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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 27

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Moshe and the elders of Yisrael charged the people, saying: Observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day.

vai-TZA-vu mo-SHEH v'-zik-NAY yis-ra-AYL et ha-AHM lay-MOR: sha-MOR et-KOL ha-mitz-VAH a-SHER a-NO-khee m'-tza-VEH et-KHEM ha-YOM

אוַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ וְזִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹר֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃

2As soon as you have crossed the Yarden into the land that Hashem your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them with plaster

v'-ha-YA ba-YOM a-SHER ta-a-V'RU et ha-YAR-den, el ha-A-retz a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN la-KHA, va-ha-KE-mo-TA le-KHA a-va-NEEM g'-DO-loht, v'-sad-TA otam ba-SEED.

בוְהָיָ֗ה בַּיּוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ וַהֲקֵמֹתָ֤ לְךָ֙ אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֔וֹת וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

3and inscribe upon them all the words of this Teaching. When you cross over to enter the land that Hashem your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Hashem, the God of your fathers, promised you

v'-ka-TAV-ta a-LE-hen et-KOL di-v'-REI ha-to-RAH ha-ZOT b'-o-v'-RE-kha l'-ma-AN a-SHER ta-VO el ha-A-retz a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN l'-KHA e-RETZ za-VAT kha-LAV u-d'-VASH ka-a-SHER di-BER a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI a-vo-TE-kha LA-kh

גוְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ן אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּעׇבְרֶ֑ךָ לְמַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ תָּבֹ֨א אֶל־הָאָ֜רֶץ אֲֽשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ נֹתֵ֣ן לְךָ֗ אֶ֣רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃

4upon crossing the Yarden, you shall set up these stones, about which I charge you this day, on HarEival, and coat them with plaster.

v'-ha-YA b'-o-v'-RE-khem et ha-YAR-den, ta-KI-mu et ha-a-va-NIM ha-EL-leh a-SHER a-NO-khi m'-tza-VEH et-KHEM ha-YOM b'-har E-vahl, v'-sad-TA otam ba-SEED

דוְהָיָה֮ בְּעׇבְרְכֶ֣ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ תָּקִ֜ימוּ אֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

5There, too, you shall build a mizbayach to Hashem your God, a mizbayach of stones. Do not wield an iron tool over them;

u-va-NEE-ta SHAM miz-BAY-akh la-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha miz-BAKH a-va-NEEM lo ta-NEEF a-lay-HEM bar-ZEL

הוּבָנִ֤יתָ שָּׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲבָנִ֔ים לֹא־תָנִ֥יף עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם בַּרְזֶֽל׃

 27:5   There, too, you shall build a mizbayach

Moshe commands the Israelites that upon entry into the land, they are to perform a ceremony recommitting themselves to Hashem and His Torah. This ceremony is to take place on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival, located near the city of Shechem, also known today as Nablus. Indeed, the fulfilment of this command is documented in Sefer Yehoshua (8:30-35). In addition to the ceremony, the Jewish people are commanded to build an altar on Mount Eival. They are to inscribe the Torah on its stones and, according to the Sages, then dismantle the altar and place the stones in Gilgal, their first station in the Land of Israel (Sotah 36a). According to Rabbi Yitzchak Abrabanel, these stones inscribed with the Torah text, placed at the entry to the land, indicated to all that this is the land of the Torah. They served as a reminder that the purpose of living in Eretz Yisrael is to practice the Torah’s commandments, and that all success in the land comes from Hashem. In the modern State of Israel, Bible studies are a mandatory part of the curriculum in the state’s educational system. As Zalman Shazar, third president of the State of Israel and then minister of education, said in his address to Knesset after the passing of the Compulsory Education Law in 1949, “Rich or poor, only children or large families, single or married — we must all carry the burden of Torah study.” This quote, as well as a portrait of President Shazar, are featured on the 200 shekel bill first printed in 1999.

200 New Israeli Shekel banknote featuring Zalman Shazar

President Zalman Shazar (1889-1974)

6you must build the mizbayach of Hashem your God of unhewn stones. You shall offer on it burnt offerings to Hashem your God,

a-va-NEEM sh'-le-MOT ti-VE-neh et miz-BAKH a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha v'-ha-a-lee-TA a-LAV o-LOT la-a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha

ואֲבָנִ֤ים שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ תִּבְנֶ֔ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְהַעֲלִ֤יתָ עָלָיו֙ עוֹלֹ֔ת לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

7and you shall sacrifice there offerings of well-being and eat them, rejoicing before Hashem your God.

v'-za-VAKH-ta sh'-la-MEEM v'-a-KHAL-ta SHAM v'-sa-MAKH-ta lif-NEI a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha

זוְזָבַחְתָּ֥ שְׁלָמִ֖ים וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֑ם וְשָׂ֣מַחְתָּ֔ לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

8And on those stones you shall inscribe every word of this Teaching most distinctly.

v'-ka-TAV-ta al ha-a-va-NEEM et-KOL di-VREI ha-to-RAH ha-ZOT ba-ER hay-TEV.

חוְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עַל־הָאֲבָנִ֗ים אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּאֵ֥ר הֵיטֵֽב׃

9Moshe and the levitical Kohanim spoke to all Yisrael, saying: Silence! Hear, O Yisrael! Today you have become the people of Hashem your God:

va-y'-da-BAYR mo-SHEH v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM hal-vi-YEEM el kol yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR ha-s'-KAYT u-sh'-MA yis-ra-AYL ha-YOM ha-ZEH ni-h'-YAY-ta l'-AM la-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha

טוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶ֥ל כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

10Heed Hashem your God and observe His commandments and His laws, which I enjoin upon you this day.

v'-sha-MA-ta b'-KOL a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha, v'-a-see-TA et mitz-VO-tav v'-et khu-KA-yav a-SHER a-NO-khi m'-tza-VE-kha ha-YOM.

יוְשָׁ֣מַעְתָּ֔ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ אֶת־מִצְוֺתָו֙ וְאֶת־חֻקָּ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃

11Thereupon Moshe charged the people, saying:

vai-TZA-vu mo-SHE et-ha-AM ba-YOM ha-HU lay-MOR

יאוַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃

12After you have crossed the Yarden, the following shall stand on Mount Gerizim when the blessing for the people is spoken: Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Yissachar, Yosef, and Binyamin.

AY-leh ya-a-M'-DU l'-va-RAYKH et ha-AHM al ha-GER-zim b'-o-v'-KHEM et ha-YAR-dayn, shi-MO-on v'-LE-vee v'-y'-hu-DAH v'-yi-sa-SHA-khar v'-yo-SAYF u-vin-YA-meen.

יבאֵ֠לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֞וּ לְבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־הָעָם֙ עַל־הַ֣ר גְּרִזִ֔ים בְּעׇבְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן שִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וְיוֹסֵ֥ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

13And for the curse, the following shall stand on HarEival: Reuven, Gad, Asher, Zevulun, Dan, and Naftali.

v'-AY-leh ya-a-M'-DU al ha-k'-la-LAH b'-har ay-VAL, r'-U-ven, gad, v'-a-SHER, u-z'-vu-LUN, dan, v'-naf-ta-LEE

יגוְאֵ֛לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֥וּ עַל־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל רְאוּבֵן֙ גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֔ר וּזְבוּלֻ֖ן דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃

14The Leviim shall then proclaim in a loud voice to all the people of Yisrael:

v'-a-NU ha-l'-vee-YIM v'-a-M'-RU el kol EESH yis-ra-AYL KOL RAM. (S)

ידוְעָנ֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וְאָ֥מְר֛וּ אֶל־כׇּל־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ק֥וֹל רָֽם׃

15Cursed be anyone who makes a sculptured or molten image, abhorred by Hashem, a craftsman's handiwork, and sets it up in secret.—And all the people shall respond, Amen.

a-ROOR ha-EESH a-SHER ya-a-SEH FE-sehl u-ma-SE-khah to-a-VAT a-do-NAI ma-a-SEH y'-DEI kha-RASH v'-SAM ba-SA-ter v'-a-NU kol-ha-AHM v'-a-M'-RU a-MEN.

טואָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כׇל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן׃

16Cursed be he who insults his father or mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR mak-LEH a-VEEV v'-i-MO v'-a-MAR kol ha-AHM a-MEN.

טזאָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

17Cursed be he who moves his fellow countryman's landmark.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR ma-SIG g'-VUL re-E-hu, va-A-mar kol-ha-AHM a-MEN. (S)

יזאָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

18Cursed be he who misdirects a blind person on his way.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR mash-GEH ee-VER ba-DA-rekh v'-a-MAR kol-ha-AHM a-MEN.

יחאָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

19Cursed be he who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR ma-TEH mish-PAT GER-ya-TOM v'-al-MA-na, va-a-MAR kol-ha-AHM a-MEN. (se-FEK par-SHAH sa-TU-mah b'-k'-TER a-RAM tzu-VAH)

יטאָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃*(ספק פרשה סתומה בכתר ארם צובה)

20Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, for he has removed his father's garment.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR sho-KHEV im E-SHET a-VEEV, KEE gi-LAH k'-NAF a-VEEV, va-a-MAR kol-ha-AHM a-MEN.

כאָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

21Cursed be he who lies with any beast.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR sho-KHEV im-KOL b'-HE-ma, va-a-MAR kol-ha-AM a-MEN.

כאאָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כׇּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

22Cursed be he who lies with his sister, whether daughter of his father or of his mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR sho-KHEV im a-KHO-to bat a-VEEV o bat i-MO, va-a-MAR kol ha-AAM a-MEN.

כבאָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

23Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR sho-KHEV im-KHO-ta-NO, va-A-mar kol-ha-AHM a-MEN.

כגאָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

24Cursed be he who strikes down his fellow countryman in secret.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR ma-KEH re-E-hu ba-SA-ter, va-a-MAR kol-ha-AHM a-MEN.

כדאָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

25Cursed be he who accepts a bribe in the case of the murder of an innocent person.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR lo-KAY-akh sho-KHAD l'-ha-KOT NE-fesh DAM na-KEE v'-a-MAR kol-ha-AHM a-MEN.

כהאָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃

26Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this Teaching and observe them.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

a-ROOR a-SHER lo ya-KIM et di-VREI ha-to-RAH ha-ZOT la-a-SOT o-TAM va-a-MAR kol ha-AAM a-MEN.

כואָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