stronger and stronger.
10 But as for all you, do ye return, and come back now; for I cannot find one chacham among you.
11 My yamim are past, my plans are broken, even the morashot (possessions, desires) of my lev.
12 They change the lailah into yom; the ohr is near to choshech, say they.
13 If I wait, Sheol is mine bais; I have made my bed in the choshech.
14 I have said to Shachat, thou art avi; to the worm, thou art immi, and achoti.
15 And where is now my tikveh? As for my tikveh, who regards it?
16 Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we go down together into the dust?
18 Then answered Bildad the Shuchi, and said,
2 Ad anah (Until when, how long) will it be ere ye make an end of words? Gain binah, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as behemah (cattle), and reputed stupid in your sight?
4 Thou art he who teareth his nefesh in his anger; shall eretz (earth) be forsaken for thee? And shall the tzur be removed out of its place?
5 Yea, the ohr of the resha’im shall be put out, and the flame of his eish shall not burn.
6 The ohr shall be choshech in his ohel, and his ner (lamp) above him is extinguished.
7 The steps of his vigor shall be shortened, and his own etzah (counsel, scheme) shall cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a reshet by his own raglayim, and he walketh into a pitfall.
9 The pach (trap) shall take him by the akev (heel), and the snare shall prevail against him.
10 The noose is laid for him ba’aretz (on the ground), and a trap for him in the path.
11 Ballahot (terrors, terrible thoughts) shall make him afraid on every side, and shall dog him behind his feet.
12 Calamity is ra’ev (hungry) for him, and destruction shall be ready for his fall.
13 It shall devour the limbs of his ohr (skin); even the bechor mavet (plague) shall devour his members.
14 That in which he trusted is rooted out of his ohel, and it shall march him to Melech Ballahot (King of Terrors).
15 In his ohel nothing dwells; gofrit (brimstone) is scattered upon his habitation.
16 His shorashim shall be dried up beneath, and above his branch shall wither.
17 His memory shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no shem in the land.
18 He shall be driven from ohr into choshech, and chased out of the tevel.
19 He shall neither have offspring nor descendent among his am (people), nor is there a sarid in his dwellings.
20 The acharonim shall be astonished at his yom, as the kadmonim were affrighted.
21 Surely such are the mishkenot (dwellings) of the resha’im, and this is the place of him that has no da’as of El.
19 Then Iyov answered and said,
2 How long will ye torment my nefesh, and crush me with words?
3 These ten times have ye reproached me; ye have no bushah that ye cause me astonishment.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine meshugah (error) remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves above me, and use against me my cherpah (reproach, humiliation),
6 Have da’as now that Eloah hath put me in the wrong, and hath encompassed me with his matzud (net).
7 Behold, when I cry chamas, I am not heard; I cry for help, but there is no mishpat.
8 He hath fenced around my way that I cannot pass, and set choshech in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my kavod, and taken the ateret from my rosh.
10 He breaks me down on every side till I am gone, and mine tikveh hath He uprooted like an etz.
11 He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him as His tzar (enemy).
12 His forces come together, and raise up their seige ramp against me, and encamp around my ohel.
13 He hath put achai (my brethren) far from me, and mine acquaintances are verily estranged from me.
14 My kerov (near and dear) have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine bais, and my maidservants, count me for a zar; I am a nokhri in their sight.
16 I summoned avdi, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth.
17 My ruach is repulsive to my isha, loathsome to bnei beten of mine.
18 Even avilim (little children) treat me with contempt; I appear, and they ridicule me.
19 All my metei sod (confidants) detest me, and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My etzem cleaveth to my ohr (skin) and to my basar, and I am escaped only by the skin of my teeth.
21 Chanuni, chanuni, O ye my friends; for the yad Eloah hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me like El, not satisfied with my basar?
23 Oh that my words were but written! O that they were recorded in a sefer!
24 That they were engraved with a pen of barzel and with oferet (lead) in the tzur forever!
25 For Ani yadati Goeli chai (I know that my Redeemer liveth), and that he shall stand up at Acharon (at the Last) upon aphar (dust, the earth);
26 And though after my ohr (skin) has been thus destroyed, yet from my basar I shall see Eloah;
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold and no other; my heart faints within me.
28 But ye think, How we will persecute him, seeing the shoresh (root) of the matter is found in me?
29 Be ye afraid of the cherev; for wrath bringeth the avonot (punishments) of the cherev, that ye may know there is a judgment.
20 Then answered Tzophar the Na’amati, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and ba’avur (because of [this]) I make haste.
3 I hear the musar that insults me, and the ruach of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since adam was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the resha’im is short, and the simchat chanef (joy of the hypocrite) but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to Shomayim, and his rosh reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet he shall perish lanetzach (forever) like his own dung; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall fly away as a chalom, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a chezyon lailah.
9 The ayin also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his makom any more behold him.
10 His banim shall seek the favor of the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
11 His atzmot are full of youthful vigor, which shall lie down with him in the aphar.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his leshon;
13 Though he savor it, and forsake it not, but keep it still betoch (within) his mouth;
14 Yet his lechem in his stomach is turned sour; it is the venom of vipers within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; El shall drive them out of his beten.
16 He shall suck the venom of asps; the viper’s leshon shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of devash and khemah (butter, curds).
18 That which he labored for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; he shall not rejoice according to his chayil temurah (business profit).
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the destitute; because he hath violently seized a bais which he built not;
20 Surely he knew no quiet in his beten; he shall not save anything which he desired.
21 There shall none of his ochel be left; therefore his posterity will not endure.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in distress; kol yad of misery shall come upon him.
23 When he is about to fill his beten, He shall cast the charon af (fury of His wrath) upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
24 He shall flee from the weapon of barzel (iron), and the keshet of bronze shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn, and cometh out of their body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; emim (terrors [of death]) are upon them.
26 Kol choshech is reserved for his treasures; an eish not fanned shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his ohel.
27 Shomayim shall reveal his iniquity; and eretz shall rise up against him.
28 The increase of his bais shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in [G-d’s] Yom Af.
29 This is the chelek of an adam rasha from Elohim, and the nachalah decreed unto him by El (G-d).
21 But Iyov answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your tanechumot (consolations).
3 Bear with me that I may speak; and achar (after) that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to adam (mortals)? Or why should my ruach not become impatient?
5 Look at me, and be astonished, and lay your yad upon your peh (mouth).
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my basar.
7 Madu’a (why) do the resha’im live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their zera is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their batim (houses) are shalom from pachad; neither is the shevet Eloah upon them.
10 Their shor (bull) breeds, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and doth not miscarry her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a tzon, and their yeladim jump about.
12 They sing to the tambourine and kinnor, and rejoice at the sound of the flute.
13 They spend their yamim in tov, and in a moment go down to Sheol.
14 Therefore they say unto El, Depart from us; for we desire not the da’as of Thy ways.
15 What is Shaddai, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we importune Him?
16 Lo, their tov is not in their yad; the etzah (counsel, scheme) of the resha’im is far from me.
17 How oft is the ner (light) of the resha’im put out! And how oft cometh their destruction upon them and He distributeth pains in His anger.
18 They are as straw before the ruach, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19 Eloah layeth up his iniquity for his banim; He payeth him back, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his bais after him, when the mispar (number) of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach El da’as, seeing He judgeth those that are on high?
23 Zeh (this one) dieth in his full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure.
24 His troughs are full of cholov, and his atzmot are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the marah (bitterness) of his nefesh, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 They shall lie down alike in the aphar, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your machshevot, and the stratagems which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the bais of the tyrant? And where are the ohel mishkenot of the resha’im?
29 Have ye not asked them that travel the derech? And do ye not accept their testimony,
30 That the rah is spared in the yom eid (day of calamity)? They shall be rescued in the yom avarot (day of wrath).
31 Who shall declare his derech to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the gadish (gravemound).
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and kol adam shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me with hevel (empty nothings), seeing in your answers there is nothing left but falsehood?
22 Then Eliphaz of Teman answered and said,
2 Can a gever be profitable unto El, as he that has seichel may be profitable unto himself?
3 Is it any pleasure to Shaddai, that thou art tzaddik? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Is it for thy yireh [Elohim] that He reproves thee? Will He enter with thee into mishpat?
5 Is not thy rah great? And thine avonot infinite?
6 For thou hast exacted a pledge from thy brother for naught, and stripped the arummim (naked ones) of their clothing.
7 Thou hast not given mayim to the weary to drink, and thou hast withheld lechem from the hungry.
8 But as for the ish zeroa (mighty man), his is ha’aretz; and the honorable man dwelt therein.
9 Thou hast sent almanot away empty, and the arms of the yetomim have been broken.
10 Therefore pachim (snares) are around thee, and sudden pachad troubleth thee;
11 Or choshech, that thou canst not see; and overflow of mayim cover thee.
12 Is not Eloah in the height of Shomayim? And hinei the rosh kokhavim, how high they are!
13 And thou sayest, How doth El know? Can He judge through the thick cloud?
14 Thick clouds veil Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the vault of Shomayim.
15 Wilt thou note the orach olam which wicked men have trodden?
16 Who were cut down before their time, whose yesod was overflown with a flood;
17 Who said unto El, Depart from us; and what can Shaddai do to them?
18 Yet He filled their batim (houses) with tov; but the etza (counsel) of the resha’im is far from me.
19 The tzaddikim see it, and are glad, and the naki (innocent) laugh them to scorn.
20 Verily our foe is destroyed, and the abundance of them the eish consumeth.
21 Acquaint now thyself with Him, and so hast thou shalom; thereby tovah shall come unto thee.
22 Receive, now, torah from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine lev.
23 If thou return to Shaddai, thou shalt be restored; if thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy ohalim;
24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as aphar, and that of Ophir as the tzur of the brooks.
25 Yea, Shaddai shall be thy gold, and thy precious kesef.
26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in Shaddai, and shalt lift up thy face unto Eloah.
27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt fulfill thy nederim.
28 Thou shalt also decide a matter, and it shall be established unto thee, and the ohr shall shine upon thy ways.
29 When they are cast down, thou shalt say, Arise, and He shall save the one with low eynayim (i.e., humility).
30 He shall deliver even the guilty; and he is delivered by the bar (cleanness) of thine hands.
23 Then Iyov answered and said,
2 Even hayom (today) is my complaint bitter; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find Him! That I might come even to His techunah (abode)!
4 I would order my mishpat (cause) before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which He would answer me, and have binah of what He would say unto me.
6 Will He contend against me with His great koach? No, but He would pay heed to me.
7 There the yashar might dispute with Him; so should I be delivered forever from my Shofet (Judge).
8 Hen (behold), I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him;
9 On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him; He hideth himself yamin (on the right hand), that I cannot see Him;
10 But He knoweth the derech that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as zahav.
11 My regel hath held to His steps, over His way have I been shomer, and not turned aside.
12 Neither have I gone back from the mitzvah of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my appointed portion.
13 But He stands alone, and who can turn Him? And what His nefesh desireth, even that He doeth.
14 For He accomplisheth the thing that is appointed for me; and rabbot (many) such things are with Him.
15 Al-ken (therefore) am I troubled at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16 For El maketh my lev dejected, and Shaddai troubleth me,
17 Because I was not cut off from before the choshech, neither hath He hidden deep darkness from my face.
24 Why are times [for judgment] from Shaddai not kept, and why do those who have da’as of him not see his yamim [days [of assize])?
2 Some move the boundary stones; they steal edar, and pasture them.
3 They drive away the chamor of the yetomim, they take the ox of the almanah for a pledge.
4 They thrust the needy out of the derech; the poor of the eretz needs hide themselves together.
5 Look, as wild donkeys in the midbar go they forth to their work; foraging for teref (nourishment); the wilderness yieldeth lechem for them and for their na’arim.
6 They reap every one his fodder in the sadeh, and they glean the kerem of the resha’im.
7 They spend the night arom (naked) without levush (clothing), they have no covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the rain of the harim, and embrace the tzur for want of a shelter.
9 They pluck the yatom from the breast, and seize the oni for debt.
10 They cause him to go arom without levush, and they take away the omer (sheaf) from the hungry;
11 Which crush olives within their walls, and tread their winepresses, yet suffer thirst.
12 Men groan from out of the Ir, and the nefesh of the chalalim (wounded ones) crieth out, yet Eloah chargeth not tiflah (folly) to them.
13 They are of those that are moredei ohr (rebelling ones against the light); they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 The rotzeach rising with the daylight killeth the oni and needy, and in the lailah is like a ganav.
15 The eye also of the no’ef is shomer, watching for the dusk’s twilight, saying, No eye shall see me, and puts something to hide his face.
16 In the choshech they dig through batim (houses); in the daytime they shut themselves in; they have no da’as of the ohr.
17 For the boker is to them even as the tzalmavet; they are friends with the terrors of tzalmavet.
18 Swiftly vanishing is he on the surface of the mayim; their chelek is cursed in ha’aretz; he turneth no more in the derech of the kramim (vineyards).
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth Sheol those which have sinned.
20 The rechem (womb) shall forget him; the worm shall feast on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken like an etz.
21 He plundereth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the almanah.
22 He drags away also the mighty with his ko’ach; he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety, and he be sustained, yet His eynayim are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted me’at (for a little while), then they are no more and are withered and snatched away like all others, and cut off like the tops of the ears of grain.
25 And if it be not so, who will charge me with lying, and make my milah (word) worth nothing? [T.N. Notice the question answered by Romans, Galatians, and Gn 15:6 as well as Chabakuk 2:4 is stated in Job 25:4 below; see Ephesians 2:8-9 and Ro 3:24,26, 28; 4:2; 5:1,9; Ga 2:16,17; 3:11, 24; 5:4; Ti 3:7; this the most important question raised in the Bible: it is for eternity]
25 Then answered Bildad the Shuchi, and said,
2 Dominion and pachad are with Him, oseh shalom bimromav.
3 Is there any number of His armies? And upon whom doth not His ohr arise?
4 Mah yitzdak Enosh im El (how then can man be justified, set right, with G-d?) Or how can he be clean that is born of isha?
5 If even the yarei’ach shineth not, yea, the kokhavim are not pure in His sight,
6 How much less enosh, that is a maggot? And the ben adam, which is a tola’at (worm)?
26 But Iyov answered and said,
2 How hast thou helped him that is without ko’ach? How savest thou the zero’a that hath no oz (strength)?
3 How hast thou counseled him that hath no chochmah? And how hast thou plentifully declared the tushiyyah (efficient wisdom)?
4 To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose neshamah came from thee?
5 Dead things tremble from under the mayim, and the inhabitants thereof.
6 Sheol is naked before Him, and Avaddon hath no cover.
7 He stretcheth out the Tzafon over the tohu, and hangeth eretz upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the mayim in His thick clouds; and the anan doeth not burst under them.
9 He covers the face of [His] kisse, and spreadeth His anan upon it.
10 He hath circled the horizon on the face of the mayim for a boundary between ohr and choshech.
11 The ammudim of Shomayim tremble and are aghast at His rebuke.
12 He divideth the yam with His ko’ach, and by His understanding He struck down Rahav.
13 By His Ruach He hath made fair Shomayim; His yad hath pierced the fleeing nachash.
14 Lo, these are but the ketzot of His ways, but how faint the davar we hear of Him. And the thunder of His gevurah who can understand?
27 Moreover Iyov continued his mashal, and said,
2 As El liveth, Who hath taken away my mishpat, and Shaddai, Who hath saddened my nefesh;
3 All the while my neshamah is in me, and the ruach of Eloah is in my nostrils,
4 My lips shall not speak falsehood, nor my leshon utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me I should justify you; till I die I will not remove mine tom (integrity) from me.
6 My tzedakah I hold fast, and will not let it go; my lev shall not reproach for any of my days.
7 Let mine enemy be as the rasha (evildoer), and he that riseth up against me as unrighteous.
8 For what is the tikveh of the chanef, when He cutteth off, when Eloah taketh away, his nefesh?
9 Will El hear his cry when tzarah cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in Shaddai? Will he always call upon Eloah?
11 I will teach you concerning the yad El; that which is with Shaddai will I not conceal.
12 Hen (behold), all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13 This is the chelek (lot) of the adam rasha with El and the nachalah of oppressors, which they shall receive from Shaddai.
14 If his banim be multiplied, it is for the cherev, and his offspring shall not have lechem enough.
15 Those that survive him shall be buried in mavet, and his almanot shall not weep.
16 Though he heap up kesef as the aphar, and pile up raiment as the clay,
17 He may prepare it, but the tzaddik shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the kesef.
18 He buildeth his bais as a moth, and as a sukkah that the watchman maketh.
19 The oisher (rich man) shall lie down, but he shall do so no more; he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20 Terrors take hold on him as a flood, a tempest stealeth him away in the lailah.
21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth as a storm hurleth him forth from his makom.
22 For it will hurl against him, without sparing; he desperately flees from its yad.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him away from his makom.
28 Surely there is a mine for the kesef, and a makom for zahav where they refine it.
2 Barzel (iron) is taken out of aphar, and nechoshet is smelted out of the even (stone, ore).
3 He setteth a ketz to choshech, and searcheth out all extremities, the even (ore) of darkness and tzalmavet.
4 He cuts out a shaft down far from the inhabitant; forgotten of the regel, they dangle, suspended, away from enosh.
5 As for eretz, out of it cometh lechem, and under it is transformed as by eish.
6 The stones of it are the makom of the sapphire, and it hath ore of zahav.
7 There is a hidden path of which no bird of prey has da’as, and which the falcon’s eye hath not seen.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the shachal (lion’s cub) passed over it.
9 He [the miner] putteth forth his yad upon the rock; he upturneth the mountains by the shoresh.
10 He cutteth out channels through the tzurot (rocks), and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from flowing, and the thing that is hidden bringeth he forth to ohr.
12 But where shall chochmah be found? And where is the makom binah?
13 Enosh knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the Eretz HaChayyim.
14 The tehom (abyss) saith, It is not in me; and the yam saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten in exchange for fine gold, neither shall kesef be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the fine gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The zahav and the crystal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for the jewel of gold.
18 Nor shall mention be made of coral or crystal, for the price of chochmah is above pearls.
19 The chrysolite of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with tahor gold.
20 From where then cometh chochmah? And where is the makom binah?
21 Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of kol chai, and concealed from the oph HaShomayim.
22 Abaddon and Mavet say, We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.
23 Elohim understandeth the way to it, and He knoweth the makom thereof.
24 For He looketh to the ketzot ha’aretz, and seeth all under Shomayim.
25 The weight He appointed for the ruach, and He weigheth the mayim by measure.
26 When He made a decree for the matar, and a derech for the lightning of the thunder,
27 Az (then) did He see it, and declare it; He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And unto adam He said, See, the Yirat Adonoi, that is chochmah, and to depart from rah is binah.
29 Moreover Iyov continued his mashal, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when Eloah was shomer over me;
3 When His ner (lamp) shined upon my rosh, and when by His ohr I walked through choshech;
4 As I was in the days of my prime, when the Sod Eloah (friendship, counsel of G-d) was over my ohel;
5 When Shaddai was yet with me, when my children were around me;
6 When I washed my steps with khemah, and the tzur poured me out streams of shemen;
7 When I went out to the sha’ar through the city, when I took my moshav in the rekhov!
8 The ne’arim saw me, and stepped aside, and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The sarim (nobles) refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their leshon cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ozen heard me, then it commended me; and when the ayin saw me, it did bear witness of me,
12 Because I delivered the oni that cried out, and the yatom that had no ozer (helper) for him.
13 The birkat oved (blessing of the oppressed) came upon me, and I caused the lev almanah to sing for joy.
14 I put on tzedek, and it clothed me; my mishpat was as a robe and a tzanif (turban).
15 I was eyes to the ivver, and feet was I to the pisei’ach.
16 I was an av to the evyonim (needy); and the cause which I knew not I investigated.
17 And I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his shinayim.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my ken (nest, house), and I shall multiply my yamim like the chol (sand).
19 My shoresh was spread out to the mayim, and the tal lay all night upon my branch.
20 My kavod was fresh with me, and my keshet was ever new in my yad.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my etzah (counsel).
22 Acharei (after) my words they spoke not again; and my speech fell upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the matar; and they opened their mouth wide as for the malkosh (spring, late rain).
24 I smiled on them when they did not believe; and the ohr of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose out their derech, and sat as Rosh, and dwelt as a melech with his army, as one that comforteth the avelim (mourners).
30 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose avot I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my tzon.
2 Yea, what use was the koach of their hands to me, since their vigor hath perished?
3 For choser (want, lack) and hunger they gnawed the parched ground desolate and waste.
4 They cut up mallow plants by the bushes, and juniper roots for their lechem.
5 They were banished from among men, (they shouted after them as after a ganav);
6 To dwell in the clefts of the wadis, in holes of aphar, and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed; tachat (under) the underbrush they were huddled together.
8 They were bnei naval, yea, sons of base men; they were driven forth out of ha’aretz.
9 And atah (now) am I their mocking song, yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not rok (spit) in my face [Mt 26:67].
11 Because He hath loosed my bowstring, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the resen (bridle) before me.
12 Upon my yamin (right hand) rise up the rabble; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They break up my road, they set forward my overthrow, they have no ozer (helper).
14 They approach me as through a wide breach; in the shoah (desolation, Holocaust), they rolled themselves upon me.
15 Ballahot (terrors) are turned upon me; they pursue my dignity like the ruach, and my safety passeth away like a cloud.
16 And now my nefesh ebbs away from me; the yemei oni have taken hold upon me.
17 My atzmot are pierced in me in the night, and my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great koach is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about like the collar of my kuttonet (chiton, robe).
19 He hath cast me into the chomer, and I am become like aphar and ashes.
20 I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost answer me lo (not); I stand up, and Thou regardest me not.
21 Thou art become cruel to me; with Thy strong yad Thou opposest Thyself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up to the ruach; Thou causest me to drive along, and vanish in the roaring of the storm.
23 For I know that Thou wilt bring me down to mavet, to the bais mo’ed l’khol chai.
24 Yet will not one stretch out his yad in a heap of ruin, or cry out for help in his disaster.
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my nefesh grieved for the evyon (needy)?
26 When I looked for tov, then rah came unto me; and when I waited for ohr, there came ofel (darkness).
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not; yemei oni met me.
28 I went mourning without the sun; I stood up, and I cried out in the kahal.
29 I am an ach to jackals, and a re’a to owls.
30 My ohr (skin) grows black upon me, and my atzmot are burned with fever.
31 My kinnor (harp) also is turned to evel (mourning), and my flute into the voice of them that weep.
31 I made a brit (covenant) with mine eyes; how then look I upon a betulah?
2 For what chelek of Eloah is there from above? And what nachalah of Shaddai from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? And a disaster to the poalei aven (workers of wrong)?
4 Doth not He see my derech, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked with shav (vanity, falsehood), or if my regel hath hasted to mirmah (deceit),
6 Let me be weighed in scales of tzedek that Eloah may know mine tom (integrity).
7 If my step hath turned out of the derech, and mine lev walked after mine eyes, and if any mum hath cleaved to mine hands,
8 Then let me sow, and let acher (another) eat; yea, let my harvest be uprooted.
9 If mine lev have been deceived by an isha, or if I have lurked at petach (doorway) of my re’a;
10 Then let my isha grind for another, and let another kneel over her.
11 For this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an avon to be brought before judges.
12 For it is an eish that consumeth to Abaddon, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I did despise the mishpat (cause) of my eved or of my amah, when they contended with me,
14 What then shall I do when El riseth up? And when He visiteth, what shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He that made me in the beten make them? And did not Echad fashion us in the rechem?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their chefetz (desire), or have caused the eyes of the almanah to grow weary,
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the yatom hath not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with an av, and I have guided her from beten immi;)
19 If I have seen any oved (one perishing) for want of clothing, or any evyon (needy) without covering,
20 If his heart did not bless me for warming him with the giz (fleece) of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my yad against the yatom, when I saw my influence in the sha’ar (gate, court);
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder, and mine zero’a be broken from its socket.
23 For destruction from El was a pachad to me, and by reason of His majesty I could not endure.
24 If I have made zahav my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my security,
25 If I rejoice because my wealth was rav (great), and because mine yad had gotten much,
26 If I beheld the ohr when it shined, or the yarei’ach moving in splendor,
27 And my lev hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my yad [in heathen worship];
28 This also were an avon to be punished by the judge; for then I would have been unfaithful, denying El that is on high.
29 If I rejoice at the misfortune of him that hated me, or gloated when rah found him,
30 Neither have I allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse to his nefesh.
31 Have the men of my ohel not said, Where can we find one who has not been sated with his basar (meat)?
32 The stranger did not spend the night in the street, but I opened my delet to the ger.
33 If I concealed my peysha like Adam, by hiding mine avon in my heart,
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of mishpekhot terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of doors?
35 Oh that one would hear me! See, my tav [signature], that Shaddai would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a sefer [of indictment];
36 Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder, and bind it to me like atarot (crowns).
37 I would declare unto Him the number of my steps; like a nagid (prince) would I go near unto Him.
38 If my adamah cry against me, or if the furrows had wept together,
39 If I have eaten the yield thereof without kesef (payment), or have broken the nefesh of the tenants thereof,
40 Let thistles grow instead of chittim (wheat), and weed instead of barley. The divrei Iyov are ended.
32 So these shloshet ha’anashim ceased to answer Iyov, because he was tzaddik in his eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi, of the mishpochah Ram; against Iyov was his wrath kindled, because Iyov justified his nefesh rather than Elohim.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no ma’aneh (refutation, answer), and yet had condemned Iyov.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Iyov had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no ma’aneh in the mouth of these shloshet ha’anashim, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu ben Barachel the Buzi answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and dared not tell you of what I have da’as.
7 I said, Yamim should speak, and multitude of shanim should teach chochmah.
8 But there is a ruach in enosh, and the neshamat Shaddai giveth them binah.
9 Great men are not always wise, neither do the zekenim understand mishpat.
10 Therefore I said, Pay heed to me; I also will tell of what I have da’as.
11 Hen (behold), I waited for your dvarim; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, hinei, there was none of you that proved Iyov wrong, or that answered his words.
13 Yet do not say, We have found chochmah; El may vanquish him, lo ish (not man).
14 Now he hath not directed his millin (words) against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed; they answered no od (more); they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no od [more]);
17 I said, I will answer also my chelek (portion); I also will show of mine da’as.
18 For I am full of millim (words), the ruach within me compelleth me.
19 Hinei, my beten is like yayin which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like ovot chadashim (new wineskins).
20 I will speak that I may be relieved; I will open my sfatayim and answer.
21 Let me not, now, show any man partiality, neither let me flatter adam.
22 For I am not skilled in flattery; in so doing Oseini (my Maker) would soon take me away.
33 Wherefore, Iyov, now, hear my speeches, and pay heed to all my words.
2 Hinei, now I have opened my mouth, my leshon hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of my yosher lev (the uprightness of my heart), and my lips shall utter da’as that is pure.
4 The Ruach El [Ruach Hakodesh] hath made me, and the Neshamah of Shaddai hath given me life.
5 Im (If) thou canst, answer me; set thy words in order in my presence; take thy stand.
6 See, I am like thee, of El, from chomer (clay) was I taken also.
7 Hinei, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my ozen, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 I am pure without peysha; I am clean; neither is there avon in me [Yn 8:46].
10 Yet He findeth tenuot (occasions) against me, He counteth me for his oyev,
11 He putteth my raglayim in the stocks, He watcheth all my orkhot.
12 But in this thou art not right; I will answer thee, that Eloah is greater than enosh.
13 Why dost thou contend against Him? For He giveth not account of any of His matters.
14 For El speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a chalom, in a chezyon lailah, when deep sleep falleth upon anashim, in slumberings upon the mishkav (bed),
16 Then He openeth the ozen anashim, and sealeth their admonition
17 That He may turn them aside from their deeds, and hide pride from gever (man).
18 He keepeth back his nefesh from the shachat, and his life from the overthrow of the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his mishkav, and the continual strife in his atzmot;
20 So that his life abhorreth lechem, and his nefesh dainty food.
21 His basar is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his atzmot that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his nefesh draweth near unto the shachat, and his life to the ones bringing death.
23 If there be a malach (messenger, i.e., Malach HaBrit, HaAdon [see Malachi 3:1] ) as melitz (mediator) for him, one of a thousand, who declares a person yashar (upright, Isa 53:11),
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the shachat (pit); I have found a kofer (ransom) [Mk 10:45].
25 His basar shall be restored like a na’ar; he shall return to the yamim of his youthful vigor;
26 He shall pray unto Eloah, and be accepted by Him, and he shall see His face with teruah (shouts of joy); thus He recompenseth unto enosh his tzedek.
27 He looketh upon anashim, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was yashar, and it was not recompensed to me,
28 He will redeem his nefesh from going into the shachat, and his life shall see the ohr.
29 Lo, all these things worketh El, twice, shalosh with gever (man)
30 To bring back his nefesh from the shachat (pit), to be enlightened with the Ohr HaChayyim (light of the living).
31 Mark well, O Iyov, pay heed unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me; dabbir (speak), for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, pay heed unto me; hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee chochmah.
34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye chachamim; and give ear unto me, ye that have da’as.
3 For the ozen trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is mishpat (right); let us know among ourselves what is tov.
5 For Iyov hath said, I am innocent; and El hath taken away my mishpat (right).
6 I declare the mishpat (case) against me a lie; though without peysha, my arrow wound is incurable.
7 What gever is like Iyov, who drinketh up the scorn [of his friends] like mayim?
8 Who goeth in chaverah with the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity, evildoers), and walketh with anshei resha.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a gever nothing that he should please Elohim.
10 Therefore pay heed unto me ye anashei levav (men of understanding); far be it from El, that He should do evil, and from Shaddai, that He should do wrong.
11 For the po’al adam (work of a man) shall He repay unto him, and make every man to find according to the man’s ways.
12 Yea, surely El will not do wickedly, neither will Shaddai pervert mishpat (justice).
13 Who hath given Him right to rule the earth? Or who hath appointed Him over the tevel?
14 If He should so determine, if He gather unto Himself His Ruach and His Neshamah,
15 All basar would perish together, and adam would return unto aphar.
16 If now thou hast binah, hear this: pay heed to the kol (voice) of my words.
17 Shall even one that hateth mishpat (right) govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is Tzaddik and Kabir (the Mighty One)?
18 Is it fit to say to a melech, Thou art beli’ya’al? And to nobles, Ye are rasha.
19 Who shows no partiality to sarim (princes), nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the ma’aseh (work) of His hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and at chatzot lailah the people shall be shaken, and pass away, and the mighty shall be taken away without human hand.
21 For His eyes are upon the darkhei ish and He seeth all his goings.
22 There is no choshech, nor tzalmavet, where the po’alei aven (evildoers) may hide themselves.
23 For He does not need to consider an ish further for anyone to go before El in mispat (judgment).
24 He shall break in pieces kabirim (mighty men) without investigation, and sets acherim (others) in their place.
25 Therefore He knoweth their works, and He overthroweth them in the lailah, so that they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as resha’im in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from following Him, and would not regard any of His drakhim;
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the aniyim.
29 When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? When He hideth His panim, who then can behold Him? Whether it be a nation, or an individual only?
30 That the chanef (hypocrite) reign not, nor those who ensnare the people.
31 For has anyone said unto El, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more;
32 Teach Thou me what I see not; im (if) I have done iniquity, I will do no more?
33 Will He then recompense to suit you, just because you disavow it? Thou must choose, not I; therefore speak that of which thou hast da’as.
34 Let anshei levav (men of understanding) say to me, and let a gever chacham who pays heed unto me say,
35 Iyov hath spoken without da’as, and his words were without seichel.
36 Iyov ought to be tried unto the limit, because his answers are those of anshei aven.
37 For he addeth peysha unto his chattat, he clappeth his hands [shaking fist at G-d] among us, and multiplieth his words against El.
35 Elihu spoke moreover, and said,
2 Thinkest thou this to be mishpat (right, just), that thou saidst, Tzidki meEl (I am cleared, in the right, justified before G-d)?
3 Ki (yet) thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned [see 9:22]?
4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
5 Look unto Shomayim, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? Or if thy peysha’im be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him?
7 If thou be tzaddik (righteous), what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thine yad?
8 Thy resha (wickedness) may hurt an ish as thou art; and thy tzedek may profit the ben adam.
9 They cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the zero’a of the rabbim.
10 But none saith, Where is Eloah Osai (G-d my Maker), Who giveth zemirot balailah (songs in the night);
11 Who teacheth us more than the behamot eretz, and maketh us wiser than the oph HaShomayim?
12 There they cry out, but none giveth answer, because of the ga’on (pride, arrogance) of ra’im (wicked men).
13 Surely El will not hear shav (vanity), neither will Shaddai regard it.
14 Although thou sayest thou cannot see Him, yet Din (the court case) is before Him; therefore trust thou, waiting for Him,
15 though ye say His anger does not pakad (visit, punish) anything and that He does not regard wickedness much;
16 Therefore doth Iyov open his mouth hevel (in vain); he multiplieth words without da’as.
36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Bear with me a little, and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on behalf of Eloah.
3 I will get my da’as from afar, and will ascribe tzedek to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be sheker; one that is tamim (complete) in da’as is among thee.
5 See, El is kabir (mighty), and despiseth not any; He is kabir in ko’ach lev (strength of understanding).
6 He preserveth not the life of the rasha, but giveth mishpat to the aniyim.
7 He withdraweth not His eyes from the tzaddik, but with melachim are they on the kisse; yea, He doth establish them lanetzach (forever), and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in chains, and be held fast in chevlei oni (cords of affliction),
9 Then He showeth them their work, and their peysha’im that they have done arrogantly.
10 He openeth also their ozen to musar (discipline), and commandeth that they make teshuvah and turn from evil.
11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their yamim in tov (prosperity), and their shanim in contentment.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without da’as.
