
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 17
Translation and Transliteration of
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1You shall not sacrifice to Hashem your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect of a serious kind, for that is abhorrent to Hashem your God.
lo-tiz-BAKH la-a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha SHOR va-SEH a-SHER yi-HE-yeh BO MUHM kol da-VAR ra KEE to-a-VAT a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha HU. (s)
אלֹא־תִזְבַּח֩ לַיהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ שׁ֣וֹר וָשֶׂ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם כֹּ֖ל דָּבָ֣ר רָ֑ע כִּ֧י תוֹעֲבַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ הֽוּא׃
2If there is found among you, in one of the settlements that Hashem your God is giving you, a man or woman who has affronted Hashem your God and transgressed His covenant
ki-yi-ma-TZE ve-kiR-b'-KHA b'-a-KHAD sh'-a-RE-kha a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN LA-kh ish o-i-SHA a-SHER ya-a-SEH et ha-RA b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha la-a-VOR b'-ree-TO
בכִּֽי־יִמָּצֵ֤א בְקִרְבְּךָ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ אִ֣ישׁ אוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה אֶת־הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָה־אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַעֲבֹ֥ר בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃
3turning to the worship of other gods and bowing down to them, to the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, something I never commanded
vai-YAY-lekh vai-ya-a-VOD e-lo-HEEM a-khe-RIM vai-yish-TA-khu LA-HEM v'-la-SHE-mesh o la-ya-RAY-akh o l'-KOL t'-va ha-sha-MA-yim a-SHER lo-tzi-VEE
גוַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיַּעֲבֹד֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לָהֶ֑ם וְלַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ ׀ א֣וֹ לַיָּרֵ֗חַ א֛וֹ לְכׇל־צְבָ֥א הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־צִוִּֽיתִי׃
4and you have been informed or have learned of it, then you shall make a thorough inquiry. If it is true, the fact is established, that abhorrent thing was perpetrated in Yisrael,
v'-hu-GAD l'-KHA v'-sha-MA-ta v'-da-RASH-ta hay-TEV v'-hi-NEH e-MET na-KHON ha-DA-var ne-e-STAH ha-TO-e-VA ha-ZOT b'-yis-ra-AYL
דוְהֻֽגַּד־לְךָ֖ וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣ הֵיטֵ֔ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֱמֶת֙ נָכ֣וֹן הַדָּבָ֔ר נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
5you shall take the man or the woman who did that wicked thing out to the public place, and you shall stone them, man or woman, to death.
v'-ho-TZE-ta et ha-ISH ha-HU o et ha-ISH-SHA ha-HI a-SHER a-SU et ha-DA-var ha-RA ha-ZEH el sh'-a-RE-kha et ha-ISH o et ha-ISH-SHA u-s'-ka-l'-TAM ba-a-va-NEEM va-MAY-tu
הוְהֽוֹצֵאתָ֣ אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֡וּא אוֹ֩ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֨ה הַהִ֜וא אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָ֠שׂ֠וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֨ר הָרָ֤ע הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הָאִ֕ישׁ א֖וֹ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים וָמֵֽתוּ׃
6A person shall be put to death only on the testimony of two or more witnesses; he must not be put to death on the testimony of a single witness.
al-PI sh'-NA-yim e-DIM o sh'-lo-SHA e-DIM yu-MAT ha-MAYT lo yu-MAT al-PI e-D ekh-AD
ועַל־פִּ֣י ׀ שְׁנַ֣יִם עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה עֵדִ֖ים יוּמַ֣ת הַמֵּ֑ת לֹ֣א יוּמַ֔ת עַל־פִּ֖י עֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד׃
7Let the hands of the witnesses be the first against him to put him to death, and the hands of the rest of the people thereafter. Thus you will sweep out evil from your midst.
YAD ha-E-dim tih-YE-bO va-ri-SHO-na la-ha-MEE-to, v'-YAD kol-ha-AHM ba-a-cha-RO-na, u-vi-a-RA-ta ha-RA mi-kiR-be-KHA. (Selah)
זיַ֣ד הָעֵדִ֞ים תִּֽהְיֶה־בּ֤וֹ בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙ לַהֲמִית֔וֹ וְיַ֥ד כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֑ה וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃
8If a case is too baffling for you to decide, be it a controversy over homicide, civil law, or assault—matters of dispute in your courts—you shall promptly repair to the place that Hashem your God will have chosen,
KI yip-PA-lei mi-m'-KHA da-VAR la-mish-PAT BAYN da-M l'-da-M BAYN DEEN l'-DEEN u-VAYN NE-ga la-NE-ga di-VREI ri-VOT bi-sha-a-RE-kha v'-kam-TA v'-a-li-TA el ha-MA-kom a-SHER yi-V'CHAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha BO.
