
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Hashem spoke all these words, saying:
va-y'-da-BAYR e-lo-HEEM AYT kol ha-d'-va-REEM ha-AY-leh lay-MOR.
אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹֽר׃
2I Hashem am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:
a-NO-khee a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha a-SHER ho-tse-TEE-kha me-E-retz mitz-RA-yim mi-BAYT a-va-DEEM
באָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִ֑͏ֽים׃
3You shall have no other gods besides Me.
lo yi-HE-yeh-le-KHA e-lo-HEEM a-KHE-rim al pa-NAI
גלֹֽ֣א־יִהְיֶ֥͏ֽה־לְךָ֛֩ אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים עַל־פָּנָֽ͏ַ֗י׃
4You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth.
lo ta-a-SEH-l'-KHA fe-SEL v'-kol t'-mu-NAH a-SHER ba-sha-MA-yim mi-ma-AL va-a-SHER ba-A-retz mi-ta-KHAT va-a-SHER ba-ma-YIM mi-ta-KHAT la-A-retz
דלֹֽ֣א־תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ וְכׇל־תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀ מִמַּ֔֡עַל וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתָּ֑͏ַ֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃
5You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I Hashem your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me,
lo-tish-ta-cha-VE-hem v'-lo to-av-DEM, kee a-NO-khee a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha, el ka-NA po-KAYD a-VON a-VOT al ba-NEEM al shi-LE-sheem v'-al ri-BE-eem l'-so-NE-a-yi
הלֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תׇעׇבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֞י יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵד עֲוֺ֨ן אָבֹ֧ת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃
6but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
v'-o-SEH khe-SED la-a-la-FEEM l'-o-ha-VAI u-l'-sho-m'-RAY mitz-vo-TAI (s)
ווְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי׃
7You shall not swear falsely by the name of Hashem your God; for Hashem will not clear one who swears falsely by His name.
lo ti-SA et-SHEM a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha la-SHAV, ki lo ye-na-KEH a-do-NAI et a-SHER yi-SA et-SHE-mo la-SHAV. (pey)
זלֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃
8Remember the Shabbat day and keep it holy.
za-KHOR et-YO-ma ha-SHA-bat l'-ka-d'-SHO
חזָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃
9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
she-SHET ya-MIM ta-a-VOD v'-a-see-TA kol m'-la-KHE-te-KHA
טשֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כׇּֿל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃
10but the seventh day is a Shabbat of Hashem your God: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements.
v'-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE sha-BAT la-a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha lo ta-a-SEH khol m'-la-KHAH a-TAH u-vin-KHA u-vi-TE-kha av-d'-KHA va-a-ma-t'-KHA uv-hem-TE-kha v'-gay-r'-KHA a-SHER bish-a-RE-kha
יוְי֨וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כׇל־מְלָאכָ֜֡ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָ֣͏ֽ־וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ׃
11For in six days Hashem made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore Hashem blessed the Shabbat day and hallowed it.
ki she-SHET ya-MIM a-SA a-do-NAI et ha-sha-MA-yim v'-et ha-A-retz et ha-YAM v'-et kol a-SHER-bam va-ya-NACH ba-YOM ha-sh'-VI-i al-KEN be-RACH a-do-NAI et YOM ha-sha-BAT va-y'-ka-d'-SHE-hu. (Selah)
יאכִּ֣י שֵֽׁשֶׁת־יָמִים֩ עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖נַח בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃
12Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that Hashem your God is assigning to you.
ka-BED et a-VE-kha v'-et i-ME-kha le-ma-AN ya-a-ri-KHUN ya-ME-kha al ha-a-da-MA a-SHER a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN la-KH.
יבכַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃
13You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
lo-tir-TZACH. lo-tin-AF. lo-tig-NOV. lo-ta-a-NEH ve-re-a-KHA ed sha-KER.
יגלֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָ֖͏ֽח׃ לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָ֑͏ֽף׃ לֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃
14You shall not covet your neighbor's house: you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.
LO tach-MOD beit RE-e-KHA. LO tach-MOD e-SHET re-E-KHA, v'-av-DO va-a-MA-to, v'-SHO-ro va-cha-MO-ro, v'-KOL a-SHER le-re-E-KHA.
ידלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד בֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ לֹֽא־תַחְמֹ֞ד אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֶ֗ךָ וְעַבְדּ֤וֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ וְשׁוֹר֣וֹ וַחֲמֹר֔וֹ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְרֵעֶֽךָ׃
15All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the shofar and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they fell back and stood at a distance.
v'-kol ha-AHM ro-EEM et ha-ko-LOT v'-et ha-la-pee-DEEM v'-AYT kol ha-SHO-far v'-et ha-HAR a-SHAYN va-YAR ha-AHM va-ya-NU-u va-ya-a-M'-DU may-ra-KHOK
טווְכׇל־הָעָם֩ רֹאִ֨ים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת וְאֶת־הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם וְאֵת֙ ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וְאֶת־הָהָ֖ר עָשֵׁ֑ן וַיַּ֤רְא הָעָם֙ וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃
16“You speak to us,” they said to Moshe, “and we will obey; but let not Hashem speak to us, lest we die.”