13 But the chanefei lev (irreligious in heart, hypocrites) incur wrath; they do not cry for help when He bindeth them.
14 They die in youth, their nefesh among the kedeshim (cult male prostitutes, youthful lusts).
15 He delivereth the oni in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would He have removed thee out of the tzar (distress) into a rachav (broad place), free from restriction, to the comfort of thy shulchan, full of choice food.
17 But thou hast been fixated on the din of the rasha; din and mishpat take hold on thee.
18 Because there is chemah, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke; then a rav kopher (great ransom) cannot deliver thee.
19 Will He esteem thy riches? No, not zahav, nor all the forces of ko’ach.
20 Desire not halailah (the night), when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than oni.
22 See, El exalted by His ko’ach. Who is a moreh (teacher) like Him?
23 Who hath enjoined Him His derech? Or who can say, Thou hast done wrong?
24 Remember that thou must extol His work, of which anashim have sung praises.
25 Kol adam has seen it; enosh beholds it afar off.
26 See, El is great, and we know Him not, neither can the mispar of His shanim be searched out.
27 For He draws up the drops of mayim; He distills His mist as matar;
28 Which the clouds do drop and distill upon adam abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the thunderings of His sukkah?
30 See, He spreadeth His ohr upon it, and covereth the depths of the yam.
31 For by them governeth He the amim (nations); He giveth okhel in abundance.
32 His hands He covers with the ohr (lightning), and commandeth it to strike the mark.
33 The thunder thereof showeth concerning Him; the storm tells His indignant af (wrath).
37 At this also my lev trembleth, and is moved out of its place.
2 Hear attentively the rogez of His voice, and the sound that goeth out of His mouth.
3 He directeth it under kol HaShomayim, and His ohr (lightning) unto the ends of ha’aretz.
4 After it His kol (voice) roareth; He thundereth with the kol of His majesty; one cannot hold them back when His kol is heard.
5 El thundereth marvellously with His kol; gedolot doeth He, beyond our understanding.
6 For He saith to the snow, Fall thou to the eretz; likewise to the geshem matar, the heavy downpour of rain.
7 He sealeth up kol adam; that all men may know His work.
8 Then the chayyah (beasts) go into their lair, and remain in their places.
9 Out of its cheder (chamber) cometh the whirlwind; and cold out of the driving winds.
10 By the neshamah of El frost is given, and the broad mayim are frozen.
11 Also by watering He loadeth the thick cloud; He scattereth the anan of His ohr (lightning),
12 And it is turned round about by His guidance; that they may do whatsoever He commandeth them upon the face of the tevel (habitable world).
13 He causeth it to happen, whether for correction, or for His land, or for chesed.
14 Pay heed unto this, O Iyov; stand still, and consider the nifle’ot El (wondrous works of G-d).
15 Dost thou know how Elo’ah controls them, and caused the ohr (lightning) of His cloud to flash?
16 Dost thou know the spreading out of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is tamim in da’as?
17 You whose garments are hot, when the eretz is still because of the south wind,
18 Hast thou with Him spread out the shekhakim (clouds), hard as a molten mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto Him, for we cannot order our case by reason of choshech.
20 Should it be told Him that I wish to speak? Or should an ish say that he would be swallowed up?
21 And now men cannot look at the bright ohr which is in the clouds, when the ruach passeth, and cleareth them.
22 Splendor of zahav cometh out of the north; with Elo’ah is awesome hod (majesty).
23 Touching Shaddai, we cannot reach Him; He is exalted in ko’ach, and in mishpat, and rov tzedakah; He does not oppress.
24 Anashim do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
38 Then Hashem answered Iyov out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth etzah (counsel) with words without da’as?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a gever; for I will ask of thee, and thou wilt answer Me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of eretz? Tell, if thou hast binah.
5 Who hath drafted the dimensions thereof, if thou hast da’as? Or who hath stretched a measuring line across it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof set? Or who laid the even-pinnah (cornerstone) thereof
7 When the kokhvei boker sang together, and all the Bnei Elohim shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the yam behind doors? Who brought it forth, issuing out of the rekhem (womb)
9 When I made the anan the garment thereof, and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And fixed bounds for it, and set bars and dlatot (doors),
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and poh (here) shall thy proud waves be stopped?
12 Hast thou commanded the boker since thy yamim began; or caused the shachar (dawn) to know its place;
13 That it might seize the ends of ha’aretz, that the resha’im be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like chomer (clay) under the khotam (seal); and they stand out like a garment.
15 And from the resha’im their ohr is denied, and the upraised zero’a shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the yam? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the tehom?
17 Have the sha’arei mavet been disclosed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the sha’arei tzalmavet?
18 Hast thou perceived the expanse of eretz? Tell Me if thou hast da’as of it all.
19 Where is the derech where ohr dwelleth? And as for choshech, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to its border, and that thou shouldest have da’as of the paths to its bais?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? Or because the mispar of thy yamim is so great?
22 Hast thou entered into the otzrot (storehouses) of the snow? Or hast thou seen the otzrot of barad (hail),
23 Which I have reserved for the time of tzar, for the yom kerav (battle) and milchamah (war)?
24 Which is the derech where the ohr is distributed, where is scattered the east wind upon eretz?
25 Who hath cut a channel for the overflowing of waters, or a derech for the lightning of thunder,
26 To cause it to rain on eretz, where lo ish is; on midbar, wherein there is lo adam;
27 To saturate a desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the desheh to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain an av? Or who hath begotten the drops of tal (dew)?
29 Out of whose beten cometh the ice? And the frost of Shomayim, who giveth birth to it?
30 The mayim harden like even (stone), and the face of tehom is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bonds of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzarot in their times? Or canst thou guide the Bear with its banim?
33 Knowest thou the chukkot of Shomayim? Canst thou set the rule over ha’aretz?
34 Canst thou lift up thy kol (voice) to the clouds, that abundance of mayim may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightning bolts, that they may go and say unto thee, Hineinu (here we are)?
36 Who hath put chochmah in the inward parts, or who hath given binah to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds in chochmah, or who can tip the waterskins of Shomayim,
38 When the dust hardens into a clump, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the teref for the lioness, or fill the appetite of her whelps,
40 When they crouch in their me’onot (dens), and abide in the lair to lie in ambush?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? When his young ones cry unto El, they wander about for lack of okhel.
39 Dost thou have da’as of the et (time) when the mountain goats give birth, or art thou shomer to watch when the doe bears her fawn?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil, or dost thou have da’as of the et (time) when they give birth?
3 They crouch down, they bring forth their yeledim, their chavalim (birth pains) are cast off in riddance.
4 Their banim gain strength, they grow up in the bar (open, wild); they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out the pere (wild donkey) free, or who hath untied the ropes of the arod (wild donkey, onager),
6 Whose bais I have made the aravah, and the barren land his mishkenot (dwellings)?
7 He laughs at the tumult of the kiryah (city), neither regardeth he the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the harim is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the wild ox be willing to be thy eved, or stay the night by thy evus (animal feeding trough)?
10 Canst thou bind the wild ox to the furrow with a rope, or will it behind thee till the amakim (valleys)?
11 Wilt thou depend on him, because his ko’ach is great, or wilt thou hand over thy heavy work to him?
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring in thy zera (grain), and gather it into thy goren (threshing floor)?
13 Joyfully flapping are the wings of the ostrich, but are her wings and feathers like the khasidah (stork)?
14 For the ostrich layeth her betzim (eggs) la’aretz (on the ground), and warmeth them in the sand,
15 And forgetteth that the regel may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16 She treats harshly her banim, as though they were not hers; though her labor should be in vain, yet she is without pachad (fear, care),
17 Because Elo’ah hath deprived her of chochmah, neither hath he imparted to her binah.
18 Yet at the et (time) she flaps her wings [to run], she laughs at the sus and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the sus gevurah? Hast thou clothed his neck with a flowing mane?
20 Canst thou make him leap like an arbeh (locust)? The hod (glory) of his snorting strikes terror.
21 He paweth in the emek (valley), and rejoiceth in his koach; he chargeth into the fray.
22 He laugheth at pachad, and nothing fears; neither turneth he back from the cherev.
23 The quiver rattleth at his side, the glittering spear and the kidon (scimitar, curved sword).
24 He eats up the eretz with fierceness and rogez (rage); neither standeth he still at the sound of the shofar.
25 As often as the shofar, he snorts Aha! and he smelleth the milchamah afar off, the shout of the sarim, and the teru’ah (battle cry).
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy binah, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Doth the nesher (eagle) mount up at thy command, and make her ken (nest) on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the cliff, upon the crag of the rock, its metzudah (stronghold).
29 From there she seeketh the okhel (food, prey), and her eyes behold it from afar off.
30 Her young ones feast on dahm; and where the chalalim (slain ones) are, there it is.
40 Moreover Hashem answered Iyov, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with Shaddai correct him? The mokhiach Eloah (rebuker of G-d), let him answer it.
3 Then Iyov answered Hashem, and said,
4 See, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine yad upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea, shtayim (twice), but I will proceed no further.
6 Then answered Hashem unto Iyov out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a gever. I will question thee, and thou shall answer Me.
8 Wilt thou also annul My mishpat (justice)? Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be justified?
9 Hast thou a zero’a like El? Or canst thou thunder with a kol (voice) like Him?
10 Adorn thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with hod (glory) and hadar (splendor).
11 Unleash thy evrot af (furious wrath); and behold every one that is proud, and bring him low.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and humble him, and tread down the resha’im in their place.
13 Bury them in the aphar together; shroud their faces in the crypt.
14 Then odecha (will I confess, admit unto thee) that thine own right hand can save thee.
15 Hinei now behemot (hippopotamus), which I made along with thee; he eateth grass like an ox.
16 Hinei now, his koach is in his loins, and his force is in the sinews of his beten (belly).
17 He moveth his zanav (tail) like a cedar branch; the sinews of his thighs are firmly interwoven.
18 His atzmot are like tubes of nechoshet; his limbs are like rods of barzel (iron).
19 He is the reshit (firstling) of the ways of El; He, his Maker, can approach it with His cherev.
20 Surely the harim bring forth food for him, where all the wild beasts play.
21 He lieth under the shade of lotus plants, beseter (in the covert) of the reed and marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with their shadow; the willows by the nakhal (brook, stream) surround him.
23 See, when the nahar (river) rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident, though Yarden breaketh forth upon his mouth.
24 While he is looking can one capture him? With mokeshim (hooks) can one pierce his nose?
41 Canst thou draw out Leviathan with a khakah (fishhook)? Or tie down his leshon with a cord?
2 (26) Canst thou put a hook into his af (nose)? Or bore his jaw through with a barb?
3 (27) Will he make many tachanunim unto thee? Will he speak soft words unto thee?
4 (28) Will he make a brit (covenant) with thee? Wilt thou take him for an eved olam?
5 (29) Wilt thou play with him as with a pet bird? Or wilt thou leash him for thy na’arot (maidens)?
6 (30) Shall traders barter for him? Shall they divide him among the Kena’anim (Canaanites, merchants)?
7 (31) Canst thou fill his ohr (skin) with harpoons? Or his head with fishing spears?
8 (32) Lay thine hand upon him; remember the milchamah. Thou wilt not do it more.
9 (41:1) See, every tokhelet (expectation) is false; shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 (41:2) None is so foolhardy that dare stir him up. Mi (who) then is able to stand before Me?
11 (41:3) Mi (who) hath given Me, that I must repay him? Whatsoever is under the kol HaShomayim is Mine.
12 (41:4) I will not keep silent about his members, nor his gevurah, nor the grace of his form.
13 (41:5) Mi (who) can remove his outer garment? Or mi (who) can come near him with a double bridle?
14 (41:6) Mi (who) can open the doors of his face? Terror is round about his teeth.
15 (41:7) His scales are his ga’avah (pride), shut up together as with a rigid chotam (seal).
16 (41:8) One is so near to another, that no ruach (air) can pass between them.
17 (41:9) They are joined one to another; they stick together, inseparably.
18 (41:10) By his sneezings ohr flares out, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the shachar.
19 (41:11) Out of his mouth goeth flame, and sparks of eish leap out.
20 (41:12) Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, like a seething pot or caldron.
21 (41:13) His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 (41:14) In his neck resideth oz (strength), and terror dances before him.
23 (41:15) The flanks of his basar are joined together; they are firm in themselves, immoveable.
24 (41:16) His lev (chest) is as firm as an even (stone); yea, as hard as the lower millstone.
25 (41:17) When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid; shuddering they retreat.
26 (41:18) The cherev of him that reacheth at him cannot hold—the spear, the dart, nor the harpoon.
27 (41:19) He esteemeth barzel (iron) like straw, and nechoshet as rotten wood.
28 (41:20) The arrow cannot make him flee; sling stones are turned with him into stubble.
29 (41:21) Clubs are counted as straw; he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30 (41:22) Sharp shards are his under parts; he leaveth a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 (41:23) He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he stirreth the yam like a pot of ointment.
32 (41:24) He maketh a wake to shine after him; one would think the deep to be white hair.
33 (41:25) Upon earth there is not his equal, who is created without fear.
34 (41:26) He beholdeth all things lofty; he is a melech over every proud beast.
42 Then Iyov answered Hashem, and said,
2 I have da’as that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.
3 Who is this that hideth etzah (counsel) without da’as? Therefore have I judged without understanding things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Shema, I beseech Thee, and I will speak; I will ask of Thee, and declare Thou unto me.
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ozen, but now mine eye hath seen Thee.
6 Therefore I abhor myself, and nichamti (I am sorry, I make teshuvah) in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that after Hashem had spoken these words unto Iyov, Hashem said to Eliphaz the Temani, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken in reference to Me the thing that is nekhonah (correct), like Avdi Iyov hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bulls and seven rams, and go to Avdi Iyov, and offer up for yourselves olah (burnt offering); and Avdi Iyov shall pray for you; for him will I accept; lest I deal with you after your nevalah (folly), in that ye have not spoken in reference to Me the thing which is nekhonah (correct), like Avdi Iyov.
9 So Eliphaz the Temani and Bildad the Shuchi and Tzophar the Na’amati went, and did according as Hashem commanded them. Hashem also accepted Iyov.
10 And Hashem restored the fortunes of Iyov, when he prayed for his friends; also Hashem gave Iyov twice as much as he possessed before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat lechem with him in his bais; and they expressed sympathy with him, and comforted him over all the ra’ah that Hashem had brought upon him; every ish also gave him a kesitah, and every ish a ring of zahav.
12 So Hashem blessed the acharit (latter end) of Iyov more than his reshit; for he had fourteen thousand tzon, and six thousand gemalim, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys.
13 He had also seven banim and shalosh banot.
14 And he called the shem of the first, Yemima, and the shem of the second, Ketziah, and the shem of the third, Keren-hapuch.
15 And in kol ha’aretz were no nashim found so fair as the banot Iyov; and their av gave them nachalah with their achim.
16 After this lived Iyov an hundred and forty shanah, and saw his banim, and his banei banim, even arba’ah dorot.
17 So Iyov died, being zaken and full of yamim.
1 Shir HaShirim, which is Sh’lomo’s
2 Let him kiss me with the neshikot (kisses) of his mouth; for better is dodecha (thy love) than yayin (wine).
3 Tovim is the fragrance of thy shmanim (ointments); thy shem (name) is like shemen (ointment) poured forth; therefore do the alamot love thee [alamot, young unmarried virgins; pl of almah virgin; see Shir HaShirim 6:8; Yeshayah 7:14; Bereshis 24:43; Shemot 2:8; Mishlei 30:19, where the word has this explicit or implicit meaning throughout the Tanakh; see page vii].
4 Draw me; so will we run after thee; the Melech hath brought me into his chadarim (chambers); we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will extol dodecha (thy love) more than yayin; uprightly have they loved thee.
5 Shechorah (black, dark, sun-blackened) am I, yet lovely, O ye banot Yerushalayim, like the oholim (tents) of Kedar, like the curtains of Sh’lomo.
6 Let your eyes burn not into me because I am black, because the shemesh hath burned its eyes into me; bnei immi (my step-brothers) were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the kramim (vineyards); but mine own kerem (vineyard) have I not kept.
7 O tell me, thou whom my nefesh loveth, where feedest thou? Where makest thou thy flock to lie down at noon? For why should I be as one who veils herself among the edrei chaverecha (the flocks of thy chaverim, fellow companions)?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among nashim, go thy way forth by the footprints of the tzon, and feed thy young goats beside the mishkenot haro’im (the tents of the shepherds).
9 O my love, to a susah (mare) among the chariots of Pharaoh do I compare thee.
10 Thy cheeks are lovely with ornaments, thy tzavar (neck) with necklaces.
11 Ornaments of zahav will we make for thee, studded with kesef.
12 While the Melech is at his table, my spikenard perfume has yielded its fragrance.
13 Dodi (my beloved) is to me a sachet of myrrh that lieth in my bosom.
14 Dodi (my beloved) is to me as a cluster of henna blooms in the kramim (vineyards) of Ein-Gedi.
15 See, thou art yafeh (fair), my love; see, thou art fair; thine eynayim are yonim (doves).
16 See, thou art yafeh (handsome), dodi (my beloved), yea, na’im (pleasing); also our couch is verdant.
17 The beams of our bais are cedar, and our rafters are cypress.
2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the shoshan (lily) of the valleys.
2 As the shoshan (lily) among thorns, so is my love among the banot.
3 As the tapuach (apple tree) among the trees of the wood, so is dodi (my beloved) among the banim. Betzilloh (in his shade, shadow) chimmadti (I desire [see Shir HaShirim 5:16]), and his p’ri (fruit) is sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the Bais HaYayin, and his degel (standard, banner, flag) over me is ahavah.
5 Sustain me with cakes of raisins, comfort me with apples: ki cholat ahavah ani (for I am faint with ahavah, lovesick).
6 His left hand is under my rosh, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7 I charge you, O ye banot Yerushalayim, by the gazelles, and by the deer of the sadeh, that ye arouse nor awake HaAhavah till it pleases [i.e., until its own time—see 3:5; 8:4].
8 Kol dodi (the voice of my beloved)! Hinei, he cometh leaping upon the harim, bounding over the hills.
9 Dodi (my beloved) is like a gazelle or a young deer; hinei, he standeth behind our Kotel (Wall); he looketh forth at the chalonot (windows), peering through the lattices [Rev 3:20].
10 Dodi (my beloved) spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For, hinei, the winter is past, the geshem (rain) is over and gone;
12 The flowers appear on ha’aretz; the time of zemer (song, singing of birds) has come; and the voice of the turtledove is heard in Artzeinu (our Land);
13 The te’enah (fig tree) putteth forth her early figs, and the vines with the tender grape give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 O my yonah (dove), that art in the clefts of the rock, in the seter (secret place) of the cliff, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is lovely.
15 Catch the shu’alim (foxes), the shu’alim ketanim (little foxes), that spoil the kramim (vines); for krameinu (our [blooming] vines) have tender grapes.
16 Dodi (my beloved) is mine, and I am his; he feedeth among the lilies.
17 Until HaYom (the day) break, and the shadows flee away, turn, dodi (my beloved), and be thou like a gazelle or a young deer upon the hills of Beter.
3 In the nights on my bed I sought him whom my nefesh loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.
2 So I will rise then, and go about the city in the streets, and in the rechovot (open squares, places); I will seek him whom my nefesh loveth; I sought him, but found him not.
3 The shomrim (watchmen) that go about the city found me; to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my nefesh loveth?
4 Scarcely had I passed from them, when I found him whom my nefesh loveth; I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into the bais immi (the house of my mother), and into the cheder of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye banot Yerushalayim, by the gazelles, and by the deer of the sadeh, that ye arouse nor awake HaAhavah till it pleases [i.e., until its own time, see 2:7; 8:4].
6 Who is this that cometh out of the midbar like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense from all the fragrant powders of the rokhel (merchant)?
7 Hinei, his conveyance [see palanquin, 3:9], which is Sh’lomo’s; threescore gibborim (valiant men) are around it, of the Gibborei Yisroel.
8 They all hold swords, being expert in michamah (war); every man hath his cherev (sword) at his side against the pachad (terror, dread) of the nights.
9 HaMelech Sh’lomo made himself an appiryon (palanquin, mobile throne carried on a litter on the shoulders of men) of the wood of the Levanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of kesef, the support thereof of zahav, the cushion of it of purple, the interior thereof being inlaid with Ahavah, by the banot Yerushalayim.
11 Come out, O ye banot Tziyon, and behold Sh’lomo HaMelech with the atarah (crown) wherewith his em crowned him in the Yom Chasunoh (day of his wedding), and in the Yom Simchat Libo (day of the gladness of his heart [see Rv 19:6-10; Ep 5:22-33; Yn 3:29; 2C 11:1-2; Yeshayah 54:5-6; Yirmeyah 2:2 Yechezkel 16:8-14,20-21,32,38; Hoshea 2:16,18-20 and here see the Shulamite as a type of the Kehillah of Moshiach and Sh’lomo Ben Dovid a type of Moshiach Ben Dovid the Ro’eh HaTov, the Good Shepherd])
4 Behold, thou art yafeh, my love; behold, thou art yafeh; thine eyes are yonim (doves) behind your veil; thy hair is like an eder (flock) of goats descending from Mount Gil`ad.
2 Thy teeth are like an eder of sheep that are just shorn, coming up from washing; whereof every one is matched, and none is missing among them.
3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is naveh (lovely); thy temple is like a half-pomegranate within thy veil.
4 Thy tzavar (neck) is like the migdal Dovid girt with battlements, whereon there hang a thousand mogen [Dovid], all the shields of Gibborim.
5 Thy two breasts are like two ofarim (fawns, young deer) that are twins, which graze among the lilies.
6 Until HaYom (the day) break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the har hamor (mountain of myrrh), and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all yafeh, my love; there is no mum (blemish, spot, defect, flaw) in thee.
8 Come with me from the Levanon, my kallah (bride), with me from the Levanon; come down from the heights of Amanah, from the top of Senir and Chermon, from the dens of the arayot (lions), from the hills of the nemerim (leopards).
9 Thou hast ravished my lev, my sister, my kallah; thou hast ravished my lev with one of thy glances, with one link of thy necklace.
10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my kallah! How much better is thy love than yayin! And the scent of thine perfumes than any spice!
11 Thy lips, O my kallah, drip like the honeycomb; devash and cholov are under thy tongue; and the scent of thy garments is like the scent of the Levanon.
12 A gan (garden) locked is my sister, my kallah; a spring enclosed, a ma’ayan (fountain) sealed.
13 Thy plants are a pardeis (park, paradise) of pomegranates, with pleasant p’ri; henna with spikenard,
14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with kol atzei levonah (all kinds of incense trees); myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices:
15 A na’yan (fountain) of gardens, a be’er (well) of mayim chayyim (well of living waters), and streams from the Levanon.
16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south wind; blow upon my gan (garden), that the fragrances thereof may flow out. Let dodi (my beloved) come into his gan (garden), and let him taste its choice pri (fruits).
5 I am come into my gan (garden), my sister, my kallah; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my devash (honey); I have drunk my yayin with my cholov (milk): Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, dodim.
2 I sleep, but my lev waketh: it is the voice of dodi (my beloved) that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my yonah (dove) tammati (my undefiled, my perfect one); for my head is filled with tal (dew), and my hair with the drops of the lailah.
3 I have put off my kuttonet (kesones, chiton, robe); how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4 Dodi (my beloved) thrust his hand through the latchopening, my heart began pounding for him.
5 I arose to open to dodi (my beloved); and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the man’ul (lock, door bolt).
6 I opened to dodi (my beloved); but dodi had withdrawn and gone; my nefesh departed when he spoke; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7 The shomrim (watchmen) that went about the city found me, they beat me, they wounded me; the shomrei hachomat (i.e., the shomrim, the guardians [of the city on the wall]) took away my cloak from me.
8 I charge you, O banot Yerushalayim, if ye find dodi (my beloved), what will ye tell him? Tell him shecholat ahavah ani (I am faint with ahavah, lovesick [see 2:5]).
9 How is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among nashim? How is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10 Dodi (my beloved) is radiant and ruddy, unrivaled by ten thousand.
11 His head is like the purest gold, his hair is wavy and shachor (black) as the raven.
12 His eyes are like yonim (doves) by the streams of mayim, washed with cholov, jewels fitly set.
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices, like sweet flowers; his lips like shoshanim (lilies), dripping sweet scented myrrh.
14 His hands are like rods of zahav set with chrysolites; his body is like a polished work of ivory decorated with sapphires.
15 His legs are like pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine zahav; his countenance is like the Levanon, bachor (one being choice) like the cedars.
16 His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is machamaddim (altogether desirable [see Shir HaShirim 2:3; Chaggai 2:7 says Moshiach is the Desired of all Nations]). This is dodi (my beloved), and this is my friend, O banot Yerushalayim. [T.N. The next chapter is commented on extensively beginning at page vii. This section is one of the most important Scriptures in the Bible because it buttresses Isa 7:14 and its foundational meaning.]
6 Where is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among nashim? Where is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee?
2 Dodi (my beloved) is gone down into his gan (garden), to the beds of spices, to feed in the ganim (gardens), and to gather shoshanim (lilies).
3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine; he feedeth among the shoshanim.
4 Thou art yafeh, O my love, as Tirtzah, lovely as Yerushalayim, awe-inspiring as bannered troops on the march.
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they overwhelm me; thy hair is as an eder of goats that descend from Gil‘ad.
6 Thy teeth are as an eder harechalim (flock of ewes) which go up from the washing, whereof every one is matched, and there is not one missing among them.
7 As a half pomegranate is thy temple within thy veil.
8 There are threescore melakhot (queens), and fourscore pilagshim (concubines), and alamot (young unmarried virgins) without number [T.N. Alamot is plural of almah, "virgin," alamot, "virgins;" see Shir HaShirim 1:3; Yeshayah 7:14; Bereshis 24:43; Shemot 2:8; Mishlei 30:19 where the word means explicitly or implicitly "virgin" and where "young woman" is not an adequate rendering, in this case, since the King was hardly interested in only young women in his harem, but demanded "virgins"; the older Jewish translations like Harkavy’s so translated the word as "virgin" in this verse until it became politically incorrect to do so in later, more liberal Jewish translations into English].
9 My yonah (dove), tammati (my perfect one, my undefiled) is unique; she is the only one of her em (mother), she is the barah (choice one) of her that bore her. The banot saw her, they called her blessed; yea, the melakhot and the pilagshim [see 6:8] praise her.
10 Who is she that looks forth like the shachar (dawn), yafeh as the levanah (moon), clear as the sun, and aweinspiring as bannered troops on the march?
11 I went down into the grove of nut trees to see the blossoms of the valley, and to see whether hagefen (the vine) flourished and the pomegranates bloomed.
12 Before I was aware, my nefesh lifted me up to the merkevot of ammi (my people) of one, a royal one.
13 (7:1) Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may gaze upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the mecholat Machanayim (dance of the Machanayim [see Bereshis 32:3]).
7 How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! Thy graceful legs are like jewels, ma’aseh yedei amon (the work of the hands of an artist, see Prov 8:30).
2 (7:3) Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not wine: thy waist is like a mound of chittim (wheat) encircled by shoshanim (lilies).
3 (7:4) Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle.
4 (7:5) Thy tzavar (neck) is like a migdal of ivory; thine eyes like the pools of Cheshbon, by the sha’ar (gate) of Bat-Rabbim; thy nose is like the migdal of the Levanon which looketh toward Damascus.
5 (7:6) Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like royal tapestry; Melech is held captive in its tresses.
6 (7:7) How fair and how pleasant art thou, O Ahavah, for delights!
7 (7:8) This thy stature is like a tamar (palm tree), and thy breasts eshkolot (clusters [of fruit]).
8 (7:9) I said, I will climb up to the tamar, I will take hold of the branches thereof; now also thy breasts shall be as eshkelot hagefen (clusters of the vine), and the scent of thy breath like apples;
9 (7:10) And the roof of thy mouth like the best yayin of dodi (my beloved), that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
10 (7:11) I am my beloved’s, and to me goeth forth his teshukah (desire).
11 (7:12) Come, dodi (my beloved), let us go forth into the sadeh; let us lodge in the villages.
12 (7:13) Let us get up early to the kramim (vineyards); let us see if the gefen budded, whether the tender grape appears, and the pomegranates bloom; there will I give thee my love.
13 (7:14) The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our doors are all manner of pleasant fruits, chadashim (new ones) and yeshanim (old ones), which I have stored up and kept for thee, O dodi (my beloved). [T.N. Just as there are different classes of women in the harem—so there are different residences in the book of Esther, for the malkah, for the pilegesh and for the almah or betulah; cf Song 6:8 and Esther chp 2.]
8 O that thou were like my brother, that nursed the breasts of immi (my mother)! Then, if I should find thee outside, I would kiss thee; yea, and no one would look down on me.
2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into bais immi [see 3:4]. Thou wouldest instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced yayin and the nectar of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand should be under my rosh, and his right hand embrace me.
4 I charge you, O banot Yerushalayim, that ye arouse nor awake HaAhavah (the Love) till it pleases [i,e., until its own time, see 2:7; 3:5] .
5 Who is this that cometh up from the midbar, leaning upon her beloved? Under the tapuach (apple tree) I awakened thee; it was there thy em conceived thee; there she who brought thee forth conceived thee.
6 Set me as a chotam (seal) upon thine lev, as a chotam upon thine zero’a (arm); for ahavah is strong as mavet (death); kinah (jealousy) as unyielding as Sheol; the flames thereof are flames of eish, the flame of Hashem.
7 Mayim rabbim (many waters) cannot quench HaAhavah, neither can the floods drown it; if a man would give all the wealth of his bais for ahavah, it would be utterly scorned.
8 We have an achot ketannah (little sister), and she hath as yet no breasts. What shall we do for achoteinu (our sister) in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9 If she be a chomah (wall), we will build upon her a pinnacle of kesef; and if she be a delet (door), we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
10 I am a chomah (wall), and my breasts, like migdalot; then was I in his eyes like one that findeth shalom.
11 Sh’lomo had a kerem (vineyard) at Baal-Hamon; he gave over the kerem (vineyard) unto caretakers; each had to pay a thousand pieces of kesef for the p’ri (fruit) thereof.
12 My kerem (vineyard), which is mine, is at my own disposal [see 7:13 (12)]; thou, O Sh’lomo, the thousand are for thee, and two hundred for those that tend the p’ri thereof!
13 Thou that dwellest in the ganim (gardens), the chaverim are listening for thy voice; cause me to hear it.
14 Make haste, dodi (my beloved), and be thou like to a gazelle or a young deer upon the mountains where spices grow.
1 Now it came to pass in the yamim when HaShofetim (the Judges) ruled, that there was a ra’av (famine) in the land. And a certain ish (man) of Beit-Lechem Yehudah went to sojourn in the sadei Moav, he, and his isha (wife), and his two banim (sons).
2 And the shem (name) of the ish (man) was Elimelech, and the shem (name) of his isha (wife) Naomi, and the shem of his two banim Machlon and Kilyon, Ephrathites of Beit-Lechem Yehudah. And they came into the sadei Moav, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left (alive) and her two banim.
4 And they took them wives of the nashim (women) of Moav; the shem (name) of the one was Orpah, and the shem (name) of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about eser shanim (ten years).
5 And Machlon and Kilyon died also both of them; and the isha was left (alive), surviving with neither her yeladim nor her ish.
6 Then she arose with her kallot, that she might make teshuvah (return) from the sadei Moav: for in the sadeh of Moav she had heard how that Hashem had visited His people in giving them lechem (bread).
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two kallot with her; and they set on the derech (way, road) to make teshuvah (return) unto Eretz Yehudah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two kallot, Go, go back each to her beis em (mother’s house): may Hashem show chesed (lovingkindness) to you, as ye have dealt with hamesim (the dead ones), and with me.
9 Hashem grant you that ye may find menuchah (resting place), each of you in the bais of her ish. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will make teshuvah (return) with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn back, my banot; why will ye go with me? Are there yet any more banim in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn back, my banot, go your way; for I am too old to have an ish. If I should say, I have tikvah, if I should have an ish halailah (tonight), and should also bear banim,
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? Would ye stay from having ba’alim (husbands) for them? Nay, my banot; for it is more mar (bitter) for me than you, for the Yad Hashem has gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpah kissed [cf Mt 26:49] her chamot; but Ruth clung unto her.
15 And she said, Hinei, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her g-ds; return thou after thy sister-inlaw.
16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy G-d shall be Elohai;
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. Hashem do so to me, and more also, if anything but HaMavet part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left urging her.
19 So they two went until they came to Beit-Lechem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beit-Lechem, that kol ha’ir (all the town) was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi [Pleasant], call me Mara [Bitter]; for Shaddai hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went away full and Hashem hath brought me back empty; why then call me Naomi, seeing Hashem hath testified against me, and Shaddai hath made me very bitter?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her kallah, with her, which returned out of the sadei Moav; and they came to Beit-Lechem in the beginning of katzir seorim (barley harvest).
2 And Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, an ish gibbor chayil, of the mishpochah of Elimelech; and shmo was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the sadeh, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I shall find chen (grace, favor). And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the sadeh behind the kotzerim (harvesters, reapers); and it so happened that she came on a part of the sadeh belonging unto Boaz, who was of the mishpochah of Elimelech.