חכִּ֣י יִפָּלֵא֩ מִמְּךָ֨ דָבָ֜ר לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט בֵּֽין־דָּ֨ם ׀ לְדָ֜ם בֵּֽין־דִּ֣ין לְדִ֗ין וּבֵ֥ין נֶ֙גַע֙ לָנֶ֔גַע דִּבְרֵ֥י רִיבֹ֖ת בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ וְקַמְתָּ֣ וְעָלִ֔יתָ אֶ֨ל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בּֽוֹ׃
9and appear before the levitical Kohanim, or the magistrate in charge at the time, and present your problem. When they have announced to you the verdict in the case,
u-va-TA eL ha-ko-ha-NEEM ha-le-vee-YEEM v'-el ha-sho-FET a-SHER yi-h'-YE ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM, v'-da-RASH-ta v'-hi-GI-du le-KHA AYT d'-VAR ha-mish-PAT
טוּבָאתָ֗ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְאֶ֨ל־הַשֹּׁפֵ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֙ וְהִגִּ֣ידוּ לְךָ֔ אֵ֖ת דְּבַ֥ר הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
10you shall carry out the verdict that is announced to you from that place that Hashem chose, observing scrupulously all their instructions to you.
v'-a-see-TA al-PI ha-DA-var a-SHER ya-GEE-du LE-kha min ha-ma-KOM ha-HU, a-SHER yiv-KHAR a-do-NAI, v'-sha-MAR-ta la-a-SOT k'-KOL a-SHER yo-RO-u-KHA
יוְעָשִׂ֗יתָ עַל־פִּ֤י הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַגִּ֣ידֽוּ לְךָ֔ מִן־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִבְחַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹרֽוּךָ׃
11You shall act in accordance with the instructions given you and the ruling handed down to you; you must not deviate from the verdict that they announce to you either to the right or to the left.
al-PI ha-to-RAH a-SHER yo-ru-KHA v'-al ha-mish-PAT a-SHER yo-M'-RU le-KHA ta-a-SEH, lo ta-SUR min ha-DA-var a-SHER ya-GI-du le-KHA ya-MEEN u-s'-mo-LAL
יאעַל־פִּ֨י הַתּוֹרָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יוֹר֗וּךָ וְעַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְר֥וּ לְךָ֖ תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹ֣א תָס֗וּר מִן־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־יַגִּ֥ידֽוּ לְךָ֖ יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃
12Should a man act presumptuously and disregard the Kohen charged with serving there Hashem your God, or the magistrate, that man shall die. Thus you will sweep out evil from Yisrael:
v'-ha-EESH a-SHER ya-a-SEH v'-za-DON l'-vil-TEE sh'-MO-a et ha-ko-HAYN ha-o-MED l'-sha-RET sham et a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha o et ha-sho-FET u-MAYT ha-EESH ha-HU u-vi-a-RA-ta ha-RA mi-yis-ra-AYL
יבוְהָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְזָד֗וֹן לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤עַ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֙ הָעֹמֵ֞ד לְשָׁ֤רֶת שָׁם֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ א֖וֹ אֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵ֑ט וּמֵת֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
13all the people will hear and be afraid and will not act presumptuously again.
v'-KOL ha-AHM yish-M'U v'-yi-RA-U v'-LO y'-zi-DUN OD. (S)
יגוְכׇל־הָעָ֖ם יִשְׁמְע֣וּ וְיִרָ֑אוּ וְלֹ֥א יְזִיד֖וּן עֽוֹד׃
14If, after you have entered the land that Hashem your God has assigned to you, and taken possession of it and settled in it, you decide, “I will set a king over me, as do all the nations about me,”
ki-ta-VO el ha-A-retz a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN LA-kh, vi-ri-SHAH vi-YA-sha-VAH BAH, vi-a-MAR-ta, a-SI-mah a-LAI me-LEKH k'-KOL ha-go-YIM a-SHER s'-vi-VO-tai
ידכִּֽי־תָבֹ֣א אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֔ךְ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ וְיָשַׁ֣בְתָּה בָּ֑הּ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ אָשִׂ֤ימָה עָלַי֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִיבֹתָֽי׃
15you shall be free to set a king over yourself, one chosen by Hashem your God. Be sure to set as king over yourself one of your own people; you must not set a foreigner over you, one who is not your kinsman.
