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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 10

Translation and Transliteration of 

1In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia, an oracle was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. That oracle was true, but it was a great task to understand the prophecy; understanding came to him through the vision.

bi-SHANAT sha-LOSH le-KHO-resh me-LEKH pa-RAS da-VAR ni-G'LA le-da-NI-yel a-SHER ni-K'RA sh'-MO BEL-te-sha-TZAR ve-e-MET ha-DA-var ve-TZA-va ga-DOL u-VEEN et-ha-DA-var u-VEE-nah LO ba-mar-EH

אבִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁל֗וֹשׁ לְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס דָּבָר֙ נִגְלָ֣ה לְדָֽנִיֵּ֔אל אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֵּלְטְאשַׁצַּ֑ר וֶאֱמֶ֤ת הַדָּבָר֙ וְצָבָ֣א גָד֔וֹל וּבִין֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר וּבִ֥ינָה ל֖וֹ בַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃

2At that time, I, Daniel, kept three full weeks of mourning.

ba-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM a-NEE da-ni-YAYL ha-YEE-tee mit-a-BAYL sh'-lo-SHAH sha-vu-EEM ya-MEEM

בבַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם אֲנִ֤י דָֽנִיֵּאל֙ הָיִ֣יתִי מִתְאַבֵּ֔ל שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה שָׁבֻעִ֖ים יָמִֽים׃

 10:2   I, Daniel, kept three full weeks of mourning

Mourning the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash on the ninth of Av

According to Metzudat David, Daniel mourns for three weeks over the cessation of the construction of the Beit Hamikdash during the reign of Cyrus (Ezra 4:24). Similarly, to this day Jews mourn the destruction of Yerushalayim and the Beit Hamikdash for three weeks each year. The mourning period starts with the seventeenth of the month of Tammuz, the day the walls of Yerushalayim were breached by the Romans in 70 CE, and culminates on the ninth of the next month, Av, when both the first and second Temples were set ablaze. Like Daniel, for part of this time Jews do not eat meat or drink wine, remembering the animal offerings and wine libations offered in the Beit Hamikdash that can no longer be brought. Mourning Yerushalayim strengthens the connection between the People of Israel and their holy city. It is said that Napoleon once passed a synagogue on the ninth of Av and inquired why the congregants were crying. When he was told that they were mourning their ancient Temple in Jerusalem, he is said to have responded: “Any people that can mourn an event that occurred thousands of years ago will one day return to their land.”

3I ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth. I did not anoint myself until the three weeks were over.

LE-khem cha-MU-dot lo a-KHAL-tee u-va-SAR va-YA-yin lo-va EL-pee v'-SOKH lo-sa-KH'-tee ad m'-LOT sh'-LO-shet sha-VO-eem ya-MEEM.

גלֶ֣חֶם חֲמֻד֞וֹת לֹ֣א אָכַ֗לְתִּי וּבָשָׂ֥ר וָיַ֛יִן לֹא־בָ֥א אֶל־פִּ֖י וְס֣וֹךְ לֹא־סָ֑כְתִּי עַד־מְלֹ֕את שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת שָׁבֻעִ֖ים יָמִֽים׃

4It was on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, when I was on the bank of the great river—the Tigris—

u-v'-YOM e-s'-REE-yim v'-ar-ba-AH la-KHO-desh ha-ree-SHOHN va-a-NEE ha-YEE-tee al yad ha-na-HAR ha-ga-DOL HU khid-DA-kel

דוּבְי֛וֹם עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וַאֲנִ֗י הָיִ֛יתִי עַ֣ל יַ֧ד הַנָּהָ֛ר הַגָּד֖וֹל ה֥וּא חִדָּֽקֶל׃

5that I looked and saw a man dressed in linen, his loins girt in fine gold.

v'-a-ES-a et-EY-nai va-EY-re va-hi-NEH eesh-E-khad la-VUSH ba-DIM u-mo-T'NAV cha-gu-REEM b'-KE-tem u-FAZ

הוָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶת־עֵינַי֙ וָאֵ֔רֶא וְהִנֵּ֥ה אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד לָב֣וּשׁ בַּדִּ֑ים וּמׇתְנָ֥יו חֲגֻרִ֖ים בְּכֶ֥תֶם אוּפָֽז׃

6His body was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs had the color of burnished bronze, and the sound of his speech was like the noise of a multitude.

u-g'-vi-YA-to k'-tar-SHEESH u-fa-NAV k'-mar-EH ba-RAK v'-ay-NAV k'-la-pee-DAY aysh u-ze-ro-a-TAV u-mar-ge-lo-TAV k'-ayn ne-KHO-shet ka-LAL v'-KOL d'-va-RAV k'-KOL ha-MON

ווּגְוִיָּת֣וֹ כְתַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ וּפָנָ֞יו כְּמַרְאֵ֤ה בָרָק֙ וְעֵינָיו֙ כְּלַפִּ֣ידֵי אֵ֔שׁ וּזְרֹֽעֹתָיו֙ וּמַרְגְּלֹתָ֔יו כְּעֵ֖ין נְחֹ֣שֶׁת קָלָ֑ל וְק֥וֹל דְּבָרָ֖יו כְּק֥וֹל הָמֽוֹן׃

7I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see the vision, yet they were seized with a great terror and fled into hiding.

v'-ra-EE-tee a-NEE da-nee-YEL l'-va-DEE et ha-mar-AH v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM a-SHER ha-YU i-MEE lo ra-U et ha-mar-AH a-VAL cha-ra-DAH g'-do-LAH na-F'-LAH a-LAY-hem va-yi-v'-RE-khoo b'-he-cha-VEH

זוְרָאִ֩יתִי֩ אֲנִ֨י דָנִיֵּ֤אל לְבַדִּי֙ אֶת־הַמַּרְאָ֔ה וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֣וּ עִמִּ֔י לֹ֥א רָא֖וּ אֶת־הַמַּרְאָ֑ה אֲבָ֗ל חֲרָדָ֤ה גְדֹלָה֙ נָפְלָ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וַֽיִּבְרְח֖וּ בְּהֵחָבֵֽא׃

8So I was left alone to see this great vision. I was drained of strength, my vigor was destroyed, and I could not summon up strength.

va-a-NEE nish-a-RTI l'-va-DEE va-e-reh et ha-mar-AH ha-g'-DO-lah ha-ZOT, v'-LO nish-aR b'-EE KO-akh, v'-ho-DEE ne-PAKH a-LAI l'-mash-KHEET, v'-LO a-tzaR-TEE KO-akh

חוַאֲנִי֙ נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי לְבַדִּ֔י וָֽאֶרְאֶ֗ה אֶת־הַמַּרְאָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁאַר־בִּ֖י כֹּ֑חַ וְהוֹדִ֗י נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ עָלַי֙ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית וְלֹ֥א עָצַ֖רְתִּי כֹּֽחַ׃

9I heard him speaking; and when I heard him speaking, overcome by a deep sleep, I lay prostrate on the ground.

va-eSH-MA et-KOL d'-va-RAV u-k'-sh'-MO-ee et-KOL d'-va-RAV va-a-NEE ha-YEE-tee nir-DAM al pa-NAI u-pa-NAI or-TZAH

טוָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע אֶת־ק֣וֹל דְּבָרָ֑יו וּכְשׇׁמְעִי֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל דְּבָרָ֔יו וַאֲנִ֗י הָיִ֛יתִי נִרְדָּ֥ם עַל־פָּנַ֖י וּפָנַ֥י אָֽרְצָה׃

10Then a hand touched me, and shook me onto my hands and knees.

v'-hi-NEH yaD na-GE-a BI, va-t'-ni-E-ni al birk-KAI v'-ka-POHT ya-DAI

יוְהִנֵּה־יָ֖ד נָ֣גְעָה בִּ֑י וַתְּנִיעֵ֥נִי עַל־בִּרְכַּ֖י וְכַפּ֥וֹת יָדָֽי׃

11He said to me, “O Daniel, precious man, mark what I say to you and stand up, for I have been sent to you.” After he said this to me, I stood up, trembling.