4 And, hinei, Boaz came from Beit-Lechem, and said unto the kotzerim, Hashem be with you. And they answered him, Yevarech’chah Adonoi (Hashem bless thee).
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the kotzerim, Whose na’arah is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the kotzerim answered and said, It is the na’arah from Moav that came back with Naomi out of the sadeh of Moav.
7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the kotzerim among the omarim (sheaves); so she came, and hath worked steadily from the boker even until now, except for a short rest in the bais.
8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another sadeh, neither go from hence, but abide here close by my ne’arot;
9 Let thine eyes be on the sadeh that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the ne’arim that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto the kelim (vessels), and drink of that which the ne’arim have drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found chen (favor, grace) in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a nokhriyah (foreigner, alien)?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shown me, all that thou hast done unto thy chamot since the mot (death) of thine ish; and how thou hast left thy av and thy em, and the eretz moledet, and art come unto an Am (people) which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 Hashem recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Hashem Elohei Yisroel, under Whose wings thou art come to seek refuge.
13 Then she said, Let me find chen (favor, grace) in thy sight, adoni; for that thou hast brought nachamah (comfort) to me, and for that thou hast spoken to the lev of thine shifcha, though I be not like unto one of thine shfakhot.
14 And Boaz said unto her, At et haokhel (mealtime) come thou hither, and eat of the lechem, and dip thy morsel in the chometz. And she sat beside the kotzerim; and he offered her roasted grain, and she did eat, and was filled, and had left over [shirayim].
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his ne’arim, saying, Let her glean even among the omarim, and reproach her not;
16 And let fall also some [out from the omarim] of the handfuls on purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17 So she gleaned in the sadeh until the erev, and she threshed what she had gleaned; and it was about an ephah of seorim.
18 And she took it up, and went into the town; and her chamot saw what she had gleaned; and she brought forth, and gave to her the left over [shirayim] after she had been filled.
19 And her chamot said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned hayom (today)? And where did you work? Baruch be he who did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her chamot with whom she had worked, and said, Shem HaIsh with whom I worked hayom (today) is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her kallah, Baruch hu l’Hashem asher lo azav chasdo et haChayyim v’et haMesim (Blessed be he of Hashem who hath not abandoned his chesed to the living and to the dead). And Naomi said unto her, The man is karov unto us. MiGoaleinu hu (he is one of our kinsmen redeemers).
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep close by my ne’arim, until they have ended kol HaKatzir that is mine.
22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her kallah, It is tov, my daughter, that thou go out with his ne’arot, because in someone else’s sadeh you might be harmed.
23 So she kept close by the ne’arot of Boaz to glean unto the end of katzir haseorim and of katzir chittim; and dwelt with her chamot.
3 Then Naomi her chamot said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek manoach (a resting place) for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2 And now is not Boaz our relative, with whose ne’arot thou wast? Hinei, he winnoweth haseorim halailah in the threshing floor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing floor; but make not thyself known unto the Ish, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the makom (place) where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she said unto her, Kol that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6 And she went down unto the threshing floor, and did according to kol that her chamot bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his lev was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 And it came to pass in the middle of the night, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, hinei, an isha lay at his feet!
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread therefore thy robe over thine amah (handmaid); for thou art a Go’el (Redeemer).
10 And he said, Berukhah at laHashem, my daughter; for thou hast showed more chesed in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not the bochurim, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest; for kol sha’ar ami doth have da’as that thou art an aishes chayil (virtuous woman, Prov 31).
12 And now it is true that I am thy Go’el; howbeit there is a Go’el karov mimeini (Redeemer nearer than I).
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the boker, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a Go’el, well; let him do the Go’el’s part; let him redeem you. But if he will not do the part of a Go’el to thee, then will I do the part of a Go’el to thee, as Hashem liveth. Lie down until HaBoker.
14 And she lay at his feet until HaBoker; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that an isha came into the threshing floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the mitpachat (shawl) that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of seorim (barley) and laid it on her; and she went into the town.
16 And when she came to her chamot, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that HaIsh had done to her.
17 And she said, These six measures of seorim gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty-handed unto thy chamot (mother-in-law).
18 Then said she, Wait, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for HaIsh will not rest until the matter is settled HaYom.
4 Then went Boaz up to the sha’ar, and sat him down there; and, hinei, the Go’el of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2 And he took a minyan of the zekenim of the town, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
3 And he said unto the Go’el, Naomi, that is come again out of the sadeh of Moav, selleth a share of sadeh, which was achinu (our brother) Elimelech’s;
4 And I thought to advise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the zekenim of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the sadeh of the hand of Naomi, thou must acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the eshet hamet (wife of the dead man), lahakim (to raise up, resurrect) the shem hamet upon his nachalah (inheritance).
6 And the Go’el said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own nachalah; redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
7 Now this was the manner in former time in Yisroel concerning the geulah (redemption) and concerning the temurah (the substitute, exchange), for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was an attestation in Yisroel.
8 Therefore the Go’el said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his sandal.
9 And Boaz said unto the zekenim, and unto kol haAm, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Kilyon’s and Machlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Machlon, have I purchased to be my wife, lahakim (to raise up, resurrect) the shem hamet (name of the dead man) upon his nachalah, that the shem of the dead man be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the sha’ar of his place; ye are edim (witnesses) HaYom.
11 And kol HaAm that were in the sha’ar, and the zekenim, said, We are edim. Hashem make the isha haba’ah (the woman coming, see Gn 3:15; Isa 7:14) into thine bais [i.e. Bais Dovid] like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the Bais Yisroel; and do thou worthily in Ephrat, and be famous in Beit-Lechem;
12 And let thy bais be like the bais of Peretz, whom Tamar bore unto Yehudah, of the zera (Bereshis 22:18; Ga 3:16) which Hashem shall give thee of this na’arah.
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his isha; and when he went in unto her, Hashem gave her conception, and she bore ben [see Isa 7:14].
14 And the nashim said unto Naomi, Baruch Hashem, which hath not left thee this yom without a Go’el. May shmo be famous in Yisroel.
15 And may he restore your nefesh and be a nourisher of thine old age; for thy kallah, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than shiva banim, hath born him.
16 And Naomi took the yeled, and laid him in her kheyk (bosom), and became omenet (nurse) unto it.
17 And the women her shchenim gave him a name, saying, There is a ben born to Naomi; and they called his name Oved; he is the father of Yishai, the father of Dovid.
18 Now these are the toldot of Peretz; Peretz fathered Chetzron,
19 And Chetzron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadav,
20 And Amminadav fathered Nachshon, and Nachshon fathered Salmon,
21 And Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Oved,
22 And Oved fathered Yishai, and Yishai fathered Dovid.
1 How doth HaIr (the city, Yerushalayim) sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become like an almanah (widow)! She that was great among the Goyim, and sarah (princess) among the provinces, how is she become a forced laborer!
2 She weepeth bitterly in the lailah (night), and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath no Menachem (comforter); all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.
3 Yehudah is gone into the Golus (Exile) under affliction, and under great avodah (servitude); she dwelleth among the Goyim; she findeth no manoach (rest); all her rodefim (persecutors) overtook her in dire straits.
4 The darkhei Tziyon (approaches to Tziyon) do mourn, because none come to mo’ed (set feasts); all her she’arim (gates) are desolate; her kohanim sigh, her betulot (virgins) are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
5 Her adversaries are now the rosh (supreme, master); her enemies prosper; for Hashem hath afflicted her because of the multitude of her peysha’im (transgressions); her olalim (little children) are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6 And from Bat Tziyon all her beauty has departed; her sarim (princes) are become like deer that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the rodef (persecutor, pursuer).
7 In the yamim (days) of her affliction and of her persecutions, Yerushalayim remembers all her pleasant things that she had miymei kedem (in the days of old), when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and there was no ozer (helper) for her; the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her downfall.
8 Yerushalayim hath grievously sinned; therefore she is niddah (unclean, Jewish woman’s untouchability during menstruation; Vayikra 15:19); all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her erom (nakedness); yea, she sigheth, and turneth away for shame.
9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her latter end; therefore she sank appallingly; she had no Menachem (comforter). O Hashem, behold my affliction; for the enemy hath triumphed.
10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her precious things; for she hath seen how the Goyim entered into her [Beis] Hamikdash, whom Thou didst command that they should not enter into Thy Kahal (congregation, community).
11 All her people sigh, they seek lechem; they have given their precious things for bread to revive the nefesh; see, O Hashem, and consider that I am become despised.
12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Consider, and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith Hashem hath afflicted me in the Yom Charon Af (day of His fierce anger).
13 From above hath He sent eish into my atzamot (bones), and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, He hath turned me back; He hath made me desolate and kol hayom (ever) languishing.
14 The yoke of my peysha’im hath been fastened by His hand; they [i.e., my sins] intertwine themselves and set upon my tzavar (neck); He hath made my strength to fall; Hashem hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
15 Hashem hath taken away all my strong ones in my midst; He hath proclaimed a mo’ed (set time) against me to crush my young men; Hashem hath trodden the winepress for the Betulat Bat Yehudah.
16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with mayim, because the Menachem (comforter) that should refresh my nefesh is far from me; my children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.
17 Tziyon stretcheth forth her hands, yet there is no Menachem (comforter) for her; Hashem hath commanded concerning Ya’akov, that his adversaries should be round about him; Yerushalayim is as a niddah (menstruous woman) among them.
18 Tzaddik is Hashem; for I have rebelled against His mouth; hear, I pray you, kol amim (all people), and behold my sorrow; my betulot and my bochurim are gone into captivity.
19 I called for my lovers, but they have deceived me; my kohanim and my zekenim gave up the ghost (i.e., expired) in HaIr (the City), while they sought okhel (food) to revive their nefashot.
20 Consider, O Hashem how I am in distress; my bowels are troubled; mine lev is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled; without (i.e., outside), the cherev (sword) bereaveth, within (i.e., babayit, at home) it is like mavet (death).
21 They have heard that I sigh; there is no Menachem (comforter); all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that Thou hast done it; Thou bringest the Yom Karata (the day that Thou has proclaimed), that they (all the peoples; see 1:18) may be like me.
22 Let all their wickedness come before Thee; and do unto them, as Thou hast done unto me for all my peysha’im; for my sighs are many, and my lev is faint.
2 How hath Adonoi covered Bat Tziyon with a cloud in His anger, and hurled down from Shomayim unto Eretz the tiferet Yisroel, and remembered not His hadom (footstool) in the Day of His Wrath!
2 Adonoi hath swallowed up all the habitations of Ya’akov, and hath not pitied; He hath torn down in His Wrath the strongholds of Bat Yehudah; He hath brought them down to the ground; chillel (He hath defiled) the mamlachah and the sarim (princes) thereof.
3 He hath cut off in His fierce anger kol keren Yisroel; He hath drawn back His right hand from before the oyev, and He burned against Ya’akov like a flaming eish, which devoureth all around.
4 He hath bent His keshet (bow) like an oyev; He took His stand with His right hand as an adversary, and slaughtered all that were pleasant to the eye in the ohel Bat Tziyon; He poured out His fury like eish.
5 Adonoi was like an oyev; He hath swallowed up Yisroel, He hath swallowed up all her armonot (palaces); He hath destroyed His strongholds, and hath increased in Bat Yehudah mourning and lamentation.
6 And He hath violently destroyed His sukkah, as if it were of a gan (garden); He hath laid waste His Mo’ed; Hashem hath caused Mo’ed and Shabbos to be forgotten in Tziyon, and in the indignation of His anger hath spurned Melech and Kohen.
7 Adonoi hath cast off His Mizbe’ach, He hath disowned His Mikdash, He hath given up into the yad oyev the chomot armonot of hers; they have raised shouts in the Beis Hashem, as in the Yom Mo’ed.
8 Hashem hath purposed to destroy the Chomat Bat Tziyon; He hath stretched out a measuring line, He hath not withdrawn His hand from destroying; therefore He made the rampart and the chomah to lament; they languished together.
9 Her she’arim are sunk into the ground; He hath destroyed and broken her bars; her melech and her sarim (princes) are among the Goyim; the torah is no more; her nevi’im also find no chazon (vision) from Hashem.
10 The Ziknei Bat Tziyon sit upon the ground, and keep silence; they have cast up aphar upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth; the Betulot Yerushalayim hang down their heads to the ground.
11 Mine eyes do fail from weepings, my insides are troubled, empty and poured upon ha’aretz, for the destruction of Bat Ami; because the olel and the infant swoon in the rechovot of the city.
12 They say to their imahot, Where is grain and yayin? Say they when they swooned like the wounded in the rechovot Ir, when their nefesh ebbed away into the kheyk imahot of them.
13 What thing shall I say to thee? What thing shall I liken to thee, O Bat Yerushalayim? What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O Betulat Bat Tziyon? For thy shever (destruction) is as gadol as the yam. Who can heal thee?
14 Thy nevi’im have seen false and worthless visions for thee; and they have not exposed thine avon, to ward off thy captivity; but have seen for thee mase’ot shav and madduchim (false and misleading burdens, oracles).
15 All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at Bat Yerushalayim, saying, Is this the Ir that men call Kelilat Yofi Masos L’Khol HaAretz (perfection in beauty, the joy of the whole earth)?
16 All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee; they hiss and gnash their teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up; certainly this is the Yom that we waited for; we have found, we have seen it.
17 Hashem hath done that which He had devised; He hath fulfilled His word that He decreed in the yemai kedem; He hath overthrown, and hath not pitied, and He hath caused thine oyev to gloat over thee, He hath exalted the keren of thine adversaries.
18 Their lev cried unto Adonoi, O Chomat Bat Tziyon, let tears run down like a river yomam valailah; give thyself no relief; let not thine eye rest.
19 Arise, cry out balailah; in the beginning of the night watches pour out thine lev like mayim before the face of Adonoi; lift up thy hands to Him for the nefesh of thy ollelim, that faint for hunger on every street corner.
20 Look, Hashem, and consider to whom Thou hast done this. Shall the nashim eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Shall the Kohen and the Navi be slain in the Mikdash Adonoi?
21 The na’ar and the zaken lie in the dust of the streets; my betulot and my bochurim are fallen by the cherev; Thou hast slain them in the Day of Thy Wrath; Thou hast slaughtered, and not pitied.
22 Thou hast summoned as in a Yom Mo’ed my terrors all around, so that in the Yom Af Hashem none escaped nor remained; those that I have swaddled and reared hath mine oyev consumed.
3 I am the gever that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
2 He hath driven me away, and brought me into choshech, but not into ohr.
3 Surely against me is He turned; He turneth His yad against me kol hayom.
4 My basar and my ohr (skin) hath He made old; He hath broken my atzmot.
5 He hath set up seigeworks against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
6 He hath set me in dark places, like the mesei olam (long dead).
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot escape; He hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and call out, He shutteth out my tefillah.
9 He hath barred my ways with hewn stone, He hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me like a dov (bear) lying in wait, and like an aryeh in mistarim (hiding places).
11 He hath turned aside the darkhei of mine, and pulled me in pieces; He hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent His keshet, and set me as a target for the khetz (arrow).
13 He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my organs.
14 I was a derision to kol ami; and their [mocking] song kol hayom.
15 He hath filled me with merorim (bitter herbs); He hath made me drunk with suffering.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel, He hath covered me with aphar.
17 And Thou hast removed my nefesh far off from shalom; I forgot tovah (prosperity).
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from Hashem;
19 Remember mine oni (affliction) and my misery, the sorrow and the trouble.
20 My nefesh hath them still in remembrance, and is downcast in me.
21 This I recall to my lev, therefore have I hope:
22 Because of the chasdei Hashem we are not consumed, for His rachamim fail not.
23 They are chadashim every boker; great is Thy faithfulness.
24 Hashem is my chelek, saith my nefesh; therefore in hope will I wait for Him.
25 Hashem is tov unto them that wait for Him, to the nefesh that seeketh Him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Teshu’at Hashem.
27 It is tov for a gever that he bear the ol (yoke) from his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because He hath laid it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the aphar; there may yet be tikvah.
30 He offereth his lekhi (cheek) to him that striketh him; he is filled full with reproach [Isa 50:6].
31 For Adonoi will not cast off l’olam (forever);
32 But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the rov chasadav (the multitude of His mercies).
33 For He doth not afflict willingly nor bring grief to Bnei Ish.
34 To crush under His feet kol asirei eretz (all the prisoners of the earth),
35 To turn aside the mishpat gever (the right of a man) before the face of Elyon,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, Adonoi approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when Adonoi commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of Elyon proceedeth not hara’ot (the woe) and hatov (the good)?
39 Why doth an adam chai (any man alive) complain, a gever for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and test derakheinu (our ways), and let us turn again to Hashem.
41 Let us lift up levavenu (our heart) with our hands unto El baShomayim.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled; Atah lo salachta (Thou hast not pardoned, forgiven).
43 Thou hast covered with af (anger), and pursued us; Thou hast slain, Thou hast not pitied.
44 Thou hast covered Thyself with an anan, that our tefillah not pass through.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse among the amim.
46 Kol oyveinu (all our enemies) have opened their mouths against us.
47 Pachad (terror) and a snare is come upon us, ruin and destruction.
48 Mine eye runneth down with streams of mayim for the destruction of Bat Ami.
49 Mine eye will flow down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission
50 Till Hashem look down, and behold from Shomayim.
51 Mine eye affecteth mine nefesh because of all the banot of my city.
52 Mine enemies hunted me down, like a tzippor (bird), without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the bor (pit) and cast an even (stone) upon me.
54 Mayim flowed over mine rosh; then I said, I am cut off.
55 I called upon Thy Shem, Hashem, out of the lowest pit.
56 Thou hast heard my voice; close not thine ear at my sighing, at my cry.
57 Thou drewest near on the Yom that I called upon Thee; Thou saidst, Fear not.
58 Adonoi, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my nefesh; Thou hast redeemed my life.
59 Hashem, Thou hast seen my wrong; uphold my cause.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their machsh’vot against me.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, Hashem, and all their machsh’vot against me;
62 The whisperings of those that rose up against me, and their muttering against me kol hayom.
63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; Ani (I) am their mocking song.
64 Render unto them a gemul (recompence), Hashem, according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them hardness of lev as thy curse unto them.
66 Pursue in anger and destroy them from under HaShomayim of Hashem.
4 How has the zahav lost its luster! How is the most fine gold changed! The avnei kodesh are poured out on every street corner.
2 The precious Bnei Tziyon, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the yotzer (potter)!
3 Even the jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young ones; the Bat Ami is become heartless, like the ostriches in the midbar.
4 The leshon of the nursing infant cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the olalim beg for lechem, and no man giveth it unto them.
5 They that did feed delicately are destitute in the chutzot; they that were brought up in purple lie on dunghills.
6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the Bat Ami is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands helped her.
7 Her nobles were purer than snow; they were whiter than cholov, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their appearance was of sapphire;
8 Their visage is blacker than soot; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaveth to their atzmot; it is dried up, it is become like a stick.
9 They that are slain with the cherev are better than they that are slain with hunger; for these pine away, being pierced for want of the increase of the sadeh.
10 The hands of the pitiful nashim have cooked their own yeladim; they were their meat in the destruction of the Bat Ami.
11 Hashem hath accomplished His fury; He hath poured out His charon af, and hath kindled an eish in Tziyon, and it hath devoured the yesodot thereof.
12 The malkhei eretz, and all the inhabitants of the tevel (world), would not have believed that the adversary and the oyev should have entered into the sha’arei Yerushalayim.
13 For the sins of her Nevi’im, and the iniquities of her Kohanim, that have shed the dahm of the Tzaddikim in the midst of her,
14 They have groped about like ivrim (blind men) in the streets; they have defiled themselves with dahm, so that men dare not touch their garments.
15 They cried unto them, Go away; tamei (unclean)! Depart, depart, touch not; so they fled away and wandered. They said among the Goyim, They shall no more sojourn there.
16 The anger of Hashem hath scattered them; He will no more regard them; they respected not the persons of the Kohanim; they showed no favor to the Zekenim.
17 As for us, our eyes failed looking in vain for ezratenu (our help); from our towers we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
18 They stalk our steps, that we cannot go in our streets; kitzeinu (our end) is near, our yamim are numbered; for kitzeinu is come.
19 Our pursuers are swifter than the eagles of Shomayim; they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the midbar.
20 The Moshiach of Hashem, who was our very life, was taken in their traps, of whom we said, Under his shadow [of protection] we shall live among the Goyim.
21 Rejoice and be glad, O Bat Edom, that dwellest in Eretz Uz; the kos (cup) also shall pass unto thee; thou shalt be drunk, and shalt be stripped naked.
22 The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O Bat Tziyon; He will no more prolong your Golus; He will visit thine iniquity, O Bat Edom; He will expose thy sins.
5 Remember, Hashem, what is come upon us; consider, and behold our reproach.
2 Our nachalah is turned over to zarim, our batim (houses) to foreigners.
3 We are yetomim and fatherless, immoteinu are like almanot.
4 We must pay kesef for our own mayim; our wood is sold unto us.
5 Our necks are under persecution; we are weary, and have no rest.
6 We have submitted to the Mitzrayim, and to the Assyrians, to get enough lechem.
7 Avoteinu have sinned, and are no more; and we have borne their iniquities.
8 Avadim have ruled over us; there is none that doth deliver us out of their yad.
9 We get our lechem with the peril of our lives because of the cherev of the midbar.
10 Our skin was hot like an oven because we burn with ra’av (hunger, famine).
11 They ravished the nashim in Tziyon, and the betulot in the towns of Yehudah.
12 Sarim (princes) are hanged by their yad; the faces of Zekenim were not respected.
13 They took the bochurim to grind, and the ne’arim staggered under the wood.
14 The zekenim have ceased from the sha’ar, the bochurim from their music.
15 The joy of our heart is gone; mekholeinu (our dance) is turned into mourning.
16 The ateret is fallen from our head; woe unto us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our lev is faint; because of these things our eyes are dim.
18 Because of the Har Tziyon, which is desolate, the jackals prowl upon it.
19 Thou, Hashem, remainest forever;Thy throne from generation to generation.
20 Why dost Thou forget us forever, and forsake us for so long?
21 Restore us, Hashem, to Thyself that we may return; renew yamenu (our days) as of old.
22 Unless Thou hast utterly rejected us and Thou art angry with us beyond measure.
1 Divrei Kohelet, Ben Dovid, Melech in Yerushalayim.
2 Hevel havalim, saith Kohelet, hevel havalim; all is hevel.
3 What profit hath a man from all his amal (toil) which he hath toiled under the shemesh?
4 Dor v’dor, generations come and go, passing away; but ha’aretz remaineth l’olam.
5 The shemesh also ariseth, and the shemesh goeth down, and hasteth to its place, there to arise again.
6 The ruach (wind) goeth toward the darom (south), and turneth about unto the tzafon (north); it whirleth about continually, and the ruach returneth again according to its circuits.
7 All the neharot (rivers) run into the yam; yet the yam is not full; unto the place from whence the neharot come, thither they return to go again.
8 All things are wearisome; no ish can express it; the ayin is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ozen full with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing chadash under the shemesh.
10 Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is chadash? L’olamim (ages ago), which were before us, it hath been already.
11 There is no zichron (remembrance) of former things; neither shall there be with those who come after any zikaron (recollection) of things that are to come.
12 I, Kohelet, was Melech over Yisroel in Yerushalayim.
13 And I set my lev to seek and search out by chochmah concerning all things that are done under Shomayim; what grievous task hath Elohim given to the bnei haAdam to be afflicted therewith.
14 I have seen all the ma’asim that are done under the shemesh; and, hinei, all is hevel and chasing after ruach (wind).
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and chesron (that which is lacking) cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own lev, saying, Hinei, I am come to greatness, even greater chochmah than all they that have been before me over Yerushalayim; yea, my lev had great experience of chochmah and da’as.
17 And I applied my lev to have da’as of chochmah, and to have da’as of holelot (madness) and sichlut (folly); I perceived that this also is striving after ruach (wind).
18 For in much chochmah (wisdom) is much ka’as (grief, vexation); and he that increaseth da’as increaseth mach’ov (sorrow).
2 I said in mine lev, Come now, I will test thee with simchah, therefore enjoy tov; and, hinei, this also is hevel.
2 I said of laughter, It is mad; and of simchah, What doeth it accomplish?
3 I searched in mine lev to draw my basar on with yayin, my mind guiding me with chochmah; and to lay hold on sichlut (folly), till I might see what was tov for bnei haAdam, which they should do under Shomayim all the few days of their life.
4 I undertook me great works; I built me batim (houses); I planted me kramim (vineyards);
5 I made me ganot (gardens) and parks, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them;
6 I made me reservoirs of mayim, to water therewith the forest of trees tzomeiach (sprouting up);
7 I bought me avadim and shfakhot, and had bnei bayit (avadim born in my bais); also I had great possessions of herds and tzon more than all that were in Yerushalayim before me;
8 I amassed for me also kesef and zahav, and the treasure of melachim and of the provinces; I acquired for me men singers and women singers, and the delights of bnei haAdam, musical instruments of all kinds.
9 So I was great, and excelled more than all that were before me in Yerushalayim; also my chochmah remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my lev from any simchah; for my lev rejoiced in all my amal (labor); and this was my chelek (portion) for all my amal.
11 Then I looked on kol ma’asim that my hands had wrought, and on the amal that I had labored to do; and, hinei, all was hevel and chasing after ruach, and there was no profit under the shemesh.
12 And I turned myself to consider chochmah, and holelot, and sichlut; for what can the adam do who cometh after HaMelech? Even that which hath been done already.
13 Then I saw that chochmah excelleth sichlut, as far as ohr excelleth choshech.
14 The chacham (wise man) hath eyes in his rosh; but the kesil (fool) walketh in choshech; but I myself perceived also that the same mikreh (fortune) happeneth to them all.
15 Then said I in my lev, As the mikreh befalls the kesil, so also will the same mikreh befall me; and wherein have I then been of more chochmah? Then I said in my lev, This also is hevel.
16 For no zichron (remembrance) of the chacham—-no less the kesil—remains l’olam; seeing that in hayamim haba’im (the days to come) all shall be forgotten. How can the chacham die just like the kesil?
17 Therefore I hated HaChayyim (Life); because the ma’aseh that is wrought under the shemesh is grievous unto me; for all is hevel and chasing after ruach.
18 Yea, I hated all my amal for which I had toiled under the shemesh; because I must leave it unto the adam that shall occupy my place after me.
19 And who hath da’as whether he shall be a chacham or a kesil? Nevertheless shall he have shlitah (control, authority) over all my amal for which I have toiled, and have poured out my chochmah under the shemesh. This also is hevel.
20 Therefore I turned aside to give up my lev to despair over all the wearisome amal with which I toiled under the shemesh.
21 For there is an adam whose amal is with chochmah, and da’as, and kishron (skill); yet to an adam that hath not worked for it he must leave it for his chelek. This also is hevel and a ra’ah rabbah.
22 For what hath adam for all his amal, and for all the striving of his lev, wherein he hath labored under the shemesh?
23 For all his yamim are machovim (sorrows), and his travail ka’as (grief, vexation); yea, his lev taketh not rest balailah. This also is hevel.
24 There is nothing better for adam, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his nefesh find satisfaction in his amal. Also this I saw; even this was from the Yad HaElohim.
25 For who can eat, or who can find enjoyment without Hashem?
26 For to the adam that is pleasing in His sight, Hashem gives chochmah, and da’as, and simchah; but to the choteh (sinner) Hashem giveth travail; Hashem giveth the work of gathering and storing up, that Hashem may give to him that pleases HaElohim. This also is hevel and chasing after ruach.
3 To every thing there is a zeman (time), and an et (season) for every matter under Shomayim;
2 An et (season) to be born, and an et (season) to die; an et (season) to plant, and an et (season) to uproot that which is planted;
3 An et (season) to kill, and an et (season) to heal; an et (season) to tear down, and an et (season) to build up;
4 An et (season) to weep, and an et (season) to laugh; an et (season) to mourn, and an et (season) to dance;
5 An et (season) to throw stones away, and an et (season) to gather stones together; an et (season) to embrace, and an et (season) to refrain from embracing;
6 An et (season) to look for, and an et (season) to lose; an et (season) to keep, and an et (season) to throw away;
7 An et (season) to tear, and an et (season) to mend; an et (season) to keep silent, and an et (season) to speak;
8 An et (season) to love, and an et (season) to hate; an et (season) of milchamah, and an et (season) of shalom.
9 What profit hath the worker from his amal (labor)?
10 I have seen the occupation, which Elohim hath given to the bnei HaAdam to keep them occupied.
11 Hashem hath made every thing yafeh in its et (season); also He hath set HaOlam in their lev, yet so that no adam can find out the ma’aseh that HaElohim hath done from the beginning to the end.
12 I have da’as that there is nothing better for adam, than that they have simchah and do tov while they live.
13 And also that kol haAdam should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his amal. This is a gift of Elohim.
14 I have da’as that, all that HaElohim doeth will endure l’olam; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it; HaElohim doeth it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is hath been already; and that which is to be hath already been; and HaElohim will call that which is past to account.
16 And moreover I saw under the shemesh that in the Mekom Mishpat (place of judgment) resha (wickedness) was there; and in the Mekom Tzedek, resha (wickedness) was there.
17 I said in mine lev, HaElohim shall judge the tzaddik and the resha (wicked); for an et (season) for every matter and for every ma’aseh is there.
18 I said in mine lev, As for bnei haAdam, HaElohim tests them, that they might see that they themselves are like beheimah.
19 For bnei haAdam and beheimah share one and same mikreh (fortune); as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that the adam hath no advantage above the beheimah; for all is hevel.
20 All go unto mekom echad; all are of the afahr (dust), and all return to the afahr again.
21 Who hath da’as of the ruach bnei haAdam that goeth upward, and the ruach habeheimah that goeth downward to ha’aretz [see 12:7]?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that the adam find simchah in his ma’asim; for that is his chelek; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
4 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the shemesh, and, hinei, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no menachem (comforter); and on the side of their oppressors there was ko’ach (power); but they had no menachem (comforter).
2 Wherefore I praised the mesim which are already dead more than the living ones which are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the ma’aseh harah that is done under the shemesh.
4 Again, I considered all amal, and every kishron hama’aseh (skillful achievement), that such is a simple derivative of kinat ish meirei’eihu (the envy of man of his neighbor). This also is hevel, a chasing after ruach.
5 The kesil foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own basar.
6 Better is a handful with tranquility than both the hands full with amal and chasing after ruach.
7 Then I returned, and I saw under the shemesh this hevel:
8 There was a man all alone, and there was with him neither ben nor ach (brother); yet there was no ketz (end) to all his amal; neither was his ayin satisfied with osher (riches); neither saith he, For whom do I toil, and deprive my nefesh of tovah? This also is hevel, yea, it is an evil matter.
9 Two are better than one because they have a sachar tov for their amal.
10 For if they fall, the echad will lift up his partner, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Also, if two lie down, then they have chom (heat), but how can one be warm alone?
12 Though echad may be overpowered, shnayim shall withstand him; and a khoot hameshulash (threefold cord) is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and a wise yeled than an old and foolish melech, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of the bais hasohar he cometh to reign, although he was born a poor man in his malchut (kingdom).
15 I considered all the living ones which walk under the shemesh in the throng of the yeled, that is, the second one that shall enter into the place of the former [melech].
16 There is no ketz of kol haAm, all those at whose head he stands; and yet they who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is hevel and striving for ruach.
5 (4:17) Keep thy footing when thou goest to the Bais HaElohim, and be more ready to listen than to give the zevach of kesilim, for they have no da’as that they do rah.
2 (5:1) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine lev be hasty to utter any thing before HaElohim; for HaElohim is in Shomayim, and thou upon ha’aretz; therefore let thy dvarim be few.
3 (5:2) As by a multitude of cares cometh a chalom, so by a multitude of dvarim cometh the kol kesil (the voice of the fool).
4 (5:3) When thou vowest a neder unto Elohim, defer not to pay it; for Hashem hath no pleasure in kesilim; pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 (5:4) Better it is that thou shouldest not make a neder, than that thou shouldest vow and not fulfill the neder.
6 (5:5) Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy basar into chet (sin); neither say thou before the Malach [of G-d], that it was a mistake. Wherefore should HaElohim be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7 (5:6) For in the multitude of chalomot and many dvarim there are also divers havalim [see 1:2]; but fear thou HaElohim.
8 (5:7) If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of mishpat and tzedek in a province, marvel not at the matter; for he that is higher watches over him that is high; and there be higher than they.
9 (5:8) Moreover the profit of eretz is for all; Melech himself is served by the sadeh.
10 (5:9) He that loveth kesef shall never have enough kesef; nor shall he that loveth abundance have enough increase; this also is hevel.
11 (5:10) When hatovah (good things) increase, they are increased that consume them; and what kishron (useful result) is there to the ba’al (owner) thereof, except as an onlooker?
12 (5:11) The sleep of the oved (working man) is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the oisher (rich man) will not permit him to sleep.
13 (5:12) There is a grievous ra’ah which I have seen under the shemesh; osher (riches) hoarded by the ba’al thereof to his hurt;
14 (5:13) The same osher (riches) perish by an evil event and he begetteth a ben; thus this one hath nothing in his hand.
15 (5:14) As he came forth of the womb of his Em (mother), arom (naked) shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his amal (labor), which he may carry away in his hand.
16 (5:15) And this also is a grievous evil, that in every respect as he came, just so shall he go; and what profit hath he that hath toiled for the ruach (wind)?