vai-YO-mer-U el mo-SHEH, da-BER a-TAH i-ma-NU v'-nish-ma-AH, v'-al y'-da-BER i-ma-NU e-lo-HIM pen-na-MUT
טזוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה דַּבֵּר־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה וְאַל־יְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּ֛נוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים פֶּן־נָמֽוּת׃
17Moshe answered the people, “Be not afraid; for Hashem has come only in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may be ever with you, so that you do not go astray.”
vai-YO-mer mo-SHE el ha-AHM: al ti-RA-u, KEE l'-va-a-VUR na-SOT et-KHEM, BA ha-E-lo-HEEM, u-va-a-VUR ti-HE-yeh yir-A-to al p'-NE-khem, l'-vil-TEE te-khe-TA-u
יזוַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָ֒אוּ֒ כִּ֗י לְבַֽעֲבוּר֙ נַסּ֣וֹת אֶתְכֶ֔ם בָּ֖א הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבַעֲב֗וּר תִּהְיֶ֧ה יִרְאָת֛וֹ עַל־פְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י תֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃
18So the people remained at a distance, while Moshe approached the thick cloud where Hashem was.
vai-YA-a-MOD ha-AHM may-RA-khok u-MO-sheh ni-GASH el ha-a-ra-FEL a-SHER-sham ha-e-lo-HEEM
יחוַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הָעָ֖ם מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ נִגַּ֣שׁ אֶל־הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
19Hashem said to Moshe: Thus shall you say to the Israelites: You yourselves saw that I spoke to you from the very heavens:
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH, KO to-MAR el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL: a-TEM r'-EE-TEM KEE min ha-sha-MA-yim di-BAR-tee i-ma-KHEM.
יטוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֹּ֥ה תֹאמַ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם כִּ֚י מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי עִמָּכֶֽם׃
20With Me, therefore, you shall not make any gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves any gods of gold.
LO ta-a-SU-n i-TI e-lo-HEI ke-SEF v'-e-lo-HEI za-HAV LO ta-a-SU la-KHEM
כלֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּן אִתִּ֑י אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֙סֶף֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב לֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּ לָכֶֽם׃
21Make for Me a mizbayach of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you.
miz-BAKH a-da-MAH ta-a-SEH lee v'-za-vakh-TA a-LAV et o-lo-TE-kha v'-ET sh'-la-ME-kha et tzo-n'-KHA v'-ET b'-ka-RE-kha b'-KHOL ha-ma-KOM a-SHER az-KEER et sh'-MEE a-VO ay-LE-kha u-vay-rakh-TEE-kha
כאמִזְבַּ֣ח אֲדָמָה֮ תַּעֲשֶׂה־לִּי֒ וְזָבַחְתָּ֣ עָלָ֗יו אֶת־עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וְאֶת־שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָ אֶת־צֹֽאנְךָ֖ וְאֶת־בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ בְּכׇל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַזְכִּ֣יר אֶת־שְׁמִ֔י אָב֥וֹא אֵלֶ֖יךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ׃
20:21 In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned

The Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall
Based on this verse, Rashi explains that God’s forty-two letter name can only be uttered where the Divine Presence resides. The Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim was, therefore, the only place where the Kohanim could use this special name when giving the priestly blessing to the people. The description of the blessing, found in Sefer Bamidbar (6:23-27), ends with the following verse: “Thus they shall link My name with the People of Israel, and I will bless them.” Even though the Kohanim were the ones standing in front of the people and invoking Hashem’s name to bless them, the blessing itself comes from Hashem. To this day, the priestly blessing is recited daily throughout Israel. In the rest of the world, this blessing is only recited a few times a year, on holidays. The recitation of the Priestly Blessing is a constant reminder that all blessing in our lives ultimately comes from Hashem.
22And if you make for Me a mizbayach of stones, do not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them.
v'-im miz-BAKH a-va-NEEM ta-a-SEH-LEE lo tiv-NE-hen ga-ZEET ki khar-b'-KHA he-NAF-ta a-LE-ha va-t'-kha-le-LE-ha
כבוְאִם־מִזְבַּ֤ח אֲבָנִים֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֔י לֹֽא־תִבְנֶ֥ה אֶתְהֶ֖ן גָּזִ֑ית כִּ֧י חַרְבְּךָ֛ הֵנַ֥פְתָּ עָלֶ֖יהָ וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃
23Do not ascend My mizbayach by steps, that your nakedness may not be exposed upon it.
v'-lo ta-a-LEH b'-ma-a-LOT al mi-z'-BE-khee, a-SHER lo ti-GA-leh er-va-TE-kha a-LA-yu.
כגוְלֹֽא־תַעֲלֶ֥ה בְמַעֲלֹ֖ת עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֑י אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־תִגָּלֶ֥ה עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ עָלָֽיו׃
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