vai-YO-mer e-LAI da-nee-YEL eesh-kha-mu-DOT ha-VEN ba-de-va-REEM a-SHER a-NO-khee DO-ver e-LE-kha va-a-MOD al a-mo-DE-kha, KEE a-TAH shu-LAKH-tee e-LE-kha u-ve-da-vo-RO i-MEE et ha-da-VA-ra ha-ZEH a-MAD-tee mar-EED

יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י דָּנִיֵּ֣אל אִישׁ־חֲ֠מֻד֠וֹת הָבֵ֨ן בַּדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר֩ אָנֹכִ֨י דֹבֵ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ וַעֲמֹ֣ד עַל־עׇמְדֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה שֻׁלַּ֣חְתִּי אֵלֶ֑יךָ וּבְדַבְּר֥וֹ עִמִּ֛י אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה עָמַ֥דְתִּי מַרְעִֽיד׃

12He then said to me, “Have no fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to get understanding, practicing abstinence before your God, your prayer was heard, and I have come because of your prayer.

vai-YO-mer e-LAI al-ti-RA da-nee-YEL, kee min ha-YOM ha-ree-SHON a-SHER na-TAT et li-B'-KHA l'-ha-VEEN u-l'-hi-ta-NOT l'-f'-NAY e-lo-HE-kha nish-M'-U d'-va-RE-kha, va-a-NEE-va-TEE bid-va-RE-kha

יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ אַל־תִּירָ֣א דָנִיֵּאל֒ כִּ֣י ׀ מִן־הַיּ֣וֹם הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תָּ אֶֽת־לִבְּךָ֛ לְהָבִ֧ין וּלְהִתְעַנּ֛וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נִשְׁמְע֣וּ דְבָרֶ֑יךָ וַאֲנִי־בָ֖אתִי בִּדְבָרֶֽיךָ׃

13However, the prince of the Persian kingdom opposed me for twenty-one days; now Michael, a prince of the first rank, has come to my aid, after I was detained there with the kings of Persia.

v'-SAR mal-KHUT pa-RAS o-MED le-NEG-di e-SRIM v'-e-KHAD YOM v'-hi-NEH mi-KHA-el a-KHAD ha-SAR-im ha-ri-SHO-nim BA le-oZ-re-NI va-a-NI no-tar-TEE SHAM e-TSEL mal-KHEI pa-RAS

יגוְשַׂ֣ר ׀ מַלְכ֣וּת פָּרַ֗ס עֹמֵ֤ד לְנֶגְדִּי֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וְאֶחָ֣ד י֔וֹם וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל אַחַ֛ד הַשָּׂרִ֥ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים בָּ֣א לְעׇזְרֵ֑נִי וַאֲנִי֙ נוֹתַ֣רְתִּי שָׁ֔ם אֵ֖צֶל מַלְכֵ֥י פָרָֽס׃

14So I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the days to come, for there is yet a vision for those days.”

u-va-a-TEE la-ha-veen-KHA AYT a-SHER yik-RAH l'-a-m'-KHA b'-a-cha-REET ha-ya-MEEM, kee-OD kha-ZON la-ya-MEEM

ידוּבָ֙אתִי֙ לַהֲבִ֣ינְךָ֔ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֑ים כִּי־ע֥וֹד חָז֖וֹן לַיָּמִֽים׃

15While he was saying these things to me, I looked down and kept silent.

u-v'-da-bo-RO i-MEE ka-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh na-TA-tee fa-NAI ar-TZA v'-ne-e-la-M'-TEE

טווּבְדַבְּר֣וֹ עִמִּ֔י כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה נָתַ֧תִּי פָנַ֛י אַ֖רְצָה וְנֶאֱלָֽמְתִּי׃

16Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I have been seized with pangs and cannot summon strength.

v'-hi-NEH ki-d'-MUT b'-NAY a-DAM no-GAY-a al s'-fa-TAI, va-ef-TAKH-PI va-a-da-b'-RA va-o-M'-RA el ha-o-MAYD l'-NEG-dee, a-do-NEE ba-mar-AH n'-HEF-khu tzi-RAI a-LAI, v'-lo a-tzar-TEE KO-akh