17 (5:16) All his yamim also he eateth in choshech, and he hath much ka’as (grief, vexation) and sickness and anger.
18 (5:17) Hinei I have seen it is tov and yafeh for one to eat and to drink, and to find tovah in all his amal (labor) that he toils under the shemesh all the few days of his life, which HaElohim giveth him; for it is his chelek.
19 (5:18) Also kol ha’adam to whom HaElohim hath given osher and possessions, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his chelek, and to rejoice in his amal; this is the gift of Elohim.
20 (5:19) For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because HaElohim keeps him occupied with simchat libbo (gladness of his heart).
6 There is a ra’ah which I have seen under the shemesh, and it is a great weight upon the adam;
2 An ish to whom HaElohim hath given osher (riches), nekhasim (possessions), and kavod (honor), so that he wanteth nothing for his nefesh of all that he desireth, yet HaElohim giveth him not shlitah (empowerment) to have enjoyment thereof, but an ish nochri (stranger) hath the enjoyment thereof; this is hevel, and it is a grievous ill.
3 If an ish beget a hundredfold, and live shanim rabbot, so that rav be the yamim of his shanim, and his nefesh be not filled with hatovah, and also that he have no kevurah (grave); I say, that a nefel (stillborn) is better than he.
4 For he cometh in with hevel, and departeth in choshech, and shmo shall be shrouded with choshech.
5 Moreover though he hath not seen the shemesh, nor known any thing, this hath more nakhat (rest, quietness) than the other.
6 Yea, though he live an elef shanim twice over, yet hath he seen no tovah. Do not all go to mekom echad?
7 All the amal (labor) of haAdam is for his mouth, and yet the nefesh is not satisfied.
8 For what hath the chacham more than the kesil? What hath the poor man, who has da’as of how to conduct himself before the living?
9 Better what the eynayim see than the roving of the nefesh; this also is hevel and chasing after ruach.
10 That which is, its shem hath already been named, and it is known what adam shall be; neither may he contend with what is stronger than he.
11 Seeing there be many things that increase hevel, what profit is there for adam?
12 For who has da’as what is tov for adam in this life, all the few days of his chayyei hevel which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell adam what shall be after him under the shemesh?
7 A shem tov is better than precious ointment; and the yom hamavet than the day of one’s birth.
2 It is better to go to the bais evel (house of mourning), than to go to the bais mishteh (house of feasting); for that is the sof (end, conclusion; see 12:13) of kol haAdam; and the living will take it to heart.
3 Ka’as (sorrow) is better than laughter; for sadness of the countenance is good for the lev.
4 The lev of chachamim is in the bais evel (house of mourning); but the lev of kesilim is in the bais simchah.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the chacham, than for an ish to hear the shir kesilim.
6 For as is the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the kesil; this also is hevel.
7 Surely oppression maketh a chacham mad; and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the acharit (end) of a thing than the reshit (beginning) thereof; and erech ruach (patience) is better than gavoah ruach (haughtiness).
9 Be not hasty in thy ruach to be angry; for ka’as (anger) resteth in the kheyk (bosom) of kesilim.
10 Say thou not, What is the cause that the yamim harishonim were better than these? For it is not because of chochmah that thou dost inquire concerning this.
11 Chochmah is better than a nachalah (inheritance); and by it there is an advantage to them that see the shemesh.
12 For chochmah is a protective tzel (shade), and kesef is as well; but the advantage of da’as is, that chochmah giveth chayyim (life) to them that possess it.
13 Consider the ma’aseh HaElohim; for who can make straight what Hashem hath made crooked?
14 In the yom tovah be joyful, but in the yom ra’ah consider: HaElohim also hath set the one over against the other in such a way that adam may not find out anything that will come after him.
15 All things have I seen in the yamim of my hevel; there is a tzaddik that perisheth in his tzedakah, and there is a rasha that prolongeth his life in his ra’ah.
16 Do not be over much the tzaddik nor over much the chacham; why cause thyself desolation?
17 Be not over much resha, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou holdest fast to the one and withdrawest not thine hand from the other; for he is a yire Elohim (G-d fearer) who shall fulfill both.
19 Chochmah makes one chacham stronger than asarah shalitim (ten rulers) which are in the city.
20 For there is not a tzaddik upon earth, that doeth tov, and sinneth not [Ro 3:23].
21 Also take no heed unto kol dvarim that are spoken; lest thou hear thy eved curse thee;
22 For oftentimes also thine own lev hath da’as that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 I tested all this with chochmah; I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, whose chochmah can find it out?
25 I applied mine lev to have da’as, and to search, and to seek out chochmah, and the cheshbon (scheme, plan) of things, and to have da’as of resha (wickedness) of kesel (stupidity), even of sichlut (folly) and holelot (madness).
26 And I find more mar (bitter) than mavet the isha, whose lev is snares and traps, and her hands are as chains; whoso pleaseth HaElohim shall escape from her; but the choteh (sinner) shall be ensnared by her.
27 Look, this have I discovered, saith Kohelet, adding one point to another to find out the cheshbon (the scheme, plan of things);
28 Which yet my nefesh seeketh, but I have not found; one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that HaElohim hath made man yashar (upright, Gn 1:27); but they have sought out chishvonot rabbim (many schemes, Gn 3:6-7; Ps 51; Ro 5:12; 3:23).
8 Who is the chacham? And who knoweth the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of a thing? A man’s chochmah maketh his face bright, and the rudeness of his face is changed.
2 I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that because of the shevuat Elohim (the oath of G-d).
3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight; stand not in a rah (an evil matter); for he executeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 For the devar melech is shilton (supreme), and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5 Whoso is shomer mitzvah shall meet no harm; and a lev of a chacham discerneth both et (time) and mishpat (judgment).
6 Because every matter has its et (time) and mishpat (judgment), though the ra’at haAdam be great upon him.
7 For he has no da’as of that which shall be; for who can tell him how it will be?
8 There is no adam that hath power over the ruach to restrain ruach; neither hath he shilton (power) over the yom hamavet; and there is no discharge in war; neither shall resha deliver its possessor.
9 All this have I seen, and applied my lev unto every ma’aseh (labor, work) that has been done under the shemesh wherein one adam ruleth over another adam to the other’s hurt.
10 And so I saw the resha’im buried, who had come and gone out of the mekom kadosh (the holy place), and they were forgotten in the city where they had done such things; this is also hevel.
11 Because pitgam (sentence) against a ma’aseh hara’ah (an evil work) is not executed speedily, therefore the lev of the bnei haAdam is fully set in them to do rah.
12 Though a choteh do rah an hundred times, and his yamim be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear HaElohim, which fear before Hashem;
13 But it shall not be well with the rasha, neither shall he lengthen his yamim like a tzel (shadow); because he feareth not before Elohim.
14 There is a hevel which is done upon ha’aretz; that there be tzaddikim, unto whom it happeneth according to the ma’aseh haresha’im; again, there be resha’im, to whom it happeneth according to the ma’aseh hatzaddikim; I say that this also is hevel.
15 Then I commended simchah, because a man hath no better thing under the shemesh, than to eat, and to drink, and to have simchah; for that shall accompany him in his amal the yamim of his life, which HaElohim giveth him under the shemesh.
16 When I applied mine lev to have da’as of chochmah, and to see the business that is done upon ha’aretz, though one’s eynayim see sleep neither yom nor lailah,
17 then I beheld kol ma’aseh HaElohim, that haAdam cannot comprehend the ma’aseh that is done under the shemesh; because though haAdam labor to seek it out, yet he shall not comprehend it; moreover, though a chacham claim to have da’as of it, yet shall he not be able to comprehend it.
9 All this I took to my lev, explaining it all, that the tzaddikim, and the chachamim, and their works, are in the yad HaElohim; adam does not have da’as of whether it will be ahavah or sinah; all lies before him.
2 All things come alike to all; there is one mikreh (fortune) to the tzaddik, and to the rasha; to the tov and to the tahor, and to the tameh; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the tov, so is the choteh; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth a shevuah (an oath).
3 This is a rah among all things that are done under the shemesh, that there is one mikreh (fortune) unto all; yea, also the lev of the bnei haAdam is full of rah, and holelot (madness) is in their lev while they live, and after that they go to the mesim.
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is bitachon; for a kelev chai (living dog) is better than an aryeh hamet (dead lion).
5 For the living have da’as that they shall die; but the mesim do not have da’as of anything, neither have they any more a sachar, for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their ahavah, and their sinah, and their kina, is now perished; neither have they any more a chelek l’olam in any thing that is done under the shemesh.
7 Go thy way, eat thy lechem with simchah, and drink thy yayin with a lev tov; for HaElohim now accepteth thy ma’asim.
8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no shemen (ointment).
9 Live joyfully with the isha whom thou lovest all the days of thy chayyei hevel, which he hath given thee under the shemesh, all the days of thy hevel; for that is thy chelek in this life, and in thy amal (toil) which thou laborest under the shemesh.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy koach; for there is no ma’aseh, nor cheshbon, nor da’as, nor chochmah in Sheol, whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw under the shemesh, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the gibborim, neither yet lechem to the chachamim, nor yet osher to the intelligent, nor yet chen (favor) to the experts; but et (time) and pega (chance) happeneth to them all.
12 For haAdam also hath no da’as of his et (time, hour, but see Yn 13:1; 8:20; 7:30; 2:4 regarding the Moshiach’s knowledge of his hour); as the dagim that are caught in a metzodah rah (evil net), and as the birds that are trapped in the pach (snare), so are the Bnei HaAdam snared in an et ra’ah (evil time), when it falleth suddenly upon them.
13 This chochmah have I seen also under the shemesh, and it seemed gedolah (great) unto me:
14 There was an ir ketanah (little city), and few men within it; and there came a melech gadol against it, and besieged it, and built metzorim gedolim (huge siegeworks) against it.
15 Now there was found in it a poor chacham, and he by his chochmah delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16 Then said I, Chochmah is better than gevurah (strength); nevertheless the poor man’s chochmah is despised, and his devarim are not heard.
17 Divrei chachamim in quiet are more to be heeded than the shouting of the moshel (one ruling) among kesilim.
18 Chochmah is better than weapons of war, but one choteh destroyeth much good.
10 Dead flies cause the perfumer’s shemen to send forth a foul odor; so doth a little sichlut outweigh chochmah and kavod.
2 A chacham’s lev is at his yamin (right hand); but a kesil’s lev is at his semol (left hand).
3 Yea also, when he that is a kesil even walketh along the derech, his sense faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a kesil.
4 If the ruach of the moshel rise up against thee, leave not thy mekom; for calmness pacifieth chata’im gedolim.
5 There is a ra’ah which I have seen under the shemesh, the sort of error which proceedeth from a shalit (ruler);
6 Sekhel (folly) is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen avadim (servants) upon susim, and sarim (princes) walking as avadim upon ha’aretz.
8 He that diggeth a gumatz (pit) shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a nachash shall bite him.
9 Whoso pulleth out avanim (stones) may be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood may be endangered thereby.
10 If the barzel (iron [of the axe]) be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must more strength be marshalled; but chochmah brings success.
11 If the nachash will bite before it is charmed, there is no use in a charmer.
12 The words of a chacham’s mouth are chen (gracious); but the lips of a kesil will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is sichlut; and the end of his talk is holelot ra’ah.
14 A kesil also is full of devarim; haAdam has no da’as of what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The amal of the kesilim wearieth him, because he has no da’as of how to go to town.
16 Woe to thee, O eretz, when thy melech is a na’ar, and thy sarim (princes) feast in the boker!
17 Blessed art thou, O eretz, when thy melech is a nobleman, and thy sarim (princes) eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much atzlut (slothfulness) the rafters falleth; and through idleness of the hands the bais leaketh.
19 Lechem is made for laughter, and yayin maketh merry; but kesef answereth everything.
20 Curse not the Melech, no not in thy thought; and curse not the oisher in thy bedchamber; for an Oph haShomayim may carry the voice, and that which hath wings may report what you say.
11 Cast thy lechem upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many yamim.
2 Give chelek (portions) to shivah, and also to shmonah; for thou knowest not what ra’ah shall be upon ha’aretz.
3 If the clouds be full of geshem, they empty themselves upon ha’aretz; and if the etz fall toward the darom (south), or toward the tzafon (north), in the makom (place) where the etz falleth, there it lieth.
4 He that observeth the ruach (wind) shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5 As thou knowest not what is the derech haruach [see Yn 3:3-8], nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the ma’asei HaElohim who maketh all.
6 In the boker sow thy zera, and in the erev do not let thine hand be idle; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike tovim.
7 Truly the ohr is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eynayim to behold the shemesh;
8 But if haAdam live many shanim, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the yamim of choshech; for they shall be many. All that cometh is hevel.
9 Rejoice, O bochur, in thy yaldut (youth); and let thy lev cheer thee in the yamim of thy bechurim (youth), and walk in the ways of thine lev, and in the sight of thine eynayim; but have da’as of this; that for all these things HaElohim will bring thee into mishpat.
10 Therefore banish ka’as (sorrow) from thy lev, and put away ra’ah from thy basar; for yaldut and shacharut (prime of life) are hevel.
12 Remember now thy Bo’re (Creator) in the yamim of thy bechurot, while the yamei hara’ah come not, nor the shanim draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no chefetz (pleasure) in them;
2 While the shemesh, or the ohr, or the yarei’ach, or the kokhavim, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain;
3 In the yom when the shomrei habayit shall tremble, and the strong men shall stoop, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows grow dim,
4 And the delatayim (doors) shall be shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding fades, and he shall arise at the sound of a tzipor (bird), and all their banot hashir (daughters of song) are brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of height, and fears shall be in the derech, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper drags himself along, and desire shall fail; because haAdam goeth to his bais olam (eternal home), and the mourners go about the streets;
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the bor (cistern).
7 Then shall the aphar return to ha’aretz as it was; and the ruach shall return unto HaElohim who gave it.
8 Hevel havalim, saith Kohelet; all is hevel.
9 And moreover, because Kohelet was chacham, he taught the people da’as; yea, he applied, and searched out, and set in order many meshalim (proverbs).
10 Kohelet searched to find out divrei chefetz; and that which was written was yosher, even divrei emes.
11 Divrei chachamim are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by Ro’eh Echad (One Shepherd).
12 And further, by these, beni, be admonished; of making many sefarim there is no ketz; and much study is a weariness of the basar.
13 Let us hear the sof (conclusion) of the whole matter; Fear HaElohim, and of His commandments be shomer mitzvot; for this is the whole duty of haAdam.
14 For HaElohim shall bring kol ma’aseh (every work) into mishpat (judgment), with every ne’lam (secret thing, concealed thing), whether it be tov (good), or whether it be rah (evil).
1 Now it came to pass in the yamim of Achashverosh, (this is Achashverosh which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces;)
2 That in those yamim, when HaMelech Achashverosh sat on his kisse malkhut (royal throne), which was in the [Persian] capital, Shushan,
3 In the shnat shalosh (third year) of his reign, he gave a mishteh (feast, banquet) unto all his sarim (princes) and his avadim (officials); the might of Persia and Media, the nobles and sarim (princes) of the provinces, being before him;
4 When he displayed the osher kavod malkhut (riches of the glorious kingdom) of his and the yekar (honor [see 1:20]) of his tiferet gedulah (glorious majesty) yamim rabbim, even a hundred and eighty days.
5 And when these yamim were expired, HaMelech gave a mishteh (feast) unto all the people that were present in the capital of Shushan, both gadol (great) and katan (small), shivat yamim (seven days), in the khatzer (courtyard) of the garden of the palace of HaMelech,
6 Where were white and blue linen curtains, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to rings of silver and pillars of marble; the mittot (couches) were of zahav and kesef, upon an inlaid floor of purplish-red exquisite stone and mother-of-pearl and marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of zahav, the vessels being different one from another, and yayin malkhut (royal wine) in abundance, according to the [bountiful] yad HaMelech.
8 And the drinking was according to the dat ein ones (rule [which was] not compulsory, restricting); for so HaMelech had ordered all the wine stewards in his bais, that they should serve kirtzon ish va’ish (according to the good pleasure of each man).
9 Also Vashti HaMalkah gave a mishteh (feast, banquet) for the nashim (women, wives) in the Beit HaMalkhut (the royal palace) which belonged to HaMelech Achashverosh.
10 On the yom hashevi’i, when the lev of HaMelech was tov with yayin, he commanded Mehuman, Bizta, Charvona, Bigta, and Avagta, Zetar, and Carkas, the shivat hasarisim (the seven eunuchs) that served in the presence of HaMelech Achashverosh,
11 To bring Vashti HaMalkah before HaMelech with the keter malkhut (royal crown), to show the people and the sarim (princes) her beauty, for she was lovely to behold.
12 But HaMalkah Vashti refused to come at the devar HaMelech at the agency of his sarisim (eunuchs); therefore HaMelech became furious, and his wrath burned in him.
13 Then HaMelech said to the chachamim, which had da’as of the times; for so was the custom of HaMelech toward all the meyvinim (experts) in dat (law) and din (judgment),
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsna, and Memuchan, the shivat sarim (princes) of Persia and Media, which had access to HaMelech and which ranked rishonah (highest) in the Malkhut (kingdom);
15 What shall we do unto the Malkah Vashti according to dat (law), because she hath not performed the commandment of HaMelech Achashverosh at the agency of the sarisim (eunuchs)?
16 And Memuchan answered before HaMelech and the sarim (princes), Vashti HaMalkah hath not done wrong to HaMelech only, but also to all the sarim (nobles), and to kol haAmim that are in all the provinces of HaMelech Achashverosh.
17 For this deed of HaMalkah shall spread abroad unto all the nashim (women, wives), so that they shall despise their be’alim (husbands) in their eyes, when it shall be reported that HaMelech Achashverosh commanded Vashti HaMalkah to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise, when they will have heard of the conduct of HaMalkah, the sarot (ladies of the nobility) of Persia and Media shall similarly respond this day unto all the sarim (nobles) of HaMelech. Thus shall there arise too much bizzayon (contempt) and ketzef (wrath).
19 If it please HaMelech, let there go forth a royal decree from him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, laws that shall not pass away, that Vashti come no more before HaMelech Achashverosh; and let HaMelech give her royalty unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the edict of HaMelech which he shall make shall be published throughout all his Malkhut (realm)—for it is great—-all the nashim (women, wives) shall give to their be’alim (husbands) yekar (honor, respect), both to gadol and katan.
21 And the proposal was good in the eyes of HaMelech and the sarim (nobles); and HaMelech did according to the devar Memuchan;
22 For he sent sefarim into all the provinces of HaMelech, into every province according to the script thereof, and to every people after their leshon, that every ish should bear rule in his own bais, and speak in the leshon of his own people.
2 After these things, when the wrath of HaMelech Achashverosh was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then said the attendants of HaMelech that ministered unto him, Let there be beautiful ne’arot betulot (young virgins) sought for HaMelech;
3 And let HaMelech appoint pekidim (overseers) in all the provinces of his malkhut (kingdom, realm), that they may gather together all the beautiful na’arah betulah (young virgins) unto Shushan the capital, to the Bais HaNashim (House of the Women, Harem), unto the custody of Hegai the Saris HaMelech (the Eunuch of the King), the Shomer HaNashim (Custodian of the Women); and let their (bodily) rubbings be given them.
4 And let the na’arah which pleaseth HaMelech be Malkah (Queen) instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased HaMelech; and he did so.
5 Now in Shushan the capital there was an ish Yehudi, shmo Mordechai ben Yair ben Shim’i ben Kish, a Binyamini.
6 He had been carried away from Yerushalayim in the Golus among those taken captive with Yechanyah Melech Yehudah, whom Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel had carried away.
7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Ester, the bat of his dod (uncle); for she had neither av nor em, and the na’arah was lovely in form and beautiful in appearance, whom Mordechai, when her av and em were dead, took for the bat of his own.
8 So it came to pass, when the commandment of HaMelech and his dat (decree, law) was heard, and when ne’arot rabbot (many maidens) were gathered together unto Shushan the capital, to the custody of Hegai, that Ester was brought also unto the Beis HaMelech, to the custody of Hegai, Shomer HaNashim.
9 And the na’arah pleased HaMelech, and she took up chesed before HaMelech; and he speedily had her be given her (bodily) rubbings, with her portion of special food; and also he selected sheva hane’arot (seven maids) for her from the Beis HaMelech; and he transferred her and her ne’arot to the preferred quarters in the Bais HaNashim.
10 Ester had not revealed her Am (People, i.e., the Jewish people) nor her moledet (kindred, i.e., her Jewishness), for Mordechai had charged her she should not show it.
11 And Mordechai walked kol yom vayom before the khatzer Bais HaNashim (courtyard of the House of the Women, Harem) to have da’as of the shalom Ester (welfare of Ester), and what would become of her.
12 Now before the turn of every na’arah came to go in to HaMelech Achashverosh, she had to complete the yemei merukeihen (the days of her [bodily] rubbings) which were prescribed for the nashim and which involved shneym asar chodesh (twelve months), shisha chodashim (six months) of shemen (oil) of myrrh and shisha chodashim (six months) of perfumes and beauty treatments for nashim.
13 Then thus came every na’arah unto HaMelech; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the Bais HaNashim unto the Beis HaMelech.
14 Ba’erev (in the evening) she went, and ba’boker (in the morning) she returned to a Bais HaNashim Sheni (a second House of the Women, Harem) to the custody of Shaashgaz, Saris HaMelech, Shomer HaPilagshim (Eunuch of the King, Custodian of the Concubines). She came in unto HaMelech no more, except HaMelech delighted in her, and she were summoned b’shem (by name).
15 Now when the turn of Ester bat Avichayil, dod Mordechai, who had adopted her as his bat, was come to go in unto HaMelech, she required nothing but what Hegai, Saris HaMelech, the Shomer HaNashim, suggested. And Ester took up chen (favor, grace) in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 So Ester was taken unto HaMelech Achashverosh into his Bais Malkhut (royal residence) in the chodesh ha’asiri (tenth month), which is the month Tevet, in the shnat sheva (seventh year) of his reign.
17 And HaMelech loved Ester mikol hanashim (more than all the women), and she took up chen vachesed (favor and grace) in his sight more than kol habetulot (all the virgins), so that he set the keter malkhut (royal crown) upon her head, and made her Malkah instead of Vashti.
18 Then HaMelech gave a mishteh gadol (great feast) unto all his sarim (nobles) and his avadim (servants, officials), even Mishteh Ester; and he decreed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts according to the [bountiful] yad HaMelech.
19 And when the betulot (virgins) were gathered together again, then Mordechai yoshev b’Sha’ar HaMelech (sat in the King’s Gate).
20 Ester had not yet revealed her moledet (kindred) nor her Am (people, i.e., the Jewish people) as Mordechai had charged her; for Ester did the commandment of Mordechai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21 In those yamim, while Mordechai yoshev b’Sha’ar HaMelech, two of the Sarisim of HaMelech, Bigtan and Teresh, of the Mishomrei HaSaf (Keepers of the Door, Doorkeepers), were angry, and conspired to assassinate HaMelech Achashverosh.
22 And Mordechai came to da’as of the plot, and told it unto Ester HaMalkah; and Ester informed HaMelech thereof b’shem Mordechai.
23 And when inquiry was made of the matter, it was found true; therefore the two of them were made talui al etz (hanged on a tree), and it was written in the sefer of the divrei hayamim before HaMelech.
3 After these things did HaMelech Achashverosh promote Haman ben Hamdata the Agagi [Num 24:7], and advanced him, and set his rank above all the other sarim (nobles).
2 And all the avadim of HaMelech, that were in the Sha’ar HaMelech, bowed, and paid homage to Haman, for HaMelech had so commanded concerning him. But Mordechai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3 Then avadim of HaMelech, which were in the Sha’ar HaMelech, said unto Mordechai, Why transgressest thou the mitzvat HaMelech?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke yom vayom unto him, and his was a lo shema (not listen) unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordechai’s behavior would be tolerated; for he had told them that hu Yehudi (he was a Jew).
5 And when Haman saw that Mordechai ein korei’a (bowed not), nor to him mishtachaveh (would prostrate, worship [Devarim 5:9]), then was Haman full of chemah (wrath).
6 And he scorned to lay hands on Mordechai alone; since they had told him the Am Mordechai; therefore Haman sought to make shmad of kol haYehudim that were throughout the kol Malkhut Achashverosh, even the Am Mordechai.
7 In the chodesh harishon (first month), that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of HaMelech Achashverosh, they cast Pur, that is, the goral (lot), before Haman miyom l’yom (from day to day, every day), and me’chodesh l’chodesh (from month to month, every month) until the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8 And Haman said unto HaMelech Achashverosh, There is Am Echad scattered abroad and dispersed among the amim in all the provinces of thy malkhut (kingdom, realm); and their dat (law) is different from kol am; neither obey they the datei HaMelech; therefore it is not suitable for HaMelech to tolerate them.
9 If it please HaMelech, let it be written that they may be killed, and I will weigh ten thousand talents of kesef into the hands of those that are the osei hamelachah (doers of the work, T.N. i.e., the S.S.), to bring it into genazim (treasuries [T.N. see the word genizah here]) of HaMelech.
10 And HaMelech took his taba’at (signet ring) from his hand, and gave it unto Haman ben Hamdata the Agagi, the tzorer (vexer, harasser) of the Yehudim.
11 And HaMelech said unto Haman, The kesef is given to thee, HaAm also, to do with them as it seemeth good in thine eyes.
12 Then were the soferim of HaMelech summoned on the shloshah asar yom of chodesh harishon, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded, unto the satraps of HaMelech, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the sarim of every people of every province according to the script thereof, and to every people after their leshon; b’shem HaMelech Achashverosh was it written, and sealed with the taba’at HaMelech (the signet ring of HaMelech).
13 And the sefarim were sent by couriers into all the provinces of HaMelech, to make shmad, to kill, and to annihilate kol HaYehudim, both na’ar and zaken (young and old), little children and nashim, on yom echad (one day), even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
14 The copy of the edict to be issued as dat (law) in every province was published unto kol ha’amim, that they should be atidim (ready, prepared) for yom hazeh (that day).
15 The couriers went out, being hastened by the devar HaMelech, and the dat was issued in Shushan the capital. And HaMelech and Haman sat down to drink, but the city Shushan was in confusion.
4 When Mordechai perceived all that was done, Mordechai rent his garments, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a zeakah gedolah umarah (loud and a bitter wailing);
2 And came even before the Sha’ar HaMelech; for none might enter into the Sha’ar HaMelech clothed with sackcloth.
3 And in every province, whithersoever the Devar HaMelech and his dat (decree) came, there was evel gadol (great mourning) among the Yehudim, and a tzom, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.
4 So Ester’s na’arot and her sarisim came and told it her. Then was HaMalkah exceedingly distressed; and she sent begadim (raiment) to clothe Mordechai, and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he received it not [see Am 6:6].
5 Then called Ester for Hatach, one of the sarisim of HaMelech, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment about Mordechai, to have da’as of mah zeh (what is this?), and al mah zeh (why is this?)
6 So Hatach went forth to Mordechai unto the rechov haIr (open square of the city), which was before the Sha’ar HaMelech.
7 And Mordechai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the parashat hakesef (exact amount of the money) that Haman had promised to pay to the genazim of HaMelech for the Yehudim, to destroy them.
8 Also he gave him the copy of the edict of the dat (decree, Final Solution) that was published at Shushan to make them shmad, to show it unto Ester, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto HaMelech, to make supplication unto him, and to make bakash (request, pleading) before him for her Am (People, the Jewish People).
9 And Hatach came and told Ester the divrei Mordechai.
10 Again Ester spoke unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordechai:
11 All the avadim of HaMelech, and the people of the provinces of HaMelech have da’as that whosoever, whether ish or isha, shall come unto HaMelech into the pnimiyus khatzer (innermost courtyard), who is not called, there is echat dat (one law) of his to put him to death, except such to whom HaMelech shall hold out the sharvit hazahav (golden sceptre), that he may live. But I have not been called to come in unto HaMelech these shloshim yom.
12 And they told to Mordechai Ester’s words.
13 Then Mordechai commanded to answer Ester, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the Beis HaMelech, more than kol HaYehudim.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there revach (relief) and hatzalah (deliverance) arise to the Yehudim from another place; but thou and thy bais Avicha (house of thy father) shall be destroyed; and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Malkhut for such a time as this [1C 9:16; Ro 1:16] ?
15 Then Ester bade them return Mordechai this answer,
16 Go, gather together kol HaYehudim that are found in Shushan, and declare ye a tzom for me, and neither eat nor drink shloshet yamim, lailah vayom. I also and my na’arot will undergo a tzom likewise; and so will I go in unto HaMelech, though it is not according to the dat; and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordechai went his way, and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.
5 Now it came to pass on the yom hashelishi, that Ester put on her royal apparel, and stood in the pnimiyus [khatzer] of the Beis HaMelech in front of the Beis HaMelech; and HaMelech sat upon his kisse malkhut (royal throne) in the Beis Hamalkhut, facing the Petach HaBeis (Entrance of HaBeis).
2 And it was so, when HaMelech saw Ester HaMalkah standing in the Khatzer (Court), that she took up chen (favor, grace) in his sight, and HaMelech held out to Ester the sharvit hazahav (golden sceptre) that was in his hand. So Ester drew near, and touched the top of the sharvit (sceptre).
3 Then said HaMelech unto her, What wilt thou, Ester HaMalkah? And what is thy bakash (request)? It shall be given thee even to the chatzi HaMalchut (half of the kingdom).
4 And Ester answered, If it seem tov unto HaMelech, let HaMelech and Haman come today unto the mishteh that I have prepared for him.
5 Then HaMelech said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Ester hath said. So HaMelech and Haman came to the mishteh that Ester had prepared.
6 And HaMelech said unto Ester at the mishteh hayayin (feast), What is thy she’elah (petition)? And it shall be granted thee. And what is thy bakash (request)? Even to chatzi HaMalchut it shall be granted.
7 Then answered Ester, and said, My she’elah and my bakash is:
8 If I have found chen (favor, grace) in the sight of HaMelech, and if it is tov to HaMelech to grant my she’elah, and to perform my bakash, let HaMelech and Haman come to the mishteh that I shall prepare for them, and I will do makhar (tomorrow) as HaMelech hath said.
9 Then went Haman forth that day sameiach (joyful, happy) and with a tov lev; but when Haman saw Mordechai in the Sha’ar HaMelech, that he stood not up, nor trembled because of him, he was full of chemah (indignation, rage) against Mordechai.
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and when he came home, he sent and called for his ohavim (friends), and Zeresh his isha.
11 And Haman told them of the kavod of his osher, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein HaMelech had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the sarim (princes) and avadim of HaMelech.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Ester HaMalkah did let no man come in with HaMelech unto the mishteh that she had prepared but myself; and makhar (tomorrow) am I invited unto her also with HaMelech.
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordechai HaYehudi sitting at the Sha’ar HaMelech.
14 Then said Zeresh his isha and all his ohavim (friends) unto him, Let an etz (hanging tree) be made of fifty cubits high, and baboker (in the morning) speak thou unto HaMelech that Mordechai may be hanged thereon [see Lk 23:21 OJBC]; then go thou samei’ach (joyfully) with HaMelech unto the mishteh. And the thing was tov to Haman; and he caused HaEtz to be built.
6 On that night HaMelech’s sleep fled away, and he commanded to bring the sefer of records of the chronicles; and they were read before HaMelech.
2 And it was found written, that Mordechai had told of Bigtan and Teresh, two of the sarisim of HaMelech, the Mishomrei HaSaf (Keepers of the Door, the Doorkeepers) who conspired to assassinate HaMelech Achashverosh.
3 And HaMelech said, What yekar (honor [see 1:4,20]) and what recognition hath been done to Mordechai for this? Then said the servants of HaMelech that ministered unto him, Nothing has been done for him.
4 And HaMelech said, Who is in the khatzer (court)? Now Haman was come into the Khatzer HaKhitzonah (Outer Court) of the Beis HaMelech, to speak unto HaMelech lit’lot (to hang; see Esth 2:23) Mordechai on HaEtz that he had erected for him. [T.N. See Moshiach Ben Dovid hanging on a tree 2Sm 18:10 as well as the specter of the same fate for this descendant of the first royal family of Israel].
5 And the servants of HaMelech said unto him, Hinei, Haman standeth in the khatzer. And HaMelech said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And HaMelech said unto him, What shall be done unto the ish whom HaMelech delighteth to show yekar (see 1:4,20: 6:3)? Now Haman thought in his lev, To whom would HaMelech delight to do yekar more than to myself?
7 And Haman answered HaMelech, For the ish HaMelech delighteth to show yekar (honor)
8 Let the levush malkhut (royal robe, clothing) be brought which HaMelech has worn, and the sus (horse) that HaMelech rideth upon, and the keter malkhut (royal crown, crest) which is set upon its head,
9 And let this levush and sus be delivered to the hand of one of the most noble sarim (princes) of HaMelech, that they may array the ish therewith whom HaMelech delighteth to show yekar [see 1:4,20;6:3,6], and bring him on horseback through the rechov of the ir, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the ish whom HaMelech delighteth to show yekar.
10 Then HaMelech said to Haman, Make haste, and take the levush and the sus, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordechai HaYehudi, that sitteth at the Sha’ar HaMelech; leave nothing undone of all that thou hast spoken.
11 Then took Haman the levush and the sus, and arrayed Mordechai, and brought him on horseback through the rechov of the ir, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the ish whom HaMelech delighteth to show yekar.
12 And Mordechai came again to the Sha’ar HaMelech. But Haman hasted to his bais, having his head covered in evel (mourning [see 4:3]).