so-M to-SIM a-LE-kha ME-lekh a-SHER yiv-KHAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha BO mi-KE-rev a-KHE-kha to-SIM a-LE-kha ME-lekh lo tu-KHAL la-TET a-LE-kha EESH no-KH-ree a-SHER lo-a-KHE-kha HU
טושׂ֣וֹם תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בּ֑וֹ מִקֶּ֣רֶב אַחֶ֗יךָ תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א תוּכַ֗ל לָתֵ֤ת עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נׇכְרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־אָחִ֖יךָ הֽוּא׃
16Moreover, he shall not keep many horses or send people back to Egypt to add to his horses, since Hashem has warned you, “You must not go back that way again.”
RAK lo-yar-BEH-lo SU-sim, v'-lo-yah-SHEEV et-ha-AM mitz-RA-yi-MAH, l'-MA-an har-BOT SU-s, va-a-do-NAI a-MAR la-KHEM, lo to-SEE-fun la-SHU-v ba-DE-rekh ha-ZEH OD.
טזרַק֮ לֹא־יַרְבֶּה־לּ֣וֹ סוּסִים֒ וְלֹֽא־יָשִׁ֤יב אֶת־הָעָם֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה לְמַ֖עַן הַרְבּ֣וֹת ס֑וּס וַֽיהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר לָכֶ֔ם לֹ֣א תֹסִפ֗וּן לָשׁ֛וּב בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ הַזֶּ֖ה עֽוֹד׃
17And he shall not have many wives, lest his heart go astray; nor shall he amass silver and gold to excess.
v'-LO yar-BEH-lo na-SHEEM v'-LO ya-SUR l'-va-VO, v'-KE-sef v'-za-HAV lo yar-BEH-lo m'-OD
יזוְלֹ֤א יַרְבֶּה־לּוֹ֙ נָשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יָס֖וּר לְבָב֑וֹ וְכֶ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב לֹ֥א יַרְבֶּה־לּ֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃
18When he is seated on his royal throne, he shall have a copy of this Teaching written for him on a scroll by the levitical Kohanim.
v'-ha-YA k'-shiv-TO al ki-SAY mam-lakh-TO, v'-ka-TAV LO et mish-NEH ha-TO-rah ha-ZOT al-SE-fer mil-LE-f'-NAY ha-ko-ha-NEEM ha-le-vi-YEEM
יחוְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֖י הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
19Let it remain with him and let him read in it all his life, so that he may learn to revere Hashem his God, to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching as well as these laws.
v'-ha-Y'-ta i-MO v'-ka-RA bo kol y'-MAY khai-YAV l'-ma-an yil-MAD l'-yir-AH et a-do-NAI e-lo-HAV lish-MOR et-KOL di-v'-REI ha-to-RAH ha-ZOT v'-et ha-khu-KIM ha-E-leh la-a-SO-tam
יטוְהָיְתָ֣ה עִמּ֔וֹ וְקָ֥רָא ב֖וֹ כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו לְמַ֣עַן יִלְמַ֗ד לְיִרְאָה֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו לִ֠שְׁמֹ֠ר אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֞י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את וְאֶת־הַחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לַעֲשֹׂתָֽם׃
20Thus he will not act haughtily toward his fellows or deviate from the Instruction to the right or to the left, to the end that he and his descendants may reign long in the midst of Yisrael.
l'-vil-TEE rum l'-va-VO may-e-KHAV u-l'-vil-TEE SUR min ha-mitz-VAH ya-MIN us-MOL l'-MA-an ya-a-REEKH ya-MEEM al mam-lakh-TO HU u-va-NAV b'-KE-rev yis-ra-AYL
כלְבִלְתִּ֤י רוּם־לְבָבוֹ֙ מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י ס֥וּר מִן־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַ֩עַן֩ יַאֲרִ֨יךְ יָמִ֧ים עַל־מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו בְּקֶ֥רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
17:20 Thus he will not act haughtily
Verses 14-20 discuss the command for the People of Israel to appoint a king, and the subsequent restrictions the Torah places on the kings of Israel. Appointing a king is one of the three commandments that the Jews were instructed to perform after settling the land. Without leadership, chaos ensues, as the verse implies “In those days there was no king in Yisrael; everyone did as he pleased” (Judges 21:25). However, there is a risk that the king will forget the source of his strength and attribute his successes to his own wisdom and power. Therefore, the Bible places three special restrictions upon the kings, and also requires that they carry a copy of the Torah with them at all times. The laws of the kings remind us that we all must recognize the true source of blessing and success in our lives.