טזוְהִנֵּ֗ה כִּדְמוּת֙ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם נֹגֵ֖עַ עַל־שְׂפָתָ֑י וָאֶפְתַּח־פִּ֗י וָאֲדַבְּרָה֙ וָאֹֽמְרָה֙ אֶל־הָעֹמֵ֣ד לְנֶגְדִּ֔י אֲדֹנִ֗י בַּמַּרְאָה֙ נֶהֶפְכ֤וּ צִירַי֙ עָלַ֔י וְלֹ֥א עָצַ֖רְתִּי כֹּֽחַ׃

17How can this servant of my lord speak with my lord, seeing that my strength has failed and no spirit is left in me?”

v'-HEKH yu-KHAL e-VED a-do-NEE ZEH l'-da-BER im a-do-NEE ZEH va-a-NEE me-a-TAH lo ya-a-MAD-BEE KHO-akh u-ne-SHA-mah lo nish-a-RAH-BEE

יזוְהֵ֣יךְ יוּכַ֗ל עֶ֤בֶד אֲדֹנִי֙ זֶ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר עִם־אֲדֹ֣נִי זֶ֑ה וַאֲנִ֤י מֵעַ֙תָּה֙ לֹֽא־יַעֲמׇד־בִּ֣י כֹ֔חַ וּנְשָׁמָ֖ה לֹ֥א נִשְׁאֲרָה־בִֽי׃

18He who looked like a man touched me again, and strengthened me.

vai-YO-sef vai-yi-GA b'-EE k'-ma-REH a-DAM va-y'-cha-z'-KE-ni

יחוַיֹּ֧סֶף וַיִּגַּע־בִּ֛י כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אָדָ֖ם וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽנִי׃

19He said, “Have no fear, precious man, all will be well with you; be strong, be strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened, and said, “Speak on, my lord, for you have strengthened me!”

vai-YO-mer al-ti-RA ish-kha-MU-dot sha-LOM LAKH, kha-ZAK va-kha-ZAK, u-k'-da-ve-RO i-MEE hit-kha-ZAK-tee, va-o-M'-RAH, ye-da-BAYR a-do-NEE, KEE khee-za-K'-TA-nee

יטוַיֹּ֜אמֶר אַל־תִּירָ֧א אִישׁ־חֲמֻד֛וֹת שָׁל֥וֹם לָ֖ךְ חֲזַ֣ק וַחֲזָ֑ק וּֽכְדַבְּר֤וֹ עִמִּי֙ הִתְחַזַּ֔קְתִּי וָאֹ֥מְרָ֛ה יְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י כִּ֥י חִזַּקְתָּֽנִי׃

20Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back to fight the prince of Persia. When I go off, the prince of Greece will come in.

vai-YO-mer ha-ya-DA-at la-MAH ba-TI e-LE-kha v'-a-TAH a-SHU-v l'-hi-la-KHEM im SAR pa-RAS va-a-NEE yo-TZE v'-hi-NEH SAR-ya-VAN BA

כוַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲיָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ לָמָּה־בָּ֣אתִי אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְעַתָּ֣ה אָשׁ֔וּב לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִם־שַׂ֣ר פָּרָ֑ס וַאֲנִ֣י יוֹצֵ֔א וְהִנֵּ֥ה שַׂר־יָוָ֖ן בָּֽא׃

21No one is helping me against them except your prince, Michael. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.*

a-VAL a-GID le-KHA et-ha-RA-shum bi-kh'-TAV e-MET v'-AYN e-KHAD mit-cha-ZEK i-MI al-E-leh KI im-MI-kha-EL sar-KHEM.

כאאֲבָל֙ אַגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ אֶת־הָרָשׁ֥וּם בִּכְתָ֖ב אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵ֨ין אֶחָ֜ד מִתְחַזֵּ֤ק עִמִּי֙ עַל־אֵ֔לֶּה כִּ֥י אִם־מִיכָאֵ֖ל שַׂרְכֶֽם׃