13 And Haman told Zeresh his isha and all his ohavim everything that had befallen him. Then said his chachamim and Zeresh his isha unto him, If Mordechai be of the zera of the Yehudim, before whom thy downfall hast begun, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt nafol tipol (surely fall) before him [see Mt 27:19].
14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the sarisim of HaMelech, and hasted to bring Haman unto the mishteh (banquet) that Ester had prepared.
7 So HaMelech and Haman came to banquet with Ester HaMalkah.
2 And HaMelech said again unto Ester on the yom hasheni (second day) at the mishteh hayayin (feast), What is thy she’elah (petition), Ester HaMalkah? And it shall be granted thee; and what is thy bakash (request)? And it shall be performed, even to chatzi HaMalchut.
3 Then Ester HaMalkah answered and said, If I have found chen (favor) in thy sight, O HaMelech, and if it is tov to HaMelech, let nafshi (my life) be given me at my she’elah (petition), and my Am at my bakash (request);
4 For we are sold, Ani (I) and Ami (my People), to be made shmad, to be slain, and to be annihilated. But if we had been sold for avadim and shfakhot, I would have held my tongue, since then the tzoros would not have been such as to injure the interests of HaMelech.
5 Then HaMelech Achashverosh answered and said unto Ester HaMalkah, Who is he, and where is he, who dares to presume in his lev to do such?
6 And Ester said, HaTzar (the foe) and the oyev (enemy) is this Haman HaRah (Vile Haman). Then Haman was terrified before HaMelech and HaMalkah.
7 And HaMelech, arising in his wrath from the mishteh hayayin, went into the palace garden; and Haman stood up to make bakash (request) for his nefesh (life) to Ester HaMalkah; for he saw that harm was determined against him by HaMelech.
8 Then HaMelech returned out of the palace garden into the Bais Mishteh HaYayin, and Haman was fallen upon the mittah (couch, [see 1:6 mittot, couches]) whereon Ester was. Then said HaMelech, Will he ravish HaMalkah also before me in the bais? As the davar (word) went out of the mouth of HaMelech, they covered Haman’s face.
9 And Charvonah, one of the sarisim, said before HaMelech, Hinei, also, HaEtz fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordechai, who has spoken tov for HaMelech, standeth in the Bais Haman. Then HaMelech said, Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on HaEtz that he had prepared for Mordechai. Then was the wrath of HaMelech pacified [Ps 24:10; Isa 53:11].
8 On that day did HaMelech Achashverosh give the Bais Haman Tzorer HaYehudim (the estate of Haman the Vexer, Harasser, Enemy of the Jews) unto Ester HaMalkah. And Mordechai came before HaMelech; for Ester had told what he was unto her.
2 And HaMelech took off his taba’at (signet ring), which he had reclaimed from Haman, and gave it unto Mordechai. And Ester set Mordechai over the Bais Haman.
3 And Ester spoke yet again before HaMelech, and fell down at his feet, and she wept and made supplication to him to avert the rah of Haman HaAgagi and the machshevet of him (his scheme, i.e., final solution plan) that he had devised against the Yehudim.
4 Then HaMelech held out the sharvit hazahav (golden sceptre) toward Ester. So Ester arose, and stood before HaMelech,
5 And said, If it is tov to HaMelech, and if I have found chen (favor, grace) in his sight, and the thing seem kosher (fit, right, proper) before HaMelech, and I be tovah (pleasing) in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the seferim machashevet Haman (letters devised by Haman) ben Hamdata the Agagi, which he wrote to destroy the Yehudim which are in all the provinces of HaMelech;
6 For how can I endure to see the ra’ah that shall come unto Ami (my people)? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my moledet (kindred, Jewish kinsmen)?
7 Then HaMelech Achashverosh said unto Ester HaMalkah and to Mordechai HaYehudi, Hinei, I have given Ester the Bais Haman, and him they have hanged upon the etz, because he laid his hand against HaYehudim.
8 Write ye also in behalf of HaYehudim, as you please, b’shem HaMelech, and seal it with the taba’at (signet ring) of HaMelech; for the writing which is written b’shem HaMelech, and sealed with the taba’at (signet ring) of HaMelech may no man reverse.
9 Then were the soferim of HaMelech summoned at that time in the chodesh hashelishi, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and according to all that Mordechai ordered it was written unto HaYehudim, and to the satraps, and the governors and nobles of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the script thereof, and unto every people after their leshon, and to the Yehudim according to their script, and according to their leshon.
10 And he wrote b’shem HaMelech Achashverosh, and sealed it with the taba’at of HaMelech, and sent seferim by couriers on horseback riding thoroughbred royal steeds;
11 Wherein HaMelech granted the Yehudim which were in every city to assemble themselves together, and to engage in self-defense, to make shmad, to slay and to annihilate, any chayil (armed force) of any people or province that would attack them, both little ones and nashim, and to plunder their property
12 On yom echad in all the provinces of HaMelech Achashverosh, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13 A copy of the edict was to be issued as dat (law) in every province and was galui (made known) unto kol ha’amim (all nationalities), and that the Yehudim should be atidim (ready, prepared, [see 3:14]) for yom hazeh to avenge themselves on their oyvim (enemies).
14 So the couriers that rode upon royal steeds went out, being hastened and pressed on by the devar HaMelech. And the dat (decree) was given at Shushan the capital.
15 And Mordechai went out from the presence of HaMelech in levush malkhut (royal robe, clothing) of blue and white, and with an ateret zahav gedolah (a great crown of gold), and with a tachrich (garment, robe, [see OJBC Mt 27:59]) of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan celebrated and rejoiced.
16 The Yehudim had orah (light), and simcha, and sasson, and yekar (honor).
17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the devar HaMelech and his dat came, the Yehudim had simcha and sasson, a mishteh (feast) and a yontef. And many of the people of the land mityahadim (became Yehudim); for the pachad HaYehudim fell upon them.
9 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the devar HaMelech and his dat drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the oyvei HaYehudim hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Yehudim had rule over them that hated them);
2 The Yehudim assembled themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of HaMelech Achashverosh, to lay hands on such as sought their hurt, and no man could withstand them, for the pachad of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the nobles of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and officials of HaMelech helped the Yehudim; because the pachad of Mordechai fell upon them.
4 For Mordechai was gadol in the Bais HaMelech, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; for haish Mordechai grew more and more powerful.
5 Thus the Yehudim struck all their oyvim with makkat cherev, slaughter, destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
6 And in Shushan the capital the Yehudim slew and destroyed 500 men.
7 And Parshandata, Dalphon, Aspata,
8 Porata, Adalya, Aridata,
9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizata,
10 The aseret bnei Haman ben Hamdata, tzorer (enemy of) HaYehudim; but on the plunder laid they not their hand.
11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the capital was brought before HaMelech.
12 And HaMelech said unto Ester HaMalkah, The Yehudim have slain and destroyed 500 men in Shushan the capital, and the ten bnei Haman. What have they done in the rest of the provinces of HaMelech? Now what is thy she’elah (petition)? And it shall be granted thee. Or what is thy bakash further? And it shall be done.
13 Then said Ester, If it be tov to HaMelech, let it be granted to the Yehudim which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto the dat of this day, and let the aseret bnei Haman be hanged upon haetz [see Esth 6:4].
14 And HaMelech commanded it so to be done; and the dat (decree) was given at Shushan; and they hanged aseret bnei Haman.
15 For the Yehudim that were in Shushan assembled themselves together on the 14th day also of the month Adar, and slew 300 men at Shushan; but on the plunder they laid not their hand.
16 But the she’ar (remainder, remnant) of the Yehudim that were in the provinces of HaMelech assembled themselves together, engaged in selfdefense, got relief from their oyvim, slew of those hating them 75,000, but they laid not their hands on the plunder.
17 This was on the 13th day of the month Adar, and on the 14th day of the same rested they, and made it a yom mishteh and simcha.
18 But the Yehudim that were at Shushan assembled together on the 13th day thereof, and on the 14th thereof, and on the 15th day of the same they rested, and made it a yom mishteh and simcha.
19 Therefore the Yehudim of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the 14th day of the month Adar a simcha and mishteh, and a yontef, and of sending presents each one to his neighbor.
20 And Mordechai wrote these things, and sent seferim unto all the Yehudim that were in all the provinces of HaMelech Achashverosh, both near and far,
21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the 14th day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, shanah v’shanah,
22 As the yamim wherein the Yehudim got relief from their oyvim, and the month which was turned unto them from yagon (sorrow) to simcha (joy), and from evel (mourning) into yontef; that they should make them yemei mishteh v’simcha, and of sending presents one to another, and mattanot (gifts) to the evyon (needy, poor).
23 And the Yehudim undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordechai had written unto them;
24 Because Haman ben Hamdata, the Agagi, the tzorer kol HaYehudim, had devised against the Yehudim to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the goral (lot), to utterly defeat them, and to destroy them;
25 But when Ester came before HaMelech, he commanded by hasefer that his wicked machashevah, which he devised against the Yehudim, should return upon his own head, and that he and his banim should be hanged on the etz.
26 Wherefore they called these yamim Purim after the shem of the Pur. Therefore for all the words of this iggeret (letter), and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had happened unto them,
27 The Yehudim established, and took upon them, and upon their zera, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time shanah v’shanah;
28 And that these yamim should be remembered and kept dor v’dor (throughout every generation), in every mishpachah, every province, and every city; and that these yemei HaPurim should never cease from among the Yehudim, nor the memorial of them perish from their zera.
29 Then Ester HaMalkah, the bat Avichayil, and Mordechai HaYehudi, wrote with kol tokef (all authority, see Yn 1:12-13), to confirm this second iggeret (letter of) Purim.
30 And he sent seferim unto all the Yehudim, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the malchut of Achashverosh, with words of shalom and emes,
31 To confirm these yemei HaPurim in their times appointed, according as Mordechai HaYehudi and Ester HaMalkah had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their zera, the matters of the tzomot (fasts) and their ze’akah (lamentation).
32 And the decree of Ester confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the sefer.
10 And HaMelech Achashverosh laid a tribute upon the land, even to its distant shores.
2 And all the acts of his authority and of his might, and the parashat gedulat Mordechai (full account of the greatness of Mordechai), whereunto HaMelech advanced him, are they not written in the sefer of the divrei hayamim of the kings of Media and Persia?
3 For Mordechai HaYehudi was next unto HaMelech Achashverosh, and gadol among the Yehudim, and esteemed of the multitude of his achim, seeking the tov of his people, and speaking shalom to all their zera. [T.N. The following book was written during the Sixth Century B.C.E. by Daniel HaNavi. See Mt.24:15.]
1 In the third year of the reign of Yehoiakim Melech Yehudah came Nevuchadnetzar king of Babylon unto Yerushalayim, and besieged it.
2 And Hashem gave Yehoiakim Melech Yehudah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the Beis HaElohim; which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his g-d; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his g-d.
3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the Bnei Yisroel, and of the king’s zera (seed), and of the princes,
4 Yeladim in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all chochmah (wisdom), and cunning in da’as (knowledge), and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the heikhal hamelech (king’s palace), and whom they might teach the sefer and lashon of the Kasdim (Chaldeans).
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s food, and of the yayin which he drank, so nourishing them shanim shalosh (three years), that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the Bnei Yehudah, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah;
7 Unto whom the chief of the eunuchs gave names; for he gave unto Daniel the name of Beltshatzar; and to Chananyah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azaryah, of Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the yayin which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now G-d had brought Daniel into chesed and sympathy with the chief of the eunuchs.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear adoni hamelech, who hath appointed your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse looking than the yeladim which are of your age? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, yamim asarim (ten days); and let them give us vegetables to eat, and mayim (water) to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the yeladim that eat of the portion of the king’s meat, and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and tested them yamim asarim (ten days).
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the yeladim which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
16 Thus the steward took away the portion of their meat, and the yayin that they should drink; and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four yeladim, G-d gave them knowledge and skill in all sefer and chochmah, and Daniel had understanding in all chazon (visions) and chalomot (dreams).
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he would bring them in, then the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nevuchadnetzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah; therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of chochmah and binah that the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Koresh (Cyrus).
2 And in the second year of the reign of Nevuchadnetzar, Nevuchadnetzar dreamed chalomot (dreams), wherewith his ruach was troubled, and his sleep left him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Kasdim (Chaldeans) for to show the king his chalomot. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a chalom (dream) and my ruach was troubled to have da’as of the chalom (dream).
4 Then spoke the Kasdim (Chaldeans) to the king in Aramaic, O king, live for ever; tell thy servants the chalom (dream), and we will show the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
5 The king answered and said to the Kasdim (Chaldeans), The decision from me is firm; if ye will not give me da’as of the chalom (dream), with the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a pile of rubble;
6 But if ye show the chalom (dream), and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor; therefore show me the chalom (dream), and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the chalom (dream), and we will show the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of it.
8 The king answered and said, I have da’as of certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the decision from me is firm.
9 But if ye will not give me da’as of the chalom (dream), there is but one decree for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the tide is turned; therefore tell me the chalom (dream), and I shall have da’as that ye can show me the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.
10 The Kasdim (Chaldeans) answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter; therefore there is no melech, no matter how rav (great) or powerful, that asked such things of any magician, or enchanter, or Kasdai (Chaldean).
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the g-ds, whose dwelling is not with basar (flesh).
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the chachamim (wise men) of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the chachamim should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his chaverim to be slain.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Aryoch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the chachamim of Babylon;
15 He answered and said to Aryoch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Aryoch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
17 Then Daniel went to his bais, and made the decree known to Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah, his chaverim,
18 That they would plead for rachamim from the G-d of Shomayim concerning this raz (mystery, secret); that Daniel and his chaverim should not perish with the rest of the chachamim of Babylon.
19 Then was the raz revealed unto Daniel in a chazon of the lailah. Then Daniel said a brakhah to the G-d of Shomayim.
20 Daniel answered and said, Baruch hashem Elohim l’olam va’ed; for chochmah (wisdom) and gevurah (might) are His;
21 And He changeth the times and the zmanim (seasons); He removeth melachim, and setteth up melachim; He giveth chochmah unto the chachamim, and da’as to them that know binah;
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the choshech, and the light dwelleth with Him.
23 I thank Thee, and praise Thee, O Thou G-d of my fathers, Who hast given me chochmah and gevurah, and hast given unto me da’as now of what we desired of Thee; for Thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Aryoch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the chachamim of Babylon; he went and said thus unto him: Destroy not the chachamim of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
25 Then Aryoch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the Bnei Golus of Yehudah, that will give da’as unto the king of the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
26 The king answered and said to Daniel whose name was Beltshatzar, Art thou able to give da’as unto me of the chalom (dream) which I have seen, and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king and said, The raz which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the enchanters, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
28 But there is a G-d in Shomayim that revealeth razim, and maketh known to the king Nevuchadnetzar what shall be in the acharit hayamim. Thy chalom (dream), and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these:
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and He that revealeth razim (secrets) maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
30 But as for me, this raz is not revealed to me for any chochmah that I have more than any living, but in order that the pesher (interpretation, explanation) may be known to the king, and that thou mightest understand the thoughts of thy heart.
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great tzelem (image, idol, statue). This great tzelem, whose brightness was extraordinary, stood before thee; and the form thereof was awesome.
32 This tzelem’s head was of fine gold, his chest and his arms of silver, his middle and his thighs of bronze,
33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Thou sawest till that an even (stone [Moshiach; see Tehillim 118:22; Yeshayah 53:3, Tehillim 2:9]) was cut out without hands, which struck the tzelem upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no trace was found of them; and the even (stone) that struck the tzelem became a great mountain, and filled kol ha’aretz.
36 This is the chalom (dream); and we will tell the pesher thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the G-d of Shomayim hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee shalit (ruler) over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of bronze, which shall bear rule over kol ha’aretz.
40 And the fourth mamlachah shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, the mamlachah shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with baked clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the mamlachah shall be partly strong, and partly fragile.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with baked clay, so the zera of the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these melachim shall the G-d of Shomayim set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these mamlechot (kingdoms), and it shall stand for ever [Lk 1:32-33].
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the even (stone) was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great G-d hath made known to the king what shall come to pass after this; and the chalom (dream) is certain, and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof trustworthy.
46 Then the king Nevuchadnetzar fell upon his face, prostrate before Daniel, and paid him honor and ordered that a minchah and incense be presented to him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a surety it is, that your G-d is G-d of g-ds, and L-rd of melachim, and a revealer of razim (secrets), seeing thou couldest reveal this raz.
48 Then the king exalted Daniel to a high position, and gave him many great mattanot (gifts), and made him shalit (ruler) over the whole province of Babylon, and placed him in charge of all the chachamim of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel remained at the royal court.
3 Nevuchadnetzar the king made a tzelem of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nevuchadnetzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the tzelem which Nevuchadnetzar the king had set up.
3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the tzelem that Nevuchadnetzar the king had set up; and they stood before the tzelem that Nevuchadnetzar had set up.
4 Then a karoz (herald) cried aloud, To you it is ommanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, pipes, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden tzelem that Nevuchadnetzar the king hath set up;
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery attun (furnace).
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden tzelem that Nevuchadnetzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Kasdim (Chaldeans) came near, and accused the Yehudim.
9 They spoke and said to the king Nevuchadnetzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and pipes, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden tzelem;
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery attun (furnace).
12 There are certain Yehudim whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have disregarded thee; they serve (pay-lammed-chet, serve as deity) not thy g-ds, nor worship the golden tzelem which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nevuchadnetzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nevuchadnetzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do ye not serve my g-ds, nor worship the golden tzelem which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and pipes, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the tzelem which I have made, well; but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery attun; and who is that G-d that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nevuchadnetzar, we are not needful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, Eloheinu whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not be the ones serving as deity (pey-lammed-chet) thy g-ds, nor worship the golden tzelem which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nevuchadnetzar full of fury, and the expression on his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the attun seven times hotter than usual.
20 And he commanded certain gibborim (mighty men) of valor that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery attun.
21 Then these anashim (men) were bound in their mantles, their tunics, and their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was severe, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flames of the eish (fire) violently killed those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nevuchadnetzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast shloshah anashim (three men) bound into the midst of the eish (fire)? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see anashim arba’ah (four men) free (not bound, loose), walking in the midst of the eish (fire), and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Bar Elohin (Ben Elohim, Hebrew).
26 Then Nevuchadnetzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of El Elyon (G-d Most High), come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the eish (fire).
27 And the satraps, governors, and administrators, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the eish (fire) had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their garments affected, nor the smell of eish (fire) had passed on them.
28 Then Nevuchadnetzar spoke, and said, Baruch Elohim shel Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Who hath sent His malach, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve ([as deity], peylammed-chet) nor worship any g-d, except their own G-d.
29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the G-d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a pile of rubble, because there is no other g-d that can deliver like this.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
4 Nevuchadnetzar the king, unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Shalom aleichem l’machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you).
2 (3:32) I thought it good to show the otot (signs) and mofetim (wonders) that El Elyon hath wrought toward me.
3 (3:33) How great are His otot (signs)! And how mighty are His mofetim (wonders)! His kingdom is a malchut olam (everlasting kingdom), and His dominion is from dor v’dor (generation to generation).
4 (4:1) I, Nevuchadnetzar, was at rest in mine bais, and prospering in my heikhal (palace).
5 (4:2) I saw a chalom (dream) which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the chazonot (visions) of my head troubled me.
6 (4:3) Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the chachamim of Babylon before me, that they might give me da’as of the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of the chalom (dream).
7 (4:4) Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and the soothsayers; and I told the chalom (dream) before them; but they did not make known unto me the pesher thereof.
8 (4:5) But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Beltshatzar, according to hashem of my G-d, and in whom is the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh); and before him I told the chalom (dream), saying,
9 (4:6) O Beltshatzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh) is in thee, and no raz (secret, mystery) troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my chalom (dream) that I have seen, and the pesher thereof.
10 (4:7) Thus were the chazonot of mine head in my bed; I was looking, and hinei, an etz (tree) in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 (4:8) The etz grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto Shomayim, and visibility thereof extended to the end of kol ha’aretz;
12 (4:9) The leaves thereof were lovely, and the p’ri thereof abundant, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and kol basar was fed of it.
13 (4:10) I saw in the chazonot of my head upon my bed, and, hinei, an ir (watcher, messenger), a malach hakodesh, came down from Shomayim.
14 (4:11) He cried with strength, and said thus, Chop down the tree, and cut off his branches, strip off his leaves, and scatter his p’ri; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
15 (4:12) Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him partake with the beasts in the grass of ha’aretz;
16 (4:13) Let his lev (heart) be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s lev be given unto him; and let seven times (seasons, years) pass over him.
17 (4:14) This matter is by the decree of the irin (watchers), and the demand by the word of the Kadoshim (holy ones), to the intent that the living may have da’as that Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 (4:15) This chalom (dream) I, king Nevuchadnetzar, have seen. Now thou, O Beltshatzar, declare the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, forasmuch as all the chachamim of my malchut are not able to make known unto me the pesher (interpretation, explanation); but thou art able; for the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh) is in thee.
19 (4:16) Then Daniel, whose name was Beltshatzar, was perplexed for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Beltshatzar, let not the chalom (dream), or the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, trouble thee. Beltshatzar answered and said, Mari (my master), if only the chalom (dream) concerned them that hate thee, and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof thine enemies.
20 (4:17) The etz that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto Shomayim, and the visibility thereof extended to kol ha’aretz;
21 (4:18) Whose leaves were lovely, and the p’ri thereof abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of heaven had their habitation;
22 (4:19) It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto Shomayim, and thy dominion to the end of ha’aretz.
23 (4:20) And whereas the king saw an ir (watcher), a malach hakodesh, come down from Shomayim, and saying, Chop the etz down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him partake with the beasts of the field, till seven times (seasons, years) pass over him.
24 (4:21) This is the pesher (interpretation, explanation), O king, and this is the decree of Elyon (Most High), which is come upon mari (my master) the king;
25 (4:22) That they shall drive thee from anashim, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times (seasons, years) shall pass over thee, till thou have da’as that Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
26 (4:23) And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the etz with its roots, thy malchut shall be assured unto thee, after that thou shalt have da’as that Shomayim (G-d) does rule.
27 (4:24) Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by tzedek (righteousness), and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a prolonging of thy tranquillity.
28 (4:25) All this came upon the king Nevuchadnetzar.
29 (4:26) At the end of twelve months he walked about the heikhal of the malchut of Babylon.
30 (4:27) The melech spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
31 (4:28) While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from Shomayim, saying, O king Nevuchadnetzar, to thee it is spoken: The malchut has been taken from thee.
32 (4:29) And they shall drive thee from anashim, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times (seasons, years) shall pass over thee, until thou have da’as that Elyon ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
33 (4:30) The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevuchadnetzar, and he was driven from anashim, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 (4:31) And at the end of the time, I, Nevuchadnetzar, lifted up mine eyes unto Shomayim, and mine da’as returned unto me, and I said Baruch El Elyon, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Malchut is from dor v’dor;
35 (4:32) And all the inhabitants of ha’aretz are considered as nothing, and He doeth according to His will in the Tzivos HaShomayim, and among the inhabitants of ha’aretz; and none can restrain His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?
36 (4:33) At the same time my da’as returned unto me; and for the kavod of my malchut, mine honor and splendor returned unto me; and my counselors and my nobles sought unto me; and I was established in my malchut, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 (4:34) Now I Nevuchadnetzar praise and extol and honor the Melech HaShomayim, all Whose works are emes, and His ways mishpat; and those that walk in ga’avah (pride) He is able to abase.
5 Belshatzar the king made a mishteh gadol (great feast) to a thousand of his nobles, and drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshatzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his forefather Nevuchadnetzar had taken out of the Beis Hamikdash which was in Yerushalayim, that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the Beis Hamikdash of the Beis HaElohim which was at Yerushalayim, and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the g-ds of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s yad (hand), and wrote opposite the menorah upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s heikhal, and the king saw the part of the yad that wrote.
6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his machsh’vot troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosed, and his knees knocked together.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the chachamim of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this mikhtav (writing), and show me the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the malchut.
8 Then came in all the king’s chachamim, but they could not read the mikhtav (writing), nor make known to the king the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.
9 Then was king Belshatzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his nobles were perplexed.
10 Now the malkah (queen) by reason of the words of the king and his nobles came into the banquet house; and the malkah (queen) spoke and said, O king, live forever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.
11 There is a man in thy malchut, in whom is the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh) and in the days of thy forefather ohr and seichel and chochmah, like the chochmah of HaElohim, was found in him; the king Nevuchadnetzar thy forefather, the king, I say, thy forefather, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Kasdim (Chaldeans), and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent ruach, and da’as, and seichel, interpreting of chalomot, and solving riddles, and explaining enigmas, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Beltshatzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the Bnei Golus of Yehudah, whom the king my forefather brought out of Yehudah?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the Ruach Elohim is in thee, and that ohr and seichel and excellent chochmah is found in thee.
15 And now the chachamim, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this mikhtav (writing), and give me da’as of the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, but they could not show the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of the thing;
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and explain enigmas; now if thou canst read the mikhtav (writing), and make known to me the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the malchut.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the mikhtav (writing) unto the king, and make known to him the pesher (interpretation, explanation).
18 O thou king, El Elyon gave Nevuchadnetzar thy forefather a malchut, and gedulah (greatness), and kavod (glory), and hadar (majesty);
19 And for the gedulah that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him; whom he would he violently killed; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his ruach hardened in ga’avah (pride), he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his kavod (glory) from him;
21 And he was driven from the bnei haAdam; and his lev was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that El Elyon ruled in the malchut haAdam, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshatzar, hast not humbled thine lev, though thou had da’as of all this;
23 But hast lifted up thyself against Hashem of Shomayim; and they have brought the vessels of His Beis Hamikdash before thee, and thou, and thy nobles, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the g-ds of silver, and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the G-d in Whose hand thy breath is, and Whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.
24 Then was the part of the yad sent from Him; and this mikhtav (writing) was written.
25 And this is the mikhtav (writing) that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UFARSIN.
26 This is the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of the thing; MENE; G-d hath numbered thy malchut, and finished with it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; Thy malchut is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshatzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the malchut.
30 In that night was Belshatzar the king of the Kasdim slain.
31 (6:1) And Daryavesh the Mede took the malchut, being about 62 years old.
6 It pleased Daryavesh to set over the malchut an hundred and twenty satraps, which should be over the whole malchut;
2 (6:3) And over these three overseers, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give accounts unto them, and that the king should suffer no loss.
3 (6:4) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the overseers and satraps, because an excellent ruach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole malchut.
4 (6:5) Then the overseers and satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the malchut; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was trustworthy, neither was there any negligence or corrupt thing found in him.
5 (6:6) Then said these anashim, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the dat (law, religion) of his G-d.
6 (6:7) Then these overseers and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Daryavesh, L’olam yicheyeh (live for ever!)
7 (6:8) All the overseers of the malchut, the administrators, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall make a petition of any g-d or man for shloshim yom (thirty days), except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 (6:9) Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the ketav (writing, document), that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 (6:10) Wherefore king Daryavesh signed the written decree.
10 (6:11) Now when Daniel knew that the ketav was signed, he went into his bais; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim, he kneeled down three times that day, and davened, and gave thanks before his G-d, as he had been doing before this.
11 (6:12) Then these anashim assembled, and found Daniel davening and making supplication before his G-d.
12 (6:13) Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall make a petition of any g-d or man within shloshim yom, except of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.
13 (6:14) Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the Bnei Golus of Yehudah, shows no regard for thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 (6:15) Then the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he did strive till the going down of the shemesh to deliver him.
15 (6:16) Then these anashim assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Have da’as, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16 (6:17) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Elohecha (Thy G-d) whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.
17 (6:18) And an even (stone) was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring, and with the signet ring of his nobles, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 (6:19) Then the king went to his heikhal, and spent the night fasting, neither were entertainments brought before him, and his sheynah fled from him.
19 (6:20) Then the king arose very early in the boker, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 (6:21) And when he came to the den, he cried with an anguished voice unto Daniel; and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, eved of HaElohim HaChai, is thy G-d, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 (6:22) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, L’olam yicheyeh (live for ever).
22 (6:23) My G-d hath sent his malach, and hath shut the lions’ mouths that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no rah (wrong).
23 (6:24) Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had emunah in his G-d.
24 (6:25) And the king commanded, and they brought those anashim which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
25 (6:26) Then king Daryavesh wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in kol ha’aretz; Shalom aleichem l’machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you).
26 (6:27) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my malchut men must tremble and fear before the G-d of Daniel, for He is HaElohim HaChai, and stedfast l’olamim (forever), and His malchut that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even ad hasof (unto the end).
27 (6:28) He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh otot and mofetim in Shomayim and in ha’aretz, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 (6:29) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Daryavesh, and in the reign of Koresh (Cyrus) the Persian.
7 In the first year of Belshatzar melech Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote down the dream, and the sum of the matters he related.
2 Daniel answered and said, I saw in my vision that came by night, and, hinei, the arbah ruchot (four winds) of Shomayim burst forth upon the yam hagadol (great sea).
3 And four chayyot hagedolot (great beasts) came up from the yam, different one from another.
4 Harishonah (the first) was like an arye (lion), and had eagle’s wings. I was beholding until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from ha’aretz, and was made to stand upon two feet like a man, and a man’s lev was given to it [see Daniel 4:34 (4:31)].
5 And hinei another beast, a second, like a bear, and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and it was said thus unto it, Arise, devour much basar (flesh).
6 After this I beheld, and hinei another, like a leopard, which had upon its sides four wings of a bird; the beast had also arba’ah rashim (four heads) and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and hinei a fourth Chayyah (Beast), dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it was devouring and crushing, and trampling the residue with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had eser karnayim (ten horns).
8 I was contemplating the karnayim (horns), and, hinei, there came up among them another keren (horn), a little one, before whom there were three of the first karnayim plucked up by the roots; and, hinei, in this keren were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9 I was beholding until kisot (thrones) were placed, and the Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days, i.e., Hashem) did sit, whose raiment was like white snow, and the hair of His rosh like pure wool; His kes (throne) was like the fiery flames, and its wheels like burning eish.
10 A river of eish was flowing and came forth from before Him; thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat, and the sfarim (books) were opened.
11 I was beholding from (the time of) the voice of the arrogant words which the keren [Anti-Moshiach] spoke, I was beholding even till the Chayyah (Beast) was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning eish.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a time and a season.
13 I was beholding in visions of the night, and, hinei, one like a Bar Enosh (Ben Adam, i.e., Moshiach) came with the clouds of Shomayim, and came to the Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days, i.e., Hashem), and before Him He was brought.
14 And there was given Him (Moshiach) dominion, and honor, and sovereignty, that all people, Goyim, tongues, should pey-lammed-chet (see Dan 3:12, serve, reverence as deity Him (Moshiach). His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His (Messianic) Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
15 As for me, Daniel, my ruach was anxious in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head were troubling me.
16 I drew near to one of the attendants to ask him the certainty concerning all this; and he said to me that he would make me to have da’as of the pesher (interpretation) of the things.
17 These chayyot hagedolot (great beasts), which are arbah (four), are four melachim, which shall arise out of ha’aretz.
18 But the kadoshim Elyon (holy ones of the Most High) shall receive the Kingdom, and shall possess the Kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
19 Then I desired to make sure concerning the fourth Chayyah (Beast), which was different from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and its claws brass; it was devouring, crushing, and stamped the residue with its feet;
20 And concerning the eser karnayim (ten horns) that were in its head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell, even of that horn (Anti-Moshiach) that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogant things, which seemed greater than the others.
21 I was beholding, and the same keren (horn, Anti-Moshiach) made war against the kadoshim, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days, Hashem) came, and judgment was given for the kadoshim Elyon; and the time came that the kadoshim possessed the Kingdom.
23 This is what he said: The fourth Chayyah (Beast) shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms, and shall devour kol ha’aretz, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the eser karnayim (ten horns) out of this kingdom are asarah melachim (ten kings) that shall arise, and another shall arise after them; and he shall be different from the first, and he shall subdue three melachim.
25 And he (Anti-Moshiach) shall speak great words against Elyon, and shall wear out the kadoshim Elyon, and think to change set times and law, and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
26 But judgment was given, and there was taken away its [Anti-Moshiach’s] power to destroy and to annihilate unto the end.
27 And the dominion and sovereignty, and greatness of the kingdom under kol HaShomayim, shall be given to the people of the kadoshim Elyon, whose kingdom is a malchut olam (an everlasting kingdom), and all dominions shall serve and obey them.
28 Unto this point is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and the color of my countenance changed upon me, but I kept the matter in my lev. [T.N. Chanukah remembers the restored and re-dedicated worship in Jerusalem 164 B.C.E. after the Anti-Moshiachlike activities of Antiochus Epiphanes predicted in chp 8 below.]
8 In the shnat shalosh (third year) of the reign of Belshatzar HaMelech, a chazon (vision) appeared unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me in the beginning.
2 And I beheld in a chazon; and it came to pass, while I was seeing, that I was in Shushan (Susa) the fortress, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a chazon, and I was by the stream Ulai.
3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, hinei, there stood before the stream a ram which had two karnayim (horns), and the two karnayim were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher was coming up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no chayyot (beasts) might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and made a great display of strength.
5 And as I was considering, hinei, a he-goat was coming from the west on the face of kol ha’aretz, and it was not touching the earth; and as to the goat it had a conspicuous keren (horn) between its eyes.
6 And he came to the ram that had two karnayim, which I had seen standing before the stream, and he ran against him with the wrath of his koach (strength).
7 And I saw him approaching the ram, and he was enraged against him, and he smote the ram, broke his two karnayim, and there was no koach in the ram to stand before him, and he cast him down to the ground, and trampled him; there was none to deliver the ram from him.
8 Therefore the he-goat was acting very presumptuously; and when he was powerful, the keren hagedolah (great horn, [i.e., Alexander’s Empire]) was broken; and in the place of it came up conspicuously four, toward the arbah ruchot HaShomayim (the four winds of Heaven).
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn [Antiochus Epiphanes], which became exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the [eretz] hatzevi (the glorious land, [i.e., Eretz Israel]).
10 And it became great, even unto the tzva HaShomayim; and it caused to fall down to the earth some of the host and some of the kokhavim it trampled.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even unto the Sar HaTzava, and the daily sacrifice was taken away from Him, and the place of His Mikdash was cast down.
12 And a tzva (army) was given over to oppose the daily sacrifice on account of peysha (transgression, rebellion), and it cast down emes to the ground; and it acted, and prospered.
13 Then I heard one kadosh (angel) speaking, and another kadosh said unto that certain kadosh which spoke, How long shall be the chazon concerning the daily sacrifice, and the desolating peysha (transgression), to give both the Kodesh (Sanctuary) and the tzva (host) to be trodden under foot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto erev-boker two thousand and three hundred; then shall the Kodesh (Sanctuary) be vindicated.
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, was beholding the chazon, that I sought the meaning; then, hinei, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a kol adam (man’s voice) amidst the Ulai, and he called, and said, Gavriel, cause this one to understand the vision [see Daniel 9:21].
17 So he came near where I stood; and as he came, I was filled with fear, and I fell down upon my face, but he said unto me, Understand, O ben adam, the chazon (vision) points to the time of the ketz (end).
18 Now while he was speaking with me, I swooned upon my face toward the ground, but he touched me, and made me stand upright.
19 And he said, Hineni, I will cause thee to know that which shall take place in the latter part of HaZa’am (the Wrath period), since at a mo’ed (an appointed time) the Ketz (End) shall be.
20 The ram which thou sawest having two karnayim are the melachim of Media and Paras (Persia).
21 And the shaggy he-goat is melech Yavan (the king of Greece), and the keren hagedolah (great horn) that is between his eyes is the melech harishon (the first king [ i.e., Alexander]).
22 Now one being broken and four stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in its koach (strength).
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when haposhe’im (the transgressors, the ones rebelling) are come to the full, a melech of unyielding countenance, and mastering intrigues, shall stand up.
24 And his koach shall be mighty, but not by his own koach; and he shall cause astounding destruction, and shall prosper, and accomplish, and shall destroy the mighty and Am Kedoshim (the Holy People).
25 And by his cunning also he shall cause mirmah (deceit) to prosper through his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his lev, and by peace shall destroy rabbim (many); he shall also stand up against the Sar Sarim (Prince of Princes); but he shall be broken without [human] hand.
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is emes; and thou! Shut up the chazon; for it shall be for many yamim [i.e., distant times].
27 And I Daniel was faint, and lay ill several yamim; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but without understanding it.
9 In the shnat achat (first year) of Daryavesh ben Achashverosh, by zera (descent) a Mede, who was made melech over the realm of the Kasdim (Chaldeans);
2 In the shnat achat of his reign, I, Daniel, received binah (understanding) from the Sfarim (books, Kitvei Hakodesh) of the number of the shanim, that the Devar Hashem was unto Yirmeyah HaNavi, with respect to the desolations of Yerushalayim, SHIVIM SHANAH must be completed [Yirmeyah 25:11; 29:10].
3 And I set my face unto Adonoi HaElohim, to plead by tefillah and tachanunim (supplications), with a tzom, and sackcloth, and ashes;
4 And I davened unto Hashem Elohai, and I made vidduy (confession of sin), and said, O Adonoi, HaEl HaGadol V’HaNorah (the great and dreadful G-d), Shomer HaBrit V’HaChesed (Who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness) to them that love Him, and to them that are shomrei mitzvot;
5 We have sinned, and we have committed iniquity, and we have done wickedly, and we have rebelled, even by departing from Thy mitzvot and from Thy mishpatim;
6 Neither have we heeded or listened unto Thy avadim the nevi’im, which spoke in Thy Name unto our Melachim, our Sarim (princes), and our Avot, and to kol Am HaAretz.
7 To Thee, Adonoi, is the tzedakah, but unto us is boshet hapanim (shame of face), as at yom hazeh; to the men of Yehudah, and to the yoshvei Yerushalayim, and unto kol Yisroel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their ma’al (betrayal, treachery) wherein they have dealt unfaithfully against Thee.
8 O Hashem, to us belongeth boshet hapanim, to our Melachim, to our Sarim (princes), and to our Avot, because we have sinned against Thee.
9 To Adonoi Eloheinu belong the rachamim and the selichot (forgiveness), for we have rebelled against Him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of Hashem Eloheinu, to walk in His torot, which He has set before us by the hand of His avadim the Nevi’im.
11 Yea, kol Yisroel has transgressed Thy Torah, even by departing, refusing to obey Thy kol (voice); therefore ha’alah (the curse [Devarim 29:18]) is poured upon us, and hashevuah (the oath) that is written in the Torat Moshe the Eved HaElohim, because we have sinned against Him. [Vayikra 26:14f; Devarim 28:15f]
12 And He hath confirmed His words, which He spoke concerning us, and concerning our shofetim who judged us, that He would bring upon us a ra’ah gedolah, so that there has not been done under kol HaShomayim what has been done to Yerushalayim.
13 Even as it is written in the Torat Moshe, all hara’ah hazot (this evil) is come upon us, yet we have not mollified the face of Hashem Eloheinu, by turning away from avoneinu (our iniquities), and by having seichel (discernment) in Thy Emes.
14 Therefore hath Hashem watched upon the rah, and brought it upon us; for Hashem Eloheinu is tzaddik in all His ma’asim which He doeth, for we obeyed not His kol (voice).
15 And now, Adonoi Eloheinu, Who hast brought Thy people forth out of Eretz Mitzrayim with a yad chazakah (mighty hand), and hast gotten Thee renown, as at yom hazeh, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Adonoi, according to all Thy tzidkot, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy Ir (City) Yerushalayim, Thy Har Kodesh, because for chatta’einu, and for the avonot Avoteinu, Yerushalayim and Thy people are become a reproach, an object of scorn to all around about us.
17 Now therefore, shema, Eloheinu, hear the tefillah of Thy eved, and his tachanunim (supplications), and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy Mikdash [Beis HaMikdash] that is desolate, lema’an (for the sake of) Adonoi.
18 O Elohai, incline Thine ear, and shema; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and HaIr which is called by Thy Name; for we do not present tachanuneinu (our supplications) before Thee on account of tzidkoteinu, but for the sake of Thy rachamim harabbim.
19 Adonoi, hear; Adonoi, forgive; Adonoi, hearken and act; delay not, for Thine own sake, O Elohai; for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy Name.
20 And while I was speaking, and davening tefillos, and making vidduy (confession of sin) for me and for Ami Yisroel, and laying my techinnah (petition) before Hashem Elohai for the sake of the Har Kodesh of Elohai;
21 Yea, while I was davening in tefillah, even haish [see 8:15] Gavriel, whom I had seen in the chazon in the beginning, being caused to fly in weariness, reached me about the time of the minchat erev.
22 And he instructed me, and spoke with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to make thee have seichel in binah.
23 At the beginning of thy tachanunim (supplications) a commandment went forth, and I am come to make the word known; for thou art greatly valued; therefore understand the devar, and consider the vision.
24 Shivi’im heptads is decreed upon thy people and upon thy Ir Kodesh (Holy City), to restrain the peysha (transgression), and to make an end of chattat (sin), and to make kapporah for avon, and to bring in Tzedek Olamim (Everlasting Righteousness), and to seal up the chazon and navi, and to anoint the Kodesh HaKodashim.
25 Have da’as, therefore, and get seichel, that from the going forth of the decree to restore and to rebuild Yerushalayim unto Moshiach Nagid shall be shivah heptads, and threescore and two heptads; the rechov shall be built again, and the charutz, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two heptads, yikaret (will be cut off) Moshiach [Yeshayah 53:8], but not for himself [Yeshayah 53:4-6,8]; and the troops of the coming nagid shall destroy the Ir and the Kodesh (Beis Hamikdash, i.e., 70.C.E.); and the end thereof shall come with a flood, and unto the end there shall be war. Desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm brit (covenant) with rabbim for one heptad; and in the midst of the heptad he shall cause the zevach and the minchah to cease, and on the kenaf (wing) of the abominations is one making desolate, even until the complete destruction, a destruction that is decreed, shall be poured out upon the Shomem (Desolator, Destroyer).
10 In the shnat shlosh of Koresh (Cyrus) melech Paras (Persia) a davar (word) was revealed unto Daniel, shmo (his name) called Beltshatzar; and emes was the davar, and of a tzava gadol (great conflict, affliction); and he understood the davar, and had binah of the vision.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning a full shloshah shavu’im (three weeks).
3 Choice lechem I did not eat, neither came basar nor yayin into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until the completing of the full shloshet shavu’im.
4 And in the four and twentieth yom of the chodesh harishon (first month), as I was on the bank of the nahar hagadol (the great river) which is the Tigris;
5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, hinei, there before me was as an ish clothed in linen, around whose waist was a belt of the finest gold of Uphaz.
6 His geviyah (body) also was like the chrysolite, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of eish, and his zero’ot (arms) and his raglayim (feet) like in color to polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the kol hamon (voice of a multitude).
7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision, for the anashim that were with me saw not the vision; but a charadah gedolah (great terror) fell upon them, and they fled, for they hid themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no ko’ach (strength) in me, for my hod (comeliness) was changed upon me into disfigurement, and I retained no ko’ach.
9 Then I heard the kol (voice) of his words, and when I heard the kol of his words, then I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face was on the ground.
10 And, hinei, a yad (hand) touched me, and raised me, trembling, upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, ish chamudot (man greatly valued, beloved), understand the devarim that I speak unto thee, and stand upright, for unto thee now shulachti (I was sent). And when he had spoken the davar hazeh (this word) unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Al tirah (fear not), Daniel, for from the yom harishon (first day) that thou didst set thine lev to understand, oolehitannot (and to afflict, humble thyself) before Eloheicha, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.
13 But the Sar Malchut Paras (Prince of the Kingdom of Persia) was standing before me 21 yamim; but, hinei, Micha’el, one of the Sarim HaRishonim came to help me; and I was detained there with the Melachim Paras.
14 Now I am come to give thee binah (understanding) of what shall befall thy People in the acharit hayamim ([Messianic] latter days); for there is still a chazon (vision) for [those] yamim (days).
15 And while he was speaking such devarim unto me, I bowed my face toward the ground, and I became unable to speak.
16 And, hinei, one with the likeness of the bnei adam touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, Adoni, because of the vision my pangs have overcome me, and I have retained no ko’ach.
17 For how is the eved adoni here able to speak with such as adoni? For as for me, now no ko’ach remains in me, neither is there neshamah (breath) left in me.
18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, v’yechazkeini (and he strengthened me),
19 And said, Al tira, ish chamudot (fear not, O man greatly valued, beloved); Shalom to you; chazak (be strong), yea, chazak. And when he had spoken unto me, I felt myself strengthened, and said, Let adoni speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou why I have come unto thee? And now I shall return to fight against the Sar Paras (Prince of Persia); and when I am gone forth, hinei! The Sar Yavan (Prince of Greece) comes.
21 But I shall make known to thee that which is inscribed in the Writing of Emes; and there is no one mitchazak (putting forth strength) with me in these things, but Micha’el your Sar.
11 Also I, in the shnat achat of Daryavesh the Mede, I stood to support and to strengthen him.
2 And now will I show thee the emes. Hinei, yet shloshah melachim will arise in Paras (Persia); and the fourth shall with osher gadol (great richness) be abundantly rich above all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Yavan (Greece).
3 And a melech gibbor shall arise, that shall rule with mimshal rav (great dominion), and do kirtzono (according to his will).
4 And when he shall arise, his malchut (kingdom) shall be broken, and shall be divided to the araba ruchot HaShomayim; and not to his posterity, nor according to his rule which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others apart from these [see Daniel 8:8].
5 And HaMelech HaNegev (the King of the South) shall be strong, and one of his sarim (princes), and he shall be strong above him, and will rule; a great rule is his rule.
6 And at the end of some shanim they shall join themselves together as allies; for the daughter of HaMelech HaNegev shall come unto the Melech HaTzafon (King of the North) to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the koach hazero’a; neither shall he stand, nor his zero’a, but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that fathered her, and he that strengthened her in those times.
7 But out of a netzer of her roots shall one stand up in his place, which shall come unto an army, and shall enter into the stronghold of HaMelech HaTzafon, and shall deal with them, and shall show strength;
8 And also their g-ds with their molten images and with their precious vessels of silver and gold he will bring into captivity to Mitzrayim; and he shall refrain some shanim from (attacking) HaMelech HaTzafon.
9 So he (HaMelech HaTzafon) shall come into his kingdom of HaMelech HaNegev and shall return into his own land.
10 But his banim shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and he shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and shall stir himself up, even to his fortress.
11 And HaMelech HaNegev shall be moved with rage, and shall go forth and fight with him, even with HaMelech HaTzafon; and he shall raise a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
12 And the multitude shall be carried away; his lev shall be lifted up; and he shall cause thousands to fall, but will not be strong.
13 For HaMelech HaTzafon shall again raise a multitude, greater than the former, and at the end of some shanim he will certainly come with a great army and with great substance;
14 And in those times many shall stand up against HaMelech HaNegev; also the sons of the transgressors of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall stumble.
15 So HaMelech HaTzafon shall come, and shall cast up an entrenchment, and shall take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not stand, even their choicest troops, and there is no power to stand.
16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in Eretz HaTzevi (Beautiful Land), and destruction (shall be) in his hand.
17 He shall also set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and an agreement is with him; and he shall make it; and he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it, but she shall not stand, neither be for him.
18 After he turns his face unto the isles, and shall take many, a magistrate shall cause his reproach to cease for him except that his reproach shall return to him.
19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and will not be found.
20 Then shall stand up in his place one who causes an exactor to pass through for the glory of the malchut, but within a few yamim he shall be broken, neither in anger, nor in battle.
21 And in his place shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the glory of the malchut but he shall come in unawares, and obtain the kingdom by intrigues.
22 And an overwhelming army will be swept away before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the Nagid Brit.
23 And after the league made with him he shall practice deceit, for he shall go up, and shall become strong with a small people.
24 He shall enter unawares even into the fattest of the provinces; and he shall do that which his avot have not done, nor his avot of his avot; he shall scatter among them the spoil and booty and possessions, yea, and he shall plan his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the Melech HaNegev with a great army; and HaMelech HaNegev shall be stirred up for battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.
26 Yea, they that eat of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow, and many shall fall down slain.
27 And the hearts of both of these melachim shall be for evil, and they shall speak lies at one shulchan, but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his lev shall be against the Brit Kodesh; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come again to the South; but it shall not be as at the first so at the last.
30 For the ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be disheartened and shall return, and rage against the Brit Kodesh so shall he do; he shall even return, and will fix his attention upon those that forsake the Brit Kodesh.
31 And forces from him will stand, and they shall desecrate the Mikdash, the Citadel, and shall do away with HaTamid, and set up the Shikkutz MeShomem.
32 And such as do wickedly against the Brit shall he pervert in intrigue, but the people who know their G-d shall be strong and will do.
33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and through despoilment for many yamim.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help, but many shall cleave to them in intrigue.
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall to try them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed.
36 And HaMelech shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every g-d, and shall speak monstous things against the G-d of g-ds, and shall prosper till the wrath be accomplished; for that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither shall he regard the g-d of his avot, nor the desire of women, nor regard any g-d, for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 But in his place shall he honor the g-d of fortresses, and a g-d whom his avot knew not shall he honor with zahav, and kesef, and with precious stones, and things desired.
39 Thus shall he do to the fortresses of the strongholds with the help of a foreign g-d, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall distribute the land for a price.
40 And at the time of the end shall HaMelech HaNegev butt against him, and HaMelech HaTzafon shall storm against him with chariots, and with parash, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass over.
41 He shall enter also into the Eretz HaTzevi, and many will stumble, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moav, and the chief of the bnei Ammon.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and Eretz Mitzrayim shall not escape.
43 But he shall rule over the deposits of zahav and of kesef, and over all the desired things of Mitzrayim; and the Libyans and the Cushites shall be at his heels.
44 But reports out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with cheimah gedolah (great fury) to destroy, and to annihilate many.
45 And he shall plant the tents of his pavilion between the sea and the Har Tzevi Kodesh (Beautiful Holy Mountain); yet he shall come to his end, and there is none to help him.
12 And at that time shall Micha’el stand, the Sar HaGadol who standeth over the banim of thy people, and there shall be an et tzarah (time of tribulation), such as has not been from the existence of a nation to that time; and in that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the Sefer.
2 And rabbim of them that sleep in the admat aphar (dust of the ground) shall awake, some to Chayyei Olam (Everlasting Life), and some to reproaches (shames) and Dera’on Olam (Everlasting Contempt, Abhorrence, Aversion, i.e., Everlasting Gehinnom.[T.N. Onesh Olam is here made more fearsome in light of the prevalent neglect of Scripture in favor of non-Biblical studies]).
3 And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to tzedakah (righteousness) as the kokhavim (stars) leolam v’ed (forever and ever).
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the devarim (words), and seal the sefer, until the Et Ketz (Time of the End): rabbim shall run to and fro, that da’as (knowledge) may be increased.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, hinei, two others were standing, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the Ketz of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto Shomayim, and swore, By the One who liveth haolam (forever), it shall be for a time, times, and a half a time; and when there is an end of breaking in pieces the yad Am Kodesh (power of the Holy People), all these things shall come to an end.
8 And I heard, but I understood not. Then said I, Adoni, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel, for the devarim are closed up and sealed till the Et Ketz (Time of the End).
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and refined; but the reshaim (wicked) shall do wickedly; and none of the resha’im shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that HaTamid (the Daily Sacrifice) shall be taken away, and the Shikkutz Shomem (Abomination Causing Desolation) set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety yamim.
12 Ashrei (blessed) is he who waiteth, and attains to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty yamim.
13 But thou, go till HaKetz; for thou shalt rest, and shall arise to thy allotted inheritance at the Ketz HaYamin (End of Days).
1 Now in the first year [539 B.C.E.] of Koresh Melech Paras (Persia), that the Devar Hashem by the mouth of Yirmeyah might be fulfilled, Hashem stirred up the ruach of Koresh Melech Paras (Persia), so that he made a proclamation throughout all his Malchut, and put it also in writing, saying,
2 Thus saith Koresh Melech Paras (Persia), Hashem Elohei HaShomayim hath given me all the kingdoms of ha’aretz; and he hath charged me to build him Beis [Hamikdash] at Yerushalayim, which is in Yehudah.
3 Who is there among you of all His people, Elohav be with him, let him go up to Yerushalayim, which is in Yehudah, and build the Beis Hashem Elohei Yisroel, (He is HaElohim) which is in Yerushalayim.
4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with kesef, and with zahav, and with goods, and with livestock, beside the nedavah (freewill offering) for the Beis HaElohim that is in Yerushalayim.
5 Then rose up the chief of the avot of Yehudah and Binyamin, and the kohanim, and the Levi’im, with all them whose ruach HaElohim had stirred up, to go up to build the Beis Hashem which is in Yerushalayim.
6 And all they that were about them did strengthen their hands with vessels of kesef, with zahav, with goods, and with livestock, and with precious things, in addition to all their nedavot (freewill offerings).
7 Also HaMelech Koresh brought forth the vessels of the Beis Hashem, which Nevuchadnetzar had carried off out of Yerushalayim, and had put them in the bais (temple) of his g-ds;
8 Even those did Koresh Melech Paras (Persia) bring forth by the hand of Mitredat the treasurer, and counted them unto Sheshbatzar, the Nasi of Yehudah.
9 And this is the number of them; thirty basins of zahav, a thousand basins of kesef, nine and twenty knives,
10 Thirty bowls of zahav, kesef basins of a second kind four hundred and ten, and other vessels one thousand.
11 All the vessels of zahav and of kesef were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbatzar bring up with them of the Golus that were brought up from Bavel unto Yerushalayim.
2 Now these are the people of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those of the Golus, whom Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel had carried away unto Babylon, and returned unto Yerushalayim and Yehudah, every one unto his town;
2 Which came with Zerubavel; Yeshua, Nechemyah, Serayah, Re’elyah, Mordechai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rechum, Ba’anah. The number of the men of the Am Yisroel;
3 The Bnei Parosh, 2,172.
4 The Bnei Shephatyah, 372.
5 The Bnei Arach, 775.
6 The Bnei Pachat-Moav, of the Bnei Yeshua and Yoav, 2,812.
7 The Bnei Elam, 1,254.
8 The Bnei Zattu, 945.
9 The Bnei Zaccai, 760.
10 The Bnei Bani, 642.
11 The Bnei Bevai, 623.
12 The Bnei Azgad, 1,222.
13 The Bnei Adonikam, 666.
14 The Bnei Bigvai, 2,056.
15 The Bnei Adin, 454.
16 The Bnei Ater of Yechizkiyah, 98.
17 The Bnei Betzai, 323.
18 The Bnei Yorah, 112.
19 The Bnei Chashum, 223.
20 The Bnei Gibbar, 95.
21 The Bnei Beit-Lechem, 123.
22 The men of Netophah, 56.
23 The men of Anatot, 128.
24 The Bnei Azmavet, 42.
25 The Bnei Kiryat-Arim, Kephirah, and Be’erot, 743.
26 The Bnei Ramah and Geva, 621.
27 The men of Michmas, 122.
28 The men of Beit-El and Ai, 223.
29 The Bnei Nevo, 52.
30 The Bnei Magbish, 156.
31 The children of the other Elam, 1,254.
32 The Bnei Charim, 320.
33 The Bnei Lod, Chadid and Ono, 725.
34 The Bnei Yericho, 345.
35 The Bnei Senaah, 3,630.
36 The kohanim; the Bnei Yedayah, of the Bais Yeshua, 973.
37 The Bnei Immer, 1,052.
38 The Bnei Pashchur, 1,247.
39 The Bnei Charim, 1,017.
40 The Levi’im; the Bnei Yeshua and Kadmiel, of the Bnei Hodavyah, 74.
41 The singers; the Bnei Asaph, 128.
42 The children of the gatekeepers; the Bnei Shallum, the Bnei Ater, the Bnei Talmon, the Bnei Akuv, the Bnei Chatita, the Bnei Shovai; in all 139.
43 The Netinim; the Bnei Tzicha, the Bnei Chasupha, the Bnei Tabbaot,
44 The Bnei Keros, the Bnei Siaha, the Bnei Padon,
45 The Bnei Levanah, the Bnei Chagavah, the children of Akuv,
46 The Bnei Chagav, the Bnei Shalmai, the Bnei Chanan,
47 The Bnei Giddel, the Bnei Gachar, the Bnei Reayah,
48 The Bnei Retzin, the Bnei Nekoda, the Bnei Gazzam,
49 The Bnei Uzza, the Bnei Paseach, the Bnei Besai,
50 The Bnei Asnah, the Bnei Meunim, the Bnei Nephusim,
51 The Bnei Bakbuk, the Bnei Chakupha, the Bnei Chachur,
52 The Bnei Batzlut, the Bnei Mechida, the Bnei Charsha,
53 The Bnei Barkos, the Bnei Sisra, the Bnei Temach,
54 The Bnei Netziach, the Bnei Chatipha.
55 The Bnei Avdei Sh’lomo; the Bnei Sotai, the Bnei Hasopheret, the Bnei Peruda,
56 The Bnei Ya’alah, the Bnei Darkon, the Bnei Giddel,
57 The Bnei Shephatyah, the Bnei Chattil, the Bnei Pocheret-Hatzvayim, the Bnei Ami.
58 All the Netinim, and the Bnei Avdei Sh’lomo, were three hundred ninety and two.
59 And these were they which went up from Telmelach, Telcharsa, Keruv, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their Bais Avot, and their zera, whether they were of Yisroel;
60 The Bnei Delaiah, the Bnei Toviyah, the Bnei Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
61 And of the Bnei HaKohanim; the Bnei Chaviyah, the Bnei Hakotz, the Bnei Barzillai; which took a wife of the banot of Barzillai the Gileadi, and was named after their shem.
62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore were they, as polluted, put from the kehunah.
63 And the Tirshata (Governor) said unto them, that they should not eat of kodesh hakodashim, until there stood up a kohen with Urim and with Tummim.
64 The Kol HaKahal together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore.
65 This was in addition to their avadim (man servants) and their amahot (female servants) of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
66 Their susim were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68 And some of the chief of the avot, when they came to the Beis Hashem which is at Yerushalayim, offered nedavot for the Beis HaElohim to rebuild it in its place.
69 They gave according to their ability unto the Otzar for the work threescore and one thousand drachmas of zahav, and five thousand minas of kesef, and one hundred ketanot for the kohanim.
70 So the kohanim, and the Levi’im, and some of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Netinim (servants of the Beis Hamikdash), dwelt in their towns, and kol Yisroel in their towns.
3 And when the seventh month was come, and the Bnei Yisroel were in the towns, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Yerushalayim.
2 Then stood up Yeshua ben Yehotzadak [T.N. This man is the prophetic namesake of the coming Moshiach—see Zech 6:11-12], and his brethren the kohanim, and Zerubavel ben Sh’altiel, and his brethren, and built the Mizbe’ach Elohei Yisroel, to offer olot (burnt offerings) thereon, as it is written in the Torat Moshe Ish HaElohim.
3 And they set the Mizbe’ach upon its bases; despite their fear upon them because of the people of those lands, they offered olot (burnt offerings) thereon unto Hashem, even olot boker and erev.
4 They kept also the Chag HaSukkot, as it is written, and offered the daily olah by number, according to the mishpat, as the duty of every yom required;
5 And afterward offered the olat tamid, both of the chodeshim, and of all the Mo’adim of Hashem that were set apart as kodesh, and of every one that willingly offered a nedavah (freewill offering) unto Hashem.
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer olot (burnt offerings) unto Hashem. But the Yesod (Foundation) of the Heikhal Hashem was not yet laid.
7 They gave kesef also unto the chotzvim (masons, stonecutters), and to the charashim (craftsmen, carpenters); and food, and mishteh (drink), and shemen (oil), unto them of Tzidon, and to them of Tzor, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea and on to Yafo, according to the rishyon (authorization, grant) that they had of Koresh Melech Paras (Persia).
8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the Beis HaElohim at Yerushalayim, in the second month, began Zerubavel ben Sh’altiel, and Yeshua ben Yehotzadak, and the she’ar (remnant) of their brethren the kohanim and the Levi’im, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Yerushalayim; and appointed the Levi’im, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the melechet Beis Hashem (work of the construction of the Beis Hamikdash).
9 Then stood Yeshua with his banim and his brethren, Kadmiel and his banim, the Bnei Yehudah, together, to set forward the workmen in the Beis HaElohim; the Bnei Chenadad, with their banim and their brethren the Levi’im.
10 And when the Bonim (Builders) laid the foundation of the Heikhal Hashem, they set the kohanim in their robes with trumpets, and the Levi’im the Bnei Asaph with cymbals, to praise Hashem according to the instructions of Dovid Melech Yisroel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto Hashem because He is good, for His chesed endureth forever toward Yisroel. And kol haAm shouted with a great shout, when they praised Hashem, because the foundation of the Beis Hashem was laid.
12 But many of the kohanim and Levi’im and chief of the avot, who were zekenim (ancient men), that had seen the Beis HaRishon (Beis HaMikdash of Shlomo), when the foundation of this Beis [Hamikdash] was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for simchah;
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of simchah from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
4 Now when the adversaries [i.e., the enemies, the Samaritans] of Yehudah and Binyamin heard that the Banim of the Golus were the Bonim (Builders) of the Heikhal for Hashem Elohei Yisroel,
2 Then they came to Zerubavel, and to the chief of the avot, and said unto them, Let us build with you, for we seek Eloheichem, as ye do, and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days Esar-Hadon Melech Assur (Assyria), which brought us here [see Melachim Bais 19:37; also 17:33].
3 But Zerubavel, and Yeshua, and the rest of the chief of the avot of Yisroel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a Beis [Hamikdash] unto Eloheinu; but we alone will build unto Hashem Elohei Yisroel, as HaMelech Koresh (Cyrus) Melech Paras (Persia) hath commanded us.
4 Then the Am HaAretz weakened the hands of the Am Yehudah, and troubled them from building,
5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their etza (plan), all the days of Koresh (Cyrus) Melech Paras (Persia), even until the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) Melech Paras (Persia).
6 And in the reign of Achashverosh [Xerxes I 486-465 B.C.E., the husband of Queen Esther], in the beginning of his reign, they wrote unto him a sitnah (accusation, related to the word Satan, Accuser) against the inhabitants of Yehudah and Yerushalayim.
7 Then, in the days of Artachshasta [Artaxerxes I 465-424 B.C.E.], it was Bishlam, Mitredat, Tavel, and the rest of their companions, who wrote unto Artachshasta Melech Paras (Persia); and the writing of the letter was written in Aramaic script, and set forth in Aramaic.
8 Rechum the high commissioner and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Yerushalayim to Melech Artachshasta as follows;
9 Then wrote Rechum the high commissioner, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the judges, the officials, the Tarplim, the Apharsim, the Arkvim, the Babylonians, and those of Shushan, that is, the Elma’im,
10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapar deported, and settled in the city of Shomron (Samaria), and elsewhere in Beyond-the-River [Euphrates] wrote; and now
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artachshasta HaMelech; From thy avadim, the men Beyondthe-River [Euphrates]; and now
12 May it be known unto the Melech, that the Yehudim which came up from thee to us are come unto Yerushalayim, building the rebellious and the wicked city, and finishing its walls, and repairing the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the Melech, that, if this city be built, and the walls set up again, then they will not pay tax, tribute, or duty, and so thou shalt damage the royal revenues.
14 Now because we have covenant maintenance ("share the King’s salt") from the palace, and it was not proper for us to see the dishonor of the Melech, therefore we have sent and informed the Melech
15 That search may be made in the sefer of the archives of thy avot; so shalt thou find in the sefer of the archives, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto melachim and provinces, a place of sedition from ancient times, for which cause was this city destroyed.
16 We inform the Melech that, if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no possession in the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates].
17 Then the Melech sent an answer: Unto Rechum the high commissioner, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Shomron (Samaria), and unto the rest Beyond-the River [Euphrates], Shalom, and now
18 The nish’tevan (official document) which ye sent unto us hath been fully read before me;
19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city for a long time hath made insurrection against melachim, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20 There have been mighty melachim also over Yerushalayim, which have ruled over all territory Beyondthe-River [Euphrates], to whom tax, tribute, and duty were paid.
21 Give ye now ta’am (command) to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not built, until another ta’am shall be given from me.
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this; lamah (why) should damage grow to the hurt of the Melech?
23 Now when the copy of letter of Melech Artachshasta was read before Rechum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Yerushalayim unto the Yehudim, and made them to cease by force and compulsion.
24 Then ceased the work of the Beis HaElohim which is at Yerushalayim. So it ceased unto the second year [i.e., 520 B.C.E.] of the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) Melech Paras (Persia).
5 Then the nevi’im, Chaggai HaNavi, and Zecharyah ben Iddo, prophesied unto the Yehudim that were in Yehudah and Yerushalayim in the shem Elohei Yisroel, Who was [in authority] over them.
2 Then rose up Zerubavel ben Sh’altiel, and Yeshua ben Yotzadak, and began to build the Beis Elohim which is at Yerushalayim; and with them were the nevi’im of Elohim helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], and Shetar-Boznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath authorized you to build this Beis [Hamikdash], and to finish this structure?
4 Then said we unto them accordinging what were the shmot of the men that are constructing this building.
5 But the Ayn Eloheihem (Eye of their G-d) was upon the leaders of the Yehudim, that they could not cause them to cease, until the matter came to Daryavesh (Darius); and then answer was returned by letter concerning this matter.
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], and Shetar-Boznai and his companions the envoys which were in the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], sent unto Daryavesh (Darius) the Melech [see 6:6];
7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Daryavesh HaMelech, all Shalom.
8 Be it known unto the Melech, that we went into the province of Yehudah, to the Beis of the great Elohim, which is being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those leaders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this Beis [Hamikdash], and to restore this structure?
10 We asked their shmot also, to inform thee, that we might write down the shmot of the men that were their heads for thy information.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the avadim of the Elohei Shomayim vAretz, and build the Beis that was built these many years ago, which a great Melech Yisroel built and set up.
12 But because Avoteinu had provoked the Elohei Shomayim unto them into the hand of Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel, the Kasdai (Chaldean), who destroyed this Beis, and carried the people away into the Golus of Bavel (Babylon).
13 But in the first year of Koresh (Cyrus) Melech Bavel the same Melech Koresh made a decree to build this Beis Elohim.
14 And the vessels also of zahav and kesef of the Beis Elohim, which Nevuchadnetzar took out of the Heikhal that was in Yerushalayim, and brought into the Heikhal of Babylon, those did Koresh the Melech take out of the Heikhal of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose shem was Sheshbatzar, whom he had made governor;
15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, deposit them into the Heikhal that is in Yerushalayim, and let the Beis Elohim be built in its place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbatzar, and laid the foundation of the Beis Elohim which is in Yerushalayim; and since that time even until now hath it been under construction, and yet it is not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the Melech, let there be search made in the bais of royal archives, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh (Cyrus) the Melech to build this Beis Elohim at Yerushalayim, and let the Melech send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
6 Then Daryavesh (Darius) the Melech made a decree, and search was made in the bais of the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmeta, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a megillah, and therein was a record thus written;
3 In the first year of Koresh the Melech, Koresh the Melech made a decree concerning the Beis Elohim at Yerushalayim, Let the Beis [Hamikdash] be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4 With three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the Melech’s treasury;
5 And also let the vessels of zahav and kesef of the Beis Elohim, which Nevuchadnetzar took forth out of the Heikhal which is at Yerushalayim, and brought unto Babylon, be returned, and brought again unto the Heikhal which is at Yerushalayim, every one to its place, and deposit them in the Beis Elohim.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], Shetar-Boznai, and your companions the envoys, which were in the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], you stay far from there!
7 Let the work of this Beis Elohim alone; let the governor of the Yehudim and the leaders of the Yehudim build this Beis Elohim in its place.
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the leaders of these Yehudim for the building of this Beis Elohim; that of the royal treasuries, even of the revenue of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
9 And that which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the Elohei Shomayim, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the kohanim which are at Yerushalayim, let it be given them day by day without fail;
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the Elohei Shomayim, and pray for the chayyei Melech, and of his banim.
11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his bais, and being set up, let him be impaled hanging dead thereon; and let his bais be made a dunghill for this.
12 And the Elohim that hath caused Shmo to dwell there destroy all Melech or Am that shall lift up their hand to alter and to destroy this Beis Elohim which is at Yerushalayim. I Daryavesh have issued a decree; let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor of Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], Shetar-Boznai, and their companions, according to that which Daryavesh the Melech had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the leaders of the Yehudim built, and they prospered through the prophesying and preaching of Chaggai HaNavi and Zecharyah ben Iddo. And they built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the Elohei Yisroel, and according to the commandment of Koresh (Cyrus), and Daryavesh (Darius), and Artachshasta (Artaxerxes) Melech Paras (Persia).
15 And this Beis [Hamikdash] was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the Melech [i.e., March 12, 515 B.C.E.].
16 And the Bnei Yisroel, the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the rest of the Banim of the Golus, kept the dedication of this Beis Elohim with joy.
17 And offered at the dedication of this Beis Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for kol Yisroel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisroel.
18 And they installed the kohanim in their divisions, and the Levi’im in their courses, for the Avodas Elohim, which is at Yerushalayim, as it is written in the Sefer Moshe.
19 And the Banim of the Golus kept the Pesach upon the 14th day of the first month.
20 For the Kohanim and the Levi’im made themselves tahor, all of them were tehorim, and slaughtered the Pesach for all the Banim of the Golus, and for their brethren the Kohanim, and for themselves.
21 And the Bnei Yisroel, which were come again out of Golus, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the tum’a of the Goyim of ha’aretz, to seek Hashem Elohei Yisroel, did eat,
22 And kept the Chag Matzot seven days with simchah; for Hashem had made them joyful, and turned the lev Melech Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the Beis Elohim, Elohei Yisroel.
7 Now after these things, in the reign of Artachshasta Melech Paras (Persia), Ezra ben Serayah ben Azaryah ben Hilkiyah,
2 Ben Shallum, ben Tzadok, ben Achituv,
3 Ben Amaryah, ben Azaryah, ben Merayot,
4 Ben Zerachyah, ben Uzzi, ben Bukki,
5 Ben Avishua, ben Pinchas, ben Eleazar, ben Aharon HaKohen HaRosh;
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a sofer mahir expert in the Torat Moshe, which Hashem Elohei Yisroel had given, and HaMelech granted him all his request, for the yad Hashem Elohav was upon him.
7 And there went up some of the Bnei Yisroel, and of the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Netinim, unto Yerushalayim, in the seventh year of Artachshasta [Artaxerxes] HaMelech [i.e., 458 B.C.E.].
8 And he came to Yerushalayim in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the Melech.
9 For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Yerushalayim, for the good yad Elohav was upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his lev to study the Torat Hashem, and to do it, and to teach in Yisroel chok and mishpat.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that HaMelech Artachshasta gave unto Ezra HaKohen, HaSofer, even a Sofer of the divrei mitzvot Hashem, and of his chukkot for Yisroel:
12 Artachshasta, Melech Melachim, unto Ezra Kohen, Sofer of the law of Elohei Shomayim, Greetings! And now
13 I issued a decree, that all they of the Am Yisroel, and of Kohanim and Levi’im, in my kingdom, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Yerushalayim, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the Melech, and of his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Yehudah and Yerushalayim, according to the law of thy G-d which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the kesef and zahav, which the Melech and his counselors have freely offered unto the Elohei Yisroel, Whose habitation is in Yerushalayim,
16 And all the kesef and zahav that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the Kohanim, offering willingly for the Beis Eloheihem which is in Yerushalayim;
17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this kesef bulls, rams, lambs, with their minchot and their nesakhim, and offer them upon the Mizbe’ach of the Beis Eloheichem which is in Yerushalayim.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the kesef and the zahav, that do according to the will of Eloheichem.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the Beis of thy G-d, those deliver thou before the Elohei Yerushalayim.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the Beis of thy G-d, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the bais of treasuries of the Melech.
21 And I, even I Artachshasta the Melech, do issue a decree to all the treasurers which are in Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], that whatsoever Ezra HaKohen, the Sofer of the law of the Elohei Shomayim, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto one hundred talents of kesef, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited melach (salt).
23 Whatsoever is commanded by Elohei Shomayim, let it be diligently done for the Beis of Elohei Shomayim; for why should there be ketzaf (wrath) against the malchut of the Melech and his banim?
24 Also we make known to you, that touching any of the Kohanim and Levi’im, singers, gatekeepers, Netinim, or ministers of this Beis Elohim, it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or duty, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the chochmah of thy G-d, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are in Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], all such as know the laws of thy G-d; and teach ye them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy G-d, and the law of the Melech, let punishment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Baruch Hashem Elohei Avoteinu, Who hath put such a thing as this in the lev HaMelech, to honor the Beis Hashem which is in Yerushalayim;
28 And hath extended chesed unto me before HaMelech, and his counselors, and before all the mighty officials of the Melech. And I was strengthened because the Yad Hashem Elohai was upon me, and I gathered together out of Yisroel chief men to go up with me.
8 These are now the Rashei Avoteihem, and this is the register of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artachshasta the Melech:
2 Of the Bnei Pinchas, Gershom; of the Bnei Itamar, Daniel; of the Bnei Dovid, Chattush;
3 Of the Bnei Shechanyah, of the Bnei Parosh, Zecharyah; and with him were reckoned by register of the zakhar 150.
4 Of the Bnei Pachat-Moav, Elyehoeinai ben Zerachyah, and with him 200 zakhar.
5 Of the Bnei Shechanyah, ben Yachziel, and with him 300 zakhar.
6 Of the banim also of Adin, Eved ben Yonatan, and with him 50 zakhar.
7 And of the Bnei Elam, Yeshayah ben Atalyah, and with him 70 zakhar.
8 And of the Bnei Shephatyah, Zevadyah ben Michael, and with him 80 zakhar.
9 Of the Bnei Yoav, Ovadyah ben Yechiel, and with him 218 zakhar.
10 And of the Bnei Shlomit, ben Yosiphyah, and with him 160 zakhar.
11 And of the Bnei Bevai, Zecharyah ben Bevai, and with him 28 zakhar.
12 And of the Bnei Azgad, Yochanan ben Hakkatan, and with him 110 zakhar.
13 And of the younger Bnei Adonikam, whose shmot are these, Eliphelet, Ye’i’el, and Shemayah, and with them 60 zakhar.
14 Of the banim also of Bigvai, Utai, and Zakkur, and with them 70 zakhar.
15 And I gathered them together by the river that runneth to Ahava, and there abode we in tents three days; and I reviewed the people, and the Kohanim, and found there none of the Bnei Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemayah, and for Elnatan, and for Yariv, and for Elnatan, and for Natan, and for Zecharyah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Yoyariv, and for Elnatan, men of discernment.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place called Casiphya, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Netinim, at the place Casiphya, that they should bring unto us ministers for the Beis Eloheinu.
18 And by the good Yad of Eloheinu upon us they brought us an Ish Seichel, of the Bnei Machli, ben Levi, ben Yisroel; and Sherevyah, with his banim and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Chashavyah, and with him Yeshayah of the Bnei Merari, his brethren and their banim, twenty;
20 Also of the Netinim, whom Dovid and the sarim (princes) had appointed for the Avodas HaLevi’im, two hundred and twenty Netinim; all of them were registered by shemot.
21 Then I proclaimed a tzom there, at the Ahava River, that we might afflict ourselves before Eloheinu, to seek of Him a derech yesharah for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the Melech a band of soldiers and parashim to protect us against the enemy on the road; because we had spoken unto the Melech, saying, The Yad Eloheinu is upon all them for tovah that seek Him, but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him.
23 So we did a tzom and besought Eloheinu for this, and He was entreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the Kohanim, Sherevyah, Chashavyah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed out unto them the kesef, and the zahav, and the vessels, even the terumat Beis Eloheinu, which the Melech, and his counselors, and his officials, and kol Yisroel there present, had given as an offering.
26 I even weighed out unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of kesef, and vessels of kesef one hundred talents, and of zahav one hundred talents;
27 Also twenty bowls of zahav, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of nechoshet, precious as zahav.
28 And I said unto them, Ye are kodesh unto Hashem; the vessels are kodesh also; and the kesef and the zahav are a nedavah unto Hashem Elohei Avoteichem.
29 Watch ye, and guard them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the Kohanim and the Levi’im, and chief of the avot of Yisroel, at Yerushalayim, in the chambers of the Beis Hashem.
30 So took the kohanim and the Levi’im the weight of the kesef, and the zahav, and the vessels, to bring them to Yerushalayim unto the Beis Eloheinu.
31 Then we departed from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Yerushalayim; and the Yad Eloheinu was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and the bandit laying in wait along the Derech (road).
32 And we came to Yerushalayim, and abode there three days.
33 Now on the fourth day was the kesef and the zahav and the vessels weighed in the Beis Eloheinu by the yad of Meremot ben Uriyah HaKohen; and with him was Eleazar ben Pinchas; and with them was Yozavad ben Yeshua, and Noadyah ben Binnui, the Levi’im;
34 By mispar (number) and by weight of every one; and all the weight was written at that time.
35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, the Bnei HaGolus, offered olot unto Elohei Yisroel, twelve bulls for kol Yisroel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin offering; all this was an olah unto Hashem.
36 And they delivered the orders of the Melech unto the Satraps of the Melech, and to the governors of Beyond-the-River [Euphrates] and they gave support to HaAm, and the Beis HaElohim.
9 Now when these things were completed, the sarim came to me, saying, HaAm Yisroel, and the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, have not separated themselves from the Am HaAretz, doing according to their abominations, even of the Kena’ani, the Chitti, the Perizzi, the Yevusi, the Ammoni, the Moavi, the Egyptians, and the Emori.
2 For they have taken of their banot for themselves, and for their banim, so that the zera hakodesh have mingled themselves with the Am HaAretz; yea, the yad of the sarim (princes) and officials hath been chief in this trespass.
3 And when I heard this thing, I made keriah of my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down appalled.
4 Then were assembled around me every one that trembled at the Divrei Elohei Yisroel, because of the transgression of those of the Golus; and I sat appalled until the minchat haerev.
5 And at the minchat haerev I arose up from my abasement, and having made the keriah of my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Hashem Elohai,
6 And davened, O Elohai, I am ashamed and am disgraced to lift up my face to thee, Elohai, for avonoteinu are increased over our head, and ashmateinu (our guilt) is reached up unto Shomayim.
7 Since the days of Avoteinu have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for avonoteinu have we, our melachim, and our Kohanim, been delivered into the hand of the melachim of the lands, to the cherev, to captivity, and to spoil, and to humiliation of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shown from Hashem Eloheinu, to leave us to escape a she’ar (remnant), and to give us a peg in his Makom Kodesh, that Eloheinu may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were avadim; yet Eloheinu hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended chesed unto us in the sight of the Melachim of Paras (Persia), to give us a reviving, to set up the Beis Eloheinu, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Yehudah and in Yerushalayim.
10 And now, O Eloheinu, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Thy mitzvot,
11 Which Thou hast commanded by Thy avadim the nevi’im, saying, HaAretz, unto which ye go to possess it, is an eretz niddah (unclean land) with the filthiness of the Am HaAretz, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their tum’a.
12 Now therefore give not your banot unto their banim, neither take their banot unto your banim, nor further their shalom or their prosperity ad olam, that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land and leave it for your banim ad olam.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that Thou Eloheinu hast punished us less than avoneinu deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this,
14 Should we again break Thy mitzvot, and join in affinity with the people of these to’evot (abominations)? Wouldest not Thou be angry with us till Thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no she’erit (remnant) nor escaping?
15 Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Thou art tzaddik; for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day; hineni, we are before Thee in our guilt, though we cannot stand before Thee because of it.
10 Now while Ezra was davening and making vidduy, weeping and prostrating himself before the Beis HaElohim, a Kahal rav me’od, anashim, nashim, and yeladim, gathered to him from Yisroel, for the people wept bitterly.
2 And Shechanyah ben Yechiel, of the Bnei Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have been unfaithful to Eloheinu, have married foreign am ha’aretz women; yet now there is mikveh for Yisroel in spite of this.
3 So now let us make a Brit with Eloheinu to put away all nashim and that born of them, according to the counsel of Adonoi and the charedim at the mitzvot of Eloheinu; and let it be done according to the Torah.
4 Arise! For this matter is your responsibility; but we will be with you; chazak and act.
5 Then Ezra rose and made the leading Kohanim, the Levi’im, and kol Yisroel take an oath that they would do according to this proposal; so they took the oath.
6 Then Ezra arose from before the Beis HaElohim and went into the chamber of Yehochanan ben Elyashiv. Although he went there, he did not eat lechem, nor drink water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of those of the Golus.
7 And they issued a proclamation throughout Yehudah and Yerushalayim to all the Banim of the Golus, that they should assemble at Yerushalayim
8 And that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the sarim and the zekenim, all his possessions should be forfeited and he himself excluded from the Kahal of those of the Golus.
9 So all the men of Yehudah and Benyamin assembled at Yerushalayim within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and kol HaAm sat in the rechov before the Beis HaElohim, distressed by the occasion and the heavy rain.
10 Then Ezra HaKohen stood up and said to them, You have been unfaithful and have married foreign women adding to Ashmat Yisroel.
11 Now, therefore, make confession to Hashem Elohei Avoteichem and do His will; separate yourselves from the am ha’aretz and from the foreign women.
12 Then Kol HaKahal answered and said with a kol gadol, Ken! As you have said, so it is our duty to do.
13 But there are Am rav, it is the rainy season, and we are not able to stand bachotz (outside). Nor can the matter be done in one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.
14 Let our leaders represent the Kol HaKahal and let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the ziknei ir and shofetim of each town until the charon af Eloheinu on account of this matter is turned away from us.
15 Only Yonatan ben Asah’el and Yachzeyah ben Tikvah supported by Meshulam and Shabtai the Levi stood opposed.
16 But the Banim of the Golus did so. And Ezra HaKohen selected anashim who were Rashei HaAvot for each of their father’s households, all of them by shemot. So they convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.
17 And they finished investigating all men who had married foreign women by the 1st day of the 1st month.
18 And among the Bnei HaKohanim who had married foreign women were found of the Bnei Yeshua ben Yotzadak, and his brothers; Ma’aseiyah, Eliezer, Yariv, and Gedalyah.
19 And they pledged to put away their women, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their asham.
20 And of the Bnei Immer there were Chanani and Zevadyah;
21 and of the Bnei of Charim; Ma’aseiyah, Eliyah, Shemayah, Yechiel, and Uzziyah;
22 and of the Bnei of Pashchur; Elyoeinai, Ma’aseiyah, Yishmael, Netanel, Yozavad, and Elasah.
23 And of Levi’im there were Yozavad, Shimei, Kelayah (that is, Kelita), Petachyah, Yehudah, and Eliezer.
24 And of the singers there was Elyashiv; and of the gatekeepers; Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 And of Yisroel, of the Bnei of Parosh there were Ramyah, Yizziyah, Malchiyah, Miyamin, Eleazar, Malkiyah, and Benayah;
26 And of the Bnei Elam; Mattanyah, Zecharyah, Yechi’el, Avdi, Yeremot, and Eliyah;
27 And of the Bnei Zattu; Elyoeinai, Elyashiv, Mattanyah, Yeremot, Zavad, and Aziza;
28 And of the Bnei Bevai; Yehochanan, Chananyah, Zabbai, and Atlai;
29 And of the Bnei Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adayah, Yashuv, Sheal, and Ramot;
30 And of the Bnei Pachat-Moav; Adna, Kelal, Benayah, Ma’aseiyah, Mattanyah, Betzalel, Binnui, and Menasheh;
31 And of the Bnei Charim; Eliezer; Yishiyah, Malkiyah, Shemayah, Shim’on,
32 Benyamin, Malluch, and Shemaryah;
33 Of the Bnei of Chashum; Matnai, Mattattah, Zavad, Eliphelet, Yeremai, Manasheh, and Shimei;
34 Of the Bnei Bani; Ma’adai, Amram, U’el,
35 Benayah, Bedyah, Keluhi,
36 Vanyah, Meremot, Elyashiv,
37 Mattanyah, Mattnai, Ya’asai,
38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39 Shelemyah, Natan, Adayah,
40 Machnavdai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azarel, Shelemyah, Shemaryah,
42 Shallum, Amaryah, and Yosef.
43 Of the Bnei Nevo there were Ye’iel, Mattityah, Zavad, Zevina, Yadai, Yoel, and Benayah.
44 All these had taken foreign women, and some of them wives by whom they had banim.
1 The Divrei Nechemyah ben Chachalyah. And it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year [i.e., 445 B.C.E.], as I was in Shushan the capital [of Persia],
2 That Chanani, one of my achim [see 7:2], came, he and certain men, from Yehudah; and I asked them concerning the remnant of the Yehudim that had survived the Exile [the Golus], and concerning Yerushalayim.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that have survived the Exile [the Golus] there in the province are in ra’ah gedolah and reproach; the Chomat Yerushalayim also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with eish.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for several yamim, and did a tzom, and davened before Elohei HaShomayim,
5 And said, O Hashem Elohei HaShomayim, HaEl HaGadol vHaNora, that is shomer habrit vachesed for them that love Him and are shomer mitzvot over His commandments,
6 Let Thine ear now be attentive, and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hear the tefillah of Thy eved, which I am davening before Thee now, yomam valailah, for the Bnei Yisroel Thy avadim, and mitvaddeh al chattot (confess the sins) of the Bnei Yisroel, which we have sinned against Thee. Both I and the Bais Avi have sinned.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not been shomer mitzvot, neither over the chukkim, nor the mishpatim, which Thou commandedst Moshe Thy eved.
8 Remember, the word that Thou commandedst Moshe Thy eved, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations,
9 But if ye make teshuvah and turn unto Me, and are shomer over My mitzvot, and do them; though there were of you those exiled unto the uttermost part of HaShomayim, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them unto the place [i.e., Yerushalayim] that I have chosen to make dwell Shmi (My Name) there.
10 Now these are Thy Avadim and Thy Am, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy ko’ach hagadol, and by Thy Yad HaChazakah.
11 O Adonoi, let now Thine ear be attentive to the tefillah of Thy eved, and to the tefillah of Thy Avadim, who desire to fear Thy Shem; and give success to Thy eved today, and grant him rachamim in the sight of this man. For I was the Mashkeh L’Melech.
2 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artachshasta HaMelech, that yayin was before him; and I took up the yayin, and gave it unto HaMelech. Now I had not been previously sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore HaMelech said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not choleh (sick)? This is nothing else but ro’ah lev. Then I was very much afraid,
3 And said unto HaMelech, HaMelech l’olam yicheyeh. Why should not my countenance look sad, when HaIr, the Bais Kivrot Avotai, lieth in ruins, and the gates thereof are consumed with eish?
4 Then HaMelech said unto me, For what dost Thou make request? So I davened to Elohei HaShomayim.
5 And I said unto HaMelech, If it please HaMelech, and if thy eved have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Yehudah, unto the Ir Kivrot Avotai, that I may rebuild her.
6 And HaMelech said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? So it pleased HaMelech to send me; and I set for him a zman.
7 Moreover I said unto HaMelech, If it please HaMelech, let iggrot be given me to the governors Beyond the River, that they may provide me safe conduct till I come into Yehudah;
8 And an iggeret unto Asaph the Shomer of the forest of HaMelech, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress by the Beis, and for the Chomat HaIr, and for the bais that I shall occupy. And HaMelech granted me, according to the Yad Elohai Hatovah upon me.
9 Then I came to the governors Beyond the River [Euphrates], and gave them the Iggrot HaMelech. Now HaMelech had sent captains of the army and parashim (a troop of horsemen) with me.
10 When Sanvalat the Choroni, and Toviyah the eved (official), the Ammoni, heard of it, it grieved them with a ra’ah gedolah that there was come an adam to seek the welfare of the Bnei Yisroel.
11 So I came to Yerushalayim; was there 3 yamim.
12 And I arose in the lailah, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what Elohai had put in my lev to do for Yerushalayim; neither was there any mount with me, save the mount that I rode upon.
13 And I went out by lailah by the Valley Gate, even before the Dragon’s Spring, and to the Dung Gate [3:13], and made inspection of the Chomat Yerushalayim, which had been broken down, and the gates thereof that were consumed with eish.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate, and to the King’s Pool [Pool of Shiloah], but there was no place for the mount that was under me to pass.
15 Then went I up in the lailah by way of the valley, and viewed the Chomah (Wall), and turned back, and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
16 And the officials knew not where I went, or what I did; neither as yet to the Yehudim, nor to the Kohanim, nor to the Nobles, nor to the Rulers, nor to the rest that were to do the melachah (work) had I said anything.
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see hara’ah (the trouble) that we are in, how Yerushalayim lieth in ruins, and the gates thereof are burned with eish; come, and let us rebuild the Chomat Yerushalayim, that we suffer derision no more.
18 Then I told them of the Yad Elohai Hatovah which was upon me; as also the Divrei HaMelech that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and rebuild. So they strengthened their hands in tovah (in the good).
19 But when Sanvalat the Choroni, and Toviyah the eved (official), the Ammoni, and Geshem the Arab, heard it, they laughed at us in mockery, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Against HaMelech will you be moredim (ones rebelling)?
20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, Elohei HaShomayim, He will give us success; therefore we His avadim will arise and rebuild; but ye have no chelek (allotted portion), nor tzadakah (right), nor zikaron b’Yerushalayim (history to commemorate in Jerusalem).
3 Then Elyashiv the Kohen HaGadol rose up with his achim the Kohanim, and they rebuilt the Sheep Gate; they set it apart as kodesh, and set up the daletot of it; even unto the Migdal HaMe’ah they set it apart as kodesh, unto the Migdal Chanan’el.
2 And next unto him the Anshei Yericho built. And next to them built Zakkur ben Imri.
3 But the Fish Gate did the Bnei Hasnaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the daletot thereof, the locks , and the bars thereof.
4 And next unto them Meremot ben Uriyah ben Hakotz made repairs. And next unto them Meshullam ben Berekhyah ben Meshezav’el made repairs. And next unto them Tzadok ben Ba’ana did so.
5 And next unto them the Tekoim built; but their Nobles put not their necks to the Avodas adoneihem.
6 Moreover Yoyada ben Paseach and Meshullam ben Besodyah made repairs on the Sha’ar HaYeshanah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the daletot, and the locks, and the bars thereof.
7 And next unto them repaired Melatyah the Giveoni, and Yadon the Meronoti, the men of Giveon, and of Mitzpah, upto the seat of the governor of Beyond the River [Euphrates].
8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel ben Charhayah, one of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Chananyah son of the perfumers, and they fortified Yerushalayim upto the Broad Wall.
9 And next unto them repaired Refayah ben Chur, the ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim.
10 And next unto them repaired Yedayah ben Charumaph, opposite his bais. And next unto him repaired Chattush ben Chashavneyah.
11 Malkiyah ben Charim, and Chashuv ben Pachat-Moav, repaired the other section, and the Migdal HaTannurim.
12 And next unto him repaired Shallum ben Halochesh, the ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim, he and his banot.
13 The Valley Gate repaired Chanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoach; they rebuilt it, and set up the daletot thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and 1,000 cubits of Chomah unto the Dung Gate.
14 But the Dung Gate did Malkiyah ben Rechav, the ruler of the district of Beit Hakerem repair; he rebuilt it, and set up the daletot thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the Fountain Gate did Shallun ben Kol-Chozeh, ruler of Mitzpah district repair; he rebuilt it, covered it, set up the daletot thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the chomah of the Pool of Shelach [Shiloah] by the Gan HaMelech, and upto the stairs that go down from the Ir Dovid.
16 After him repaired Nechemyah ben Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beit-tzur, unto the place opposite the Kivrei Dovid, and to the artificial pool, and unto the Bais HaGiborim.
17 After him repaired the Levi’im, Rechum ben Bani. Next unto him repaired Chashavyah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, in his district.
18 After him repaired their achim, Bavai ben Chenadad, ruler half the Keilah district.
19 And next to him repaired Ezer ben Yeshua, the ruler of Mitzpah, another section fronting the ascent to the armory at the Corner.
20 After him Baruch ben Zakkai zealously repaired the other section, from the Corner unto the petach Bais Elyashiv the Kohen HaGadol.
21 After him repaired Meremot ben Uriyah ben Hakotz another section, from the entrance of the Bais Elyashiv even to the end of the Bais Elyashiv.
22 And after him repaired the Kohanim, who were the men of the surrounding area.
23 After him repaired Binyamin and Chashuv opposite their bais. After him repaired Azaryah ben Maaseiyah ben Ananyah etzel (beside, Prov 8:30) his bais.
24 After him repaired Binnui ben Chenadad another section, from the bais Azaryah unto the Corner, even unto the Pinnah.
25 Palal ben Uzai, opposite the Corner, and the Migdal which projects from upper part of the Bais HaMelech, that was by the khatzer (court) of the Guard. After him Pedayah ben Parosh
26 And the Netenim (servants of the Bais Hamikdash) dwelt on Ophel, made repairs unto the place opposite the Water Gate on the east, and the migdal that projects out.
27 After them the Tekoim repaired another section, opposite the great migdal that projects out, even unto the Chomat Ophel.
28 From above the Horse Gate repaired the Kohanim, every one opposite his bais.
29 After them repaired Tzadok ben Immer opposite his bais. After him repaired also Shemayah ben Shechanyah, the Shomer of the East Gate.
30 After him repaired Chananyah ben Shelemyah, and Chanun the sixth son of Tzalaph, another section. After him repaired Meshullam ben Berekhyah opposite his living quarters.
31 After him repaired Malkiyah one of the goldsmiths unto the place of the Netenim, and of the merchants, opposite the Sha’ar HaMifkad, and to the aliyyat hapinnah.
32 And between the aliyyat hapinnah unto the Sheep Gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
4 (3:33) But it came to pass, that when Sanvalat heard that we were rebuilding the Chomah, he was angered, took great indignation, mocked the Yehudim.
2 (3:34) And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Shomron, and said, What do these feeble Yehudim? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the avanim out of the heaps of the burned rubble?
3 (3:35) Now Toviyah the Ammoni was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox climb up on it, even he shall break down their chomat avanim.
4 (3:36) Shema, Eloheinu, for we are despised; turn their insults upon their own head, and give them as plunder in a land of captivity;
5 (3:37) And cover not their avon, and let not their chattat be blotted out from before thee, for they threw insults in the face of HaBonim.
6 (3:38) So we rebuilt HaChomah, and kol HaChomah was joined together unto half the height thereof, for HaAm had a mind to work.
7 (4:1) But it came to pass, that when Sanvalat, and Toviyah, and the Arabs, and the Ammonim, and the Ashdodim, heard about the Chomat Yerushalayim, that its repairs had gone ahead, and that the gaps began to be closed up, then they were very angry,
8 (4:2) And they plotted all of them together to come and to fight against Yerushalayim, and to hinder it.
9 (4:3) Nevertheless we davened unto Eloheinu, and set a watch against them yomam valailah, because of them.
10 (4:4) And Yehudah said, The koach of the bearers of burdens is giving out, and there is much rubble, so that we are not able to rebuild the Chomah (Wall).
11 (4:5) And our adversaries said, They shall have no da’as, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the melachah (work) to cease.
12 (4:6) And it came to pass, that when the Yehudim which dwelt near them came, they said unto us eser p’amim, Wherever ye turn, they will be upon us.
13 (4:7) Therefore set I behind the lower places of the Chomah, and on the exposed places, I even set HaAm by their mishpekhot with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 (4:8) And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the Nobles, and to the Officials, and to the rest of HaAm, Be not ye afraid of them. Remember Adonoi HaGadol vHaNorah, and fight for your achim, your banim, and your banot, your nashim, and your batim.
15 (4:9) And it came to pass, when our enemies were aware that it was known unto us, and HaElohim had brought their etzah (plan) to nought, that we returned all of us to HaChomah, every one unto his melachah (work).
16 (4:10) And it came to pass from that day forth, that half of my men did the melachah, and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the body armor; and the officials posted themselves behind Kol Bais Yehudah
17 (4:11) Who were HaBonim BaChomah. And they that bore burdens, carried their loads such that each one with one of his hands did the melachah, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 (4:12) For the Bonim, every one had his cherev girded by his side, and so built. And he that sounded the shofar was by me.
19 (4:13) And I said unto the Nobles, and to the Officials, and to the rest of haAm, The melachah is great and spread out, and we are separated along the Chomah, one far from another.
20 (4:14) In what place therefore ye hear the kol haShofar, rally ye thither unto us; Eloheinu shall fight for us.
21 (4:15) So we labored in the melachah, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn till the kokhavim appeared.
22 (4:16) Likewise at the same time said I unto HaAm, Let every one with his servant lodge within Yerushalayim, that in halailah they may be a mishmar (guard) to us, and at hayom a melachah (workman).
23 (4:17) So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my men, nor the anshei hamishmar (the men of the guard) which followed me, none of us put off our clothes; every one carried his weapon, even when he went for water.
5 And there was a great outcry of HaAm and of their nashim against their achim the Yehudim.
2 For there were that said, We, our banim, and our banot, are rabbim (many); therefore we must get dagan (grain) for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our sadot (fields), kramim (vineyards), and batim (houses), that we might buy dagan, because of the ra’av (famine).
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed kesef for the tax of HaMelech, and that upon our sadot and kramim.
5 Yet now our basar is the same as the basar of acheinu (our brethren, countrymen), our banot as their banot; and, hinei, we bring into the bondage of slavery our banim and our banot, and some of our banot are brought unto bondage already, neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our sadot and kramim.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these devarim.
7 Then I consulted my own thoughts, and I rebuked the Nobles [see 3:5], and the officials, and said unto them, Ye exact massa (usury, i.e., seizing what is pledged against debts, whether people, land, or property), every one from his brother. And I called a kehillah gedolah against them.
8 And I said unto them, We as far as we have ability have redeemed acheinu (bought back our brethren) the Yehudim, which were sold unto the Goyim; and will ye even sell your brethren? Or shall they be sold back unto us? Then they were speechless, and found nothing to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not tov this thing ye are doing. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of Eloheinu and end the derision of the Goyim oyveinu (our enemies)?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my men, have allowed them to borrow kesef and dagan; let us stop now this massa (burden of debt).
11 Restore, now, to them, even today, their sadot, their kramim, their zayit groves, and their batim (houses), also the usury of the hundredth part of the kesef, and of the dagan, the tirosh (new wine), and the yitzhar (olive oil), that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I summoned the Kohanim, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook out the fold of my robe, and said, So may HaElohim shake out every man from his bais, and from that which belongs to him, that keepeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And Kol HaKahal said, Omein, and praised Hashem. And HaAm did according to this promise.
14 Moreover, from the yom that I was appointed to be their governor in Eretz Yehudah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta HaMelech, that is, twelve shanim, I and my brethren have not eaten the Lechem HaPechah (Allowance of the Governor).
15 But the former governors that had been before me placed a heavy burden on HaAm, and had taken of them lechem and yayin, in addition to the forty shekels of kesef; yea, even their assistants domineered HaAm; but so did not I, because of yirat Elohim.
16 But instead I continued in the melekhet HaChomah (work of this Wall), neither acquired we any sadeh; and all my men were gathered there unto the melachah (work).
17 Moreover there were at my shulchan a hundred and fifty of the Yehudim and officials, besides those that came unto us from among the Goyim around us.
18 Now that which was prepared daily was one shor (ox) and six choice sheep; also poultry were prepared at my expense, and every ten days skins of yayin in quantity of all kinds; yet for all this required not I the Lechem HaPechah, because the avodah was heavy upon this people.
19 Remember me, Elohai, for tovah, according to all that I have done for this people.
6 Now it came to pass when Sanvalat, and Toviyah, and Geshem the Arab, and the rest of oyveinu (our enemies), heard that I had rebuilt HaChomah, and that there was no peretz (gap) left therein (though at that time I had not set up the dalatot in the she’arim),
2 That Sanvalat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they were choshevim (the ones scheming) to do me ra’ah (harm).
3 And I sent malachim unto them, saying, I am doing a melachah gedolah, so that I cannot come down. Why should the melachah cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me this message arbah pe’amim; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanvalat his aid unto me in like manner the fifth time with an unsealed iggeret in his hand;
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the Goyim, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Yehudim are choshevim (the ones scheming) revolt, for which cause thou buildest the Chomah, that thou mayest be their Melech, according to these reports.
7 And thou hast also appointed nevi’im to make this proclamation about thee at Yerushalayim, saying, There is a Melech in Yehudah! Now this report will get back to HaMelech. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such devarim (things) done as thou sayest, but thou inventest them out of thine own lev.
9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, Their hands shall get too weakened for the melachah, that it be not completed. Now therefore, strengthen my hands!
10 Afterward I came unto the bais Shemayah ben Delayah ben Mehetave’el, who was confined; and he said, Let us meet together in the Bais HaElohim, within the Heikhal, and let us close the dalatot of the Heikhal, for they will come to slay thee; yea, tonight they come to slay thee.
11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the Heikhal to save his life? I will not go in.
12 And, hinei, I perceived that Elohim had not sent him; but that he pronounced this nevu’ah (prophecy) against me, for Toviyah and Sanvalat had hired him.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have given me a shem rah (bad name), that they might discredit me.
14 Remember, Elohai, Toviyah and Sanvalat according to these their ma’asim, and also the neviah (prophetess) Noadyah, and the rest of the nevi’im, that would have intimidated me.
15 So the Chomah was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, that when all oyveinu (our enemies) heard thereof, and all the Goyim around us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this melachah was accomplished by Eloheinu.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Yehudah sent many iggerot unto Toviyah, and the iggrot of Toviyah were making reply unto them.
18 For there were many ba’alei shevuah in Yehudah unto him, because he was the choson (son-in-law) of Shechanyah ben Arach, and his son Yehochanan had taken the bat Meshullam ben Berechyah.
19 Also they reported his [Toviyah’s supposed] merits before me, and uttered my words to him. And Toviyah sent letters with the intent of intimidating me. [T.N. We see that the work of G-d had to be accomplished, not in a vacuum of peace and tranquility, but against the backdrop of manipulation and intimidation. Nehemiah gives G-d the credit and the glory for his escaping every snare.]
7 Now it came to pass, when the chomah was rebuilt, and I had set up the dalatot, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levi’im were appointed,
2 That I gave my brother Chanani, along with Chananyah (the commander of the citadel), charge over Yerushalayim, for he was an ish emes, and feared HaElohim more than many.
3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Yerushalayim be opened until the shemesh be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the dalatot, and bar them, and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, every one in his watch, and every one to be near his bais.
4 Now the Ir was large and gedolah, but HaAm were few therein, and the batim (houses) were not rebuilt.
5 And Elohai put into mine lev to gather together the nobles, and the officials, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a Sefer HaYachash (record of the genealogy) of them which came up at the first, and found written therein:
6 These are the people of the province, that went up out of the Golus captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nevuchadnetzar Melech Bavel had carried away, and came again to Yerushalayim and to Yehudah, everyone unto his town;
7 Who came with Zerubavel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, Azaryah, Ra’amyah, Nachmani, Mordechai, Bilshan, Misperet, Bigvai, Nechum, and Ba’anah. The number of the men of the people of Yisroel was this:
8 The Bnei Parosh, 2,172.
9 The Bnei Shephatyah, 372.
10 The Bnei Arach, 652.
11 The Bnei Pachat-Moav, of the Bnei Yeshua and Yoav, 2,818.
12 The Bnei Elam, 1,254.
13 The Bnei Zattu, 845.
14 The Bnei Zaccai, 760.
15 The Bnei Binnui, 648.
16 The Bnei Bevai, 628.
17 The Bnei Azgad, 2,322.
18 The Bnei Adonikam, 667.
19 The Bnei Bigvai, 2,067.
20 The Bnei Adin, 655.
21 The Bnei Ater of Yechizkiyah, 98.
22 The Bnei Chashum, 328.
23 The Bnei Betzai, 324.
24 The Bnei Chariph, 112.
25 The Bnei Giveon, 95.
26 The men of Beit-Lechem and Netophah, 188.
27 The men of Anatot, 128.
28 The men of Beit-Azmavet, 42.
29 The men of Kiryat-Yearim, Kephirah, and Be’erot, 743.
30 The men of Ramah and Geva, 621.
31 The men of Michmas, 122.
32 The men of Beit-El and Ai, 123.
33 The men of the other Nevo, 52.
34 The people of the other Elam, 1,254.
35 The Bnei Charim, 320.
36 The Bnei Yericho, 345.
37 The Bnei Lod, Chadid, and Ono, 721.
38 The Bnei Senaah, 3,930.
39 The kohanim; the Bnei Yedayah, of the Bais Yeshua, 973.
40 The Bnei Immer, 1,052.
41 The Bnei Pashchur, 1,247.
42 The Bnei Charim, 1,017.
43 The Levi’im; the Bnei Yeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the Bnei Hodvah, 74.
44 The singers; the Bnei Asaph, 148.
45 The gatekeepers; the Bnei Shallum, the Bnei Ater, the Bnei Talmon, the Bnei Akuv, the Bnei Chatita, the Bnei Shovai, 138.
46 The Netinim [servants of the Beis Hamikdash]; the Bnei Tzicha, the Bnei Chasupha, the Bnei Tabbaot,
47 The Bnei Keros, the Bnei Sia, the Bnei Padon,
48 The Bnei Levanah, the Bnei Chagava, the Bnei Salmai,
49 The Bnei Chanan, the Bnei Giddel, the Bnei Gachar,
50 The Bnei Reayah, the Bnei Retzin, the Bnei Nekoda,
51 The Bnei Gazzam, the Bnei Uzza, the Bnei Paseach,
52 The Bnei Besai, the Bnei Meunim, the Bnei Nephishesim,
53 The Bnei Bakbuk, the Bnei Chakupha, the Bnei Charchur,
54 The Bnei Batzlit, the Bnei Mechida, the Bnei Charsha,
55 The Bnei Barkos, the Bnei Sisra, the Bnei Tamach,
56 The Bnei Netziach, the Bnei Chatipha.
57 The Bnei Avdei Sh’lomo; the Bnei Sotai, the Bnei Sopheret, the Bnei Perida, [T.N. This book teaches that the work of G-d is so difficult, that no one person can do it alone. People working together is a picture of what is involved in being in a Messianic kehillah or any ministry for G-d. We are inspired as we see how the wall came together in only 52 days (see Neh 6:15) when Nehemiah arrived in 445. However, everything was not accomplished quite so fast. The Mizbe’ach and the Beis Hamikdash were restored and the work took place from 538-515 B.C.E. and was finally completed after Darius I (522-486 B.C.E.) gave his official permission, though the foundation of the Beis Hamikdash was laid as early as 536 B.C.E. Then came the reforming work of Ezra in 458 B.C.E. during the reign of Artaxerxes I (465-424).
58 The Bnei Yaala, the Bnei Darkon, the Bnei Giddel,
59 The Bnei Shephatyah, the Bnei Chattil, the Bnei Pocheret-Hatzvayim, the Bnei Amon.
60 All the Netinim, and the Bnei Avdei Sh’lomo, were three hundred ninety and two.
61 And these were they which went up also from Tel-Melach, Tel-Charsha, Keruv, Addon, and Immer, but they could not show their bais avot, nor their zera, whether they were of Yisroel.
62 The Bnei Delayah, the Bnei Toviyah, the Bnei Nekoda, 642.
63 And of the kohanim; the Bnei Chavayah, the Bnei Hakotz, the Bnei Barzillai, which took one of the banot of Barzillai the Gileadi to wife, and was named after their shem.
64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore were they, as polluted, put from the Kehunah (Priesthood).
65 And the Tirshata said unto them that they should not eat of the kodesh hakodashim until there stood up a kohen with Urim and Tummim.
66 The kol hakahal together was 42,360,
67 not counting their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were 7,337; and they had 245 meshorarim (singing men) and meshorarot (singing women).
68 Their susim, seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; six thousand seven hundred and twenty donkeys.
70 And some of the chief of the avot gave unto the work. The Tirshata (governor) gave to the treasury a thousand drachmas of zahav, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty kasenos (garments) for the Kohanim.
71 And some of the chief of the avot gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand drachmas of zahav, and two thousand and two hundred manim of kesef.
72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drachmas of zahav, and two thousand manim of kesef, and threescore and seven kasenos for the Kohanim.
73 So the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Netinim, and kol Yisroel, dwelt in their towns; |8:1| and when the seventh month [Tishri] came, the Bnei Yisroel were in their towns.
8 And kol HaAm gathered themselves together as one man into the rechov that was before the Water Gate; and they spoke unto Ezra HaSofer to bring the Sefer Torat Moshe, which Hashem had commanded to Yisroel.
2 And Ezra HaKohen brought the Torah before the Kahal both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month [Rosh Hashanah].
3 And he read therein before the rechov that was before the Water Gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of kol HaAm were attentive unto the Sefer HaTorah.
4 And Ezra HaSofer stood upon a platform of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattityah, and Shema, and Anayah, and Uriyah, and Chilkiyah, and Ma’aseiyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayah, and Mishael, and Malkiyah, and Chashum, and Chashbadana, Zecharyah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the Sefer before the eyes of kol HaAm (for he was above kol HaAm); and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed Hashem, HaElohim HaGadol. And kol HaAm answered, Omein, Omein, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed, and worshiped Hashem with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherevyah, Yamin, Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma’aseiyah, Kelita, Azaryah, Yozavad, Chanan, Pelayah, and the Levi’im caused the people to understand the Torah; and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read from the Sefer Torat HaElohim distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nechemyah the Tirshata, and Ezra HaKohen HaSofer, and the Levi’im that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is kadosh unto Hashem Eloheichem; mourn not, nor weep. For kol HaAm wept, when they heard the words of the Torah.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the choice foods, and drink the sweet things, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is kadosh unto Adoneinu; neither be ye grieving; for the chedvah (joy) of Hashem is your strength.
11 So the Levi’im calmed kol HaAm, saying, Be still, for the day is kadosh; neither be ye grieved.
12 And kol HaAm went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make simchah gedolah, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the avot of kol HaAm, the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, unto Ezra HaSofer, to understand the words of the Torah.
14 And they found written in the Torah which Hashem had commanded by Moshe, that the Bnei Yisroel should dwell in sukkot in the Chag of the seventh month,
15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns, and in Yerushalayim, saying, Go forth unto the hill country, and bring back olive branches, and wild olive branches, and myrtle, and palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make sukkot, as it is written.
16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves sukkot, every one upon the roof of his bais, and in their courtyards, and in the khatzerot Bais HaElohim, and in the rechov of the Water Gate, and in the rechov of the Ephrayim Gate.
17 And kol HaKahal of them that were come again out of the captivity made sukkot, and sat under the sukkot; for since the days of Yeshua ben Nun unto that day had not the Bnei Yisroel done so. And there was simchah gedolah.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last, he read from the Sefer Torat HaElohim. And they kept the Chag seven days; and then came Shmini Atzeret, according unto the mishpat.
9 Now in the 24th day of this month the Bnei Yisroel were assembled with a tzom, with sack-cloth, and adamah upon them.
2 And the Zera Yisroel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their chattot, and the avonot of their avot.
3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the Sefer Torat Hashem Eloheihem one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Hashem Eloheihem.
4 Then stood up upon the platform, of the Levi’im, Yeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shevanyah, Bunni, Sherevyah, Bani, and Kenani, and cried with a kol gadol unto Hashem Eloheihem.
5 Then the Levi’im, Yeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Chashavneyah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Shevanyah, and Petachyah, said, Stand up and bless Hashem Eloheichem for ever and ever; and blessed be Shem Kevodecha, which is exalted above all brocha and tehillah.
6 Thou, even Thou, art Hashem alone; Thou hast made HaShomayim, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, ha’aretz, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all; and the Tz’va HaShomayim worshipeth Thee.
7 Thou art Hashem HaElohim, Who didst choose Avram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur Kasdim, and gavest shmo Avraham;
8 And foundest his lev ne’eman before Thee, and madest habrit (the covenant) with him to give the eretz HaKena’ani, the Chitti, the Emori, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi, and the Girgashi, to give it to his zera, and hast performed Thy words; for Thou art tzaddik;
9 And didst see the affliction of Avoteinu in Mitzrayim, and heardest their cry by the Yam Suf;
10 And showedst otot and mofetim upon Pharaoh, and on all his avadim, and on kol HaAm of his land; for Thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst Thou get Thee a Shem, as it is this day.
11 And Thou didst divide the yam before them, so that they went through the midst of the yam on the yabashah; and their persecutors Thou threwest into the depths, as an even (stone) into the mighty waters.
12 Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by an Ammud Anan; and in the night by an Ammud Eish, to give them ohr in the way wherein they should go.
13 Thou camest down also upon Mt Sinai, and spoke with them from Shomayim, and gavest them mishpatim yesharim, and torot emes, chukkim and mitzvot tovim;
14 And madest known unto them Thy Shabbos Kadosh, and commandedst them mitzvot, chukkim, and torah, by the yad of Moshe Thy eved;
15 And gavest them lechem from Shomayim for their hunger, and broughtest forth mayim for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess Ha’Aretz which Thou hadst sworn to give them.
16 But they and Avoteinu dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and paid heed not to Thy mitzvot,
17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a rosh to return to their bondage; but Thou art Eloah Selichot, channun and rachum, slow to anger, and of great chesed, and forsookest them not.
18 Yea, when they had made them an egel massekhah, and said, This is Eloheicha that brought thee up out of Mitzrayim, or when they committed ne’atzot gedolot (great blasphemies);
19 Yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the midbar; the Ammud heAnan departed not from them by day, to lead them in HaDerech; neither the Ammud HaEish by night, to show them light, and HaDerech wherein they should walk.
20 Thou gavest also Thy Ruach HaTovah to instruct them, and withheldest not Thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them mayim for their thirst.
21 Yea, arba’im shanah didst Thou sustain them in the midbar, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out, and their feet swelled not.
22 Moreover Thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, allotting them as a boundary; so they possessed Eretz Sichon, and Eretz Melech Cheshbon, and Eretz Og Melech HaBashan.
23 Their children also multipliedst Thou as the kokhavim of Shomayim, and broughtest them into Ha’Aretz, concerning which Thou hadst promised to their avot, that they should go in to possess it.
24 So the children went in and possessed Ha’Aretz, and Thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Kena’anim, and gavest them into their hands, with their melachim, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
25 And they took fortified cities, and an adamah shemenah, and possessed batim full of all goods, wells dug, kramim, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.
26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee, and cast Thy torah behind their backs, and slaughtered Thy nevi’im which testified against them to turn them to Thee, and they wrought ne’atzot gedolot.
27 Therefore Thou deliveredst them into the yad of their enemies, who oppressed them; and in the time of their tzoros, when they cried unto Thee, Thou heardest them from Shomayim; and according to Thy manifold mercies Thou gavest them moshi’im (deliverers), who saved them out of the yad of their enemies.
28 But after they had rest, they did rah again before Thee; therefore Thou abandoned them unto the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, cried unto Thee, Thou heardest them from Shomayim; and many times didst Thou deliver them according to Thy mercies;
29 And testifiedst against them, that Thou mightest bring them again unto Thy torah; yet they dealt proudly, and paid heed not unto Thy mitzvot, but sinned against Thy mishpatim, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and they stubbornly turned their backs, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
30 Yet many shanim didst Thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by Thy Ruach [Hakodesh] by Thy nevi’im; yet would they not give ear; therefore gavest Thou them into the yad of the peoples of the lands.
31 Nevertheless for Thy great mercies’ sake Thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art El Channun v’Rachum.
32 Now therefore, Eloheinu, the great, the mighty, and the terrible G-d, Who keepest brit and chesed, let not all the hardships seem little before Thee, that hath come upon us, on melacheinu, on sareinu, and on Kohaneinu, and on nevi’einu, and on Avoteinu, and on all Thy people, since the time of the melachim of Assyria unto this day.
33 Howbeit Thou art tzaddik in all that is brought upon us; for Thou hast done emes, but we have done wrong;
34 Neither have melacheinu, sareinu, Kohaneinu, nor Avoteinu, kept Thy torah, nor paid heed unto Thy mitzvot and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them.
35 For they have not served Thee in their malchut, and in Thy great goodness that Thou gavest them, and in the large and fertile land which Thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
36 Hinei, we are avadim this day, and for the land that Thou gavest unto Avoteinu to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, hinei, we are avadim in it;
37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the melachim whom Thou hast set over us because of chattoteinu; also they have dominion over geviyyoteinu, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in tzarah gedolah.
38 (10:1) And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our sarim, Levi’im, and Kohanim, seal unto it.
10 (10:2) Now those that sealed were, Nechemyah the tirshata ben Chachalyah, and Tzedekyah,
2 (3) Serayah, Azaryah, Yirmeyah,
3 (4) Pashchur, Amaryah, Malkiyah,
4 (5) Chattush, Shevanyah, Maluch,
5 (6) Charim, Meremot, Ovadyah,
6 (7) Daniel, Ginton, Baruch,
7 (8) Meshullam, Aviyah, Miyamin,
8 (9) Ma’azyah, Bilgai, Shemayah; these were the kohanim.
9 (10) And the Levi’im; both Yeshua ben Azanyah, Binnui of the Bnei Chenadad, Kadmiel;
10 (11) And their brethren, Shevanyah, Hodiyah, Kelita, Pelayah, Chanan,
11 (12) Micha, Rechov, Chashavyah,
12 (13) Zakkur, Sherevyah, Shevanyah,
13 (14) Hodiyah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 (15) The chief of the people: Parosh, Pachat-Moav, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 (16) Bunni, Azgad, Bevai,
16 (17) Adoniyah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 (18) Ater, Chizkiyah, Azzur,
18 (19) Hodiyah, Chashum, Betzai,
19 (20) Chariph, Anatot, Neivai,
20 (21) Magpiash, Meshullam, Chezir,
21 (22) Meshezav’el, Tzadok, Yaddua,
22 (23) Pelatyah, Chanan, Anayah,
23 (24) Hoshea, Chananyah, Chashuv,
24 (25) Halochesh, Pilcha, Shovek,
25 (26) Rechum, Chashavnah, Ma’aseiyah,
26 (27) And Achiyah, Chanan, Anan,
27 (28) Maluch, Charim, Ba’anah.
28 (29) And the rest of the people, the Kohanim, the Levi’im, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Netinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the Torat HaElohim, their wives, their banim, and their banot, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
29 (30) They were the machazikim (the ones joining) with their brethren, their nobles, and bound themselves with a curse, and into an oath, to walk in Torat HaElohim, which was given by Moshe Eved HaElohim, and to be shomer to do all the mitzvot of Hashem Adoneinu, and His mishpatim and His chukkot;
30 (31) And that we would not give our banot unto the peoples of the land, not take their banot for our banim;
31 (32) And if the people of the land bring merchandise or any grain on Shabbos or on Yom Kodesh to sell, that we would not buy it of them on Shabbos, or on Yom Kodesh; and that we would every Shanah HaShevi’it [Ex 23:11] forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.
32 (33) Also we will assume on us mitzvot, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the Avodat Beis Eloheinu [Mt 17:24];
33 (34) For the Lechem HaMa’arekhet, and for the Minchat HaTamid, and for the Olat HaTamid, of the Shabbatot, of the Chodashim, for the Mo’adim, and for the Kodashim, and for the Chatta’ot to make kapporah for Yisroel, and for all the work of the Beis Eloheinu.
34 (35) And we cast the goralot among the Kohanim, the Levi’im, and the people, for the korban of the wood, to bring it into the Beis Eloheinu, after the batim of Avoteinu, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the Mizbe’ach of Hashem Eloheinu, as it is written in the Torah [Lv 6:12-13];
35 (36) And to bring the bikkurei admateinu, and the bikkurei kol pri kol etz, year by year, unto Beis Hashem;
36 (37) Also the bechorot baneinu, and of our cattle, as it is written in the Torah, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the Beis Eloheinu, unto the Kohanim that minister in the Beis Eloheinu;
37 (38) And that we should bring the reshit arisoteinu, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of tirosh and of oil, unto the Kohanim, to the storerooms of the Beis Eloheinu; and the ma’aser of our land unto the Levi’im, that the same Levi’im might collect me’a’serim in all the cities of avodateinu.
38 (39) And the Kohen Ben Aharon shall be with the Levi’im, when the Levi’im receive tithes; and the Levi’im shall bring up the ma’aser hama’aser unto the Beis Eloheinu, to the storerooms, into the Beis HaOtzar.
39 (40) For the Bnei Yisroel and the Bnei Levi shall bring the terumah of the grain, of the tirosh, and the oil, unto the storerooms, where are Keli HaMikdash, and the Kohanim that minister, and the gatekeepers, and the singers; and we will not forsake the Beis Eloheinu.
11 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Yerushalayim; the rest of the people also cast goralot, to bring one of ten to dwell in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Yerushalayim.
3 Now these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Yerushalayim, but in the towns of Yehudah dwelt every one in his possession in their towns—Yisroel, the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, and the Netinim, and the Bnei Avdei Sh’lomo.
4 And at Yerushalayim dwelt certain of the Bnei Yehudah, and of the Bnei Binyamin. Of the Bnei Yehudah; Atayah ben Uziyah, ben Zecharyah, ben Amaryah, ben Shephatyah, ben Mahalal’el, of the children of Peretz;
5 And Ma’aseiyah ben Baruch, ben Colchozeh, ben Chazayah, ben Adayah, ben Yoyariv, ben Zecharyah, ben Shelah.
6 All the Bnei Peretz that dwelt at Yerushalayim were four hundred threescore and eight anshei chayil.
7 And these are the Bnei Binyamin: Sallu ben Meshullam, ben Yoed, ben Pedayah, ben Kolayah, ben Ma’aseiyah, ben Itiel, ben Yeshayah.
8 And after him Gabai, Sallai, 928.
9 And Yoel ben Zichri was their pakid (overseer), and Yehudah ben Hasnuah was second over the Ir.
10 Of the Kohanim; Yedayah ben Yoyariv, Yachin,
11 Serayah ben Chilkiyah ben Meshullam ben Tzadok ben Merayot ben Achituv the Nagid Bais HaElohim.
12 And their brethren that did the work of the Beis {HaMikdash] were eight hundred twenty and two; and Adayah ben Yerocham, ben Pelalyah, ben Amtzi, ben Zecharyah, ben Pashchur, ben Malkiyah.
13 And his brethren, chief of the avot, two hundred forty and two; and Amashsai ben Azare’el ben Achzai ben Meshillemot ben Immer,
14 And their brethren, gibborei chayil, one hundred twenty and eight; and their overseer was Zavdiel ben HaGedolim.
15 Also of the Levi’im; Shemayah ben Chashuv ben Azrikam ben Chashavyah ben Bunni;
16 And Shabtai and Yozavad, of the chief of the Levi’im, had the oversight of the outside work of the Beis HaElohim.
17 And Matanyah ben Micha ben Zavdi ben Asaph was the Rosh leading techillah in tefillah, and Bakbukyah the second among his brethren, and Avda ben Shammua ben Galal ben Yedutun.
18 All the Levi’im in the Ir HaKodesh were two hundred fourscore and four.
19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akuv, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were one hundred seventy and two.
20 And the rest of Yisroel, of the Kohanim, and the Levi’im, were in all the cities of Yehudah, every one in his nachalah.
21 But the Netinim dwelt in Ophel, and Tzicha and Gishpa were over the Netinim.
22 The overseer also of the Levi’im at Yerushalayim was Uzzi ben Bani, ben Chashavyah ben Matanyah ben Micha. Of the Bnei Asaph, the singers were responsible for the Beis HaElohim.
23 For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a regulation be for the singers, over their daily actities.
24 And Petachyah ben Mesheizav’el, of the Bnei Zerach ben Yehudah, was the king’s deputy in all matters concerning the people.
25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Yehudah dwelt at Kiryat-Arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Divon, and in the villages thereof, and at Yekabze’el, and in the villages thereof,
26 And at Yeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beit-Pelet,
27 And at Chatzar Shual, and at Beer Sheva, and in the villages thereof,
28 And at Tziklag, and at Mechonah, and in the villages thereof,
29 And at En-Rimmon, and at Tzorah, and at Yarmut,
30 Zanoach, Adulam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from BeerSheva unto the valley of Gehinnom.
31 The children also of Binyamin from Geva dwelt at Michmas, and Ayah, and Beit-El, and in their villages.
32 And at Anatot, Nov, Ananyah,
33 Chatzor, Ramah, Gittayim,
34 Chadid, Tzvo’im, Nevalat,
35 Lud, and Ono, the Gey-HaCharashim.
36 And of the Levi’im were divisions in Yehudah and in Binyamin.
12 Now these are the Kohanim and the Levi’im that went up with Zerubavel ben Sh’altiel, and Yeshua; Serayah, Yirmeyah, Ezra,
2 Amaryah, Maluch, Chattush,
3 Shechanyah, Rechum, Meremot,
4 Iddo, Gintoi, Achiyah,
5 Miyamin, Ma’adiyah, Bilgah,
6 Shemayah, and Yoyariv, Yedayah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Chilkiyah, Yedayah. These were the chief of the Kohanim and of their brethren in the days of Yeshua.
8 Moreover the Levi’im; Yeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherevyah, Yehudah, and Matanyah, which was over the huyedot, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukyah and Unni, their brethren, were opposite them in the mishmarot (services).
10 And Yeshua fathered Yoyakim, Yoyakim also fathered Elyashiv, and Elyashiv fathered Yoyada,
11 And Yoyada fathered Yonatan, and Yonatan fathered Yaddua.
12 And in the days of Yoyakim these were Kohanim rashei haAvot; of Serayah, Merayah; of Yirmeyah, Chananyah;
13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amaryah, Yehochanan;
14 Of Melichu, Yonatan; of Shevanyah, Yosef;
15 Of Charim, Adna; of Merayot, Chelkai;
16 Of Iddo, Zecharyah; of Ginton, Meshullam;
17 Of Achiyah, Zichri; of Minyamin, of Moadyah, Piltai;
18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemayah, Yehonatan;
19 And of Yoyariv, Matnai; of Yedayah, Uzzi;
20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Ever;
21 Of Chilkiyah, Chashavyah; of Yedayah, Netanel.
22 The Levi’im in the days of Elyashiv, Yoyada, and Yochanan, and Yaddua, were recorded rashei haAvot; also the kohanim, to the reign of Daryavesh the Persian.
23 The Bnei Levi, the rashei haAvot, were written in the Sefer Divrei Hayamim, even until the days of Yochanan ben Elyashiv.
24 And the chiefs of the Levi’im: Chashavyah, Sherevyah, and Yeshua ben Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the mitzvat Dovid Ish HaElohim, choir opposite choir.
25 Matanyah, and Bakbukyah, Ovadyah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akuv, were gatekeepers keeping the storerooms of the gates.
26 These were in the days of Yoyakim ben Yeshua ben Yotzadak, and in the days of Nechemyah the governor, and of Ezra HaKohen HaSofer.
27 And at the dedication of the Chomat Yerushalayim they sought the Levi’im from all their places, to bring them to Yerushalayim, to keep the dedication with simchah, both with todot, and with singing, with cymbals, nevalim, and with kinorot.
28 And Bnei HaMishorerim gathered themselves together, both out of the region around Yerushalayim, and from the villages of Netophati;
29 Also from the Bais Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geva and Azmavet; for the singers had built villages around Yerushalayim.
30 Kohanim and Levi’im made themselves tahor, and made the people tahor, the gates, and the chomah.
31 Then I brought up the sarim of Yehudah upon the chomah, and appointed two great choirs to give thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the Dung Gate;
32 And after them went Hoshayah, and half of the sarim of Yehudah,
33 And Azaryah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Yehudah, Binyamin, Shemayah, and Yirmeyah,
35 And certain of the banim of kohanim with trumpets; namely Zecharyah ben Yonatan ben Shemayah ben Matanyah ben Michayah ben Zaccur ben Asaph;
36 And his brethren, Shemayah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma’ai, Netanel, and Yehudah, Chanani, with the musical instruments of Dovid the Ish HaElohim, and Ezra the Sofer before them.
37 And at the Fountain Gate they went up by the steps of Ir Dovid, at the going up of the wall, above the Bais Dovid, even the Water Gate eastward.
38 The other company of them that gave thanks went opposite them, I after them, and half the people upon the wall, from beyond the Migdal of the Ovens even unto the Broad Wall;
39 And from above the Ephrayim Gate, and above the Old Gate, and above the Fish Gate, and the Migdal of Chanane’el, and the Migdal of the Hundred, even unto the Sheep Gate; and they stood still in the Prison Gate.
40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the Beis HaElohim, and I, and the half of the officials with me;
41 And the Kohanim: Elyakim, Ma’aseiyah, Minyamin, Michayah, Elyoeinai, Zecharyah, and Chananyah, with trumpets;
42 And Ma’aseiyah, Shemayah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Yehochanan, Malchiyah, Eilam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Yizrachyah their overseer.
43 Also that day they offered zevakhim gedolim, and rejoiced, for HaElohim had made them rejoice with great joy; the wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Yerushalayim was heard even afar off.
44 And at that time were some appointed over the storerooms for the Otzarot, for terumot, for the reshit, and for ma’aserot (tithes), to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions required by the Torah for the Kohanim and Levi’im: for Yehudah rejoiced for the Kohanim and for the Levi’im stationed [in Beis Hashem].
45 They performed the Mishmeret Eloheihem and the Mishmeret HaTahorah according to the commandment of Dovid, and of Sh’lomo bno.
46 For in the days of Dovid and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and shir tehillah and hodot unto Elohim.
47 And kol Yisroel in the days of Zerubavel, and in the days of Nechemyah, gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, every day its portion; and they set aside as kodesh the portion for the Levi’im; and the Levi’im set aside as kodesh the portion for the Bnei Aharon. [T.N. See "days of Yeshua" Neh 12:7, Kohen Gadol ca. 560-490 B.C.E. resurrected from the national death in Golus and namesake of Moshiach Zech 6:11-12]
13 On that day they read in the Sefer Moshe in the ears of HaAm; and therein was found written, that the Ammoni and the Moavi should not come into the Kehal HaElohim forever,
2 Because they met not the Bnei Yisroel with lechem and with mayim, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit Eloheinu turned the kelalah into a brocha.
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the Torah, that they separated from Yisroel all the foreign descent.
4 And before this, Elyashiv the Kohen, having the oversight of the storeroom of the Beis Eloheinu, was allied unto Toviyah;
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the minchah, the levonah, and the vessels, and the ma’aser of the grain, the tirosh, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levi’im, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the terumat hakohanim.
6 But in all this time was not I at Yerushalayim; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artachshasta Melech Bavel came I unto HaMelech, and after certain days obtained I leave of HaMelech;
7 And I came to Yerushalayim, and understood of the evil that Elyashiv did for Toviyah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the Beis HaElohim.
8 And it grieved me much; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Toviyah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they made tahor the chambers, and there brought I again the vessels of the Beis HaElohim, with the minchah and the levonah.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levi’im had not been given them, for the Levi’im and the singers, that did the work, had gone back every one to his sadeh.
11 Then contended I with the officials, and said, Why is the Beis HaElohim forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Then brought all Yehudah the ma’asar of the grain and the tirosh and the oil unto the Otzarot.
13 And I made over the Otzarot Shelemyah the Kohen, and Tzadok the Sofer, and of the Levi’im, Pedayah; and next to them was Chanan ben Zakkur, ben Matanyah; for they were considered ne’emanim, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remember me, O Elohai, concerning this, and wipe not out my faithful deeds that I have done for the Beis Elohai, and for the offices thereof.
15 In those days saw I in Yehudah some treading winepresses on Shabbos, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also yayin, grapes, and figs, and all manner of massa (burdens), which they brought into Yerushalayim on Shabbos; and I warned them against selling food on Shabbos.
16 There dwelt men of Tzor also therein, which brought dag (fish), and all manner of merchandise, and sold on Shabbos unto the Bnei Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, being Mechallel Shabbos (desecrator of Shabbos)?
18 Did not your avot thus, and did not Eloheinu bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Yisroel by committing Chillul Shabbos (desecration of Shabbos).
19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before Shabbos, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after Shabbos, and some of my own men set I at the gates, that there should no massa (burden) be brought in on Shabbos.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of merchandise lodged outside Yerushalayim.
21 Then I warned them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on Shabbos.
22 And I commanded the Levi’im that they should make themselves tahor, and that they should come and be shomer over the gates, to set apart as kodesh Shabbos. Remember me, O Elohai, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.
23 In those days also saw I Yehudim that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moav,
24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of the Yehudim, but according to the language of each people.
25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by Elohim, saying, Ye shall not give your banot unto their banim, nor take their banot unto your banim, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Sh’lomo Melech Yisroel sin by these things? Yet among many Goyim was there no melech like him, who was beloved of Elohav, and Elohim made him melech over kol Yisroel. Nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.
27 Shall we then pay heed unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against Eloheinu in marrying strange wives?
28 And one of the Bnei Yoyada ben Elyashiv, the Kohen HaGadol, was son-inlaw to Sanvalat the Choroni; therefore I drove him away from me.
29 Remember them, O Elohai, because they have defiled the kehunah, and the brit (covenant) of the kehunah, and of the Levi’im.
30 Thus I cleansed them from all that is foreign, and had them attend again to the duties of the Kohanim and the Levi’im, every one in his appointed work;
31 And for the korban of wood, at times appointed, and for the bikkurim. Remember me, O Elohai, for good.
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