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TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 23
Translation and Transliteration of
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1You must not carry false rumors; you shall not join hands with the guilty to act as a malicious witness:
LO tis-SA sh'-MA shav, al-TA-shet ya-d'-KHA im ra-SHA, lih-YOT ed kha-MAS.
אלֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֖א שֵׁ֣מַע שָׁ֑וְא אַל־תָּ֤שֶׁת יָֽדְךָ֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע לִהְיֹ֖ת עֵ֥ד חָמָֽס׃
2You shall neither side with the mighty to do wrong—you shall not give perverse testimony in a dispute so as to pervert it in favor of the mighty
lo-ti-HEH a-kha-RAY ra-BEEM l'-ra-OT, v'-lo-ta-a-NEH al-REEV lin-TOT a-kha-RAY ra-BEEM l'-ha-TOT
בלֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּ֖ים לְרָעֹ֑ת וְלֹא־תַעֲנֶ֣ה עַל־רִ֗ב לִנְטֹ֛ת אַחֲרֵ֥י רַבִּ֖ים לְהַטֹּֽת׃
3nor shall you show deference to a poor man in his dispute.
v'-DAL lo teh-DAR b'-ree-VO. (S)
גוְדָ֕ל לֹ֥א תֶהְדַּ֖ר בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃
4When you encounter your enemy's ox or ass wandering, you must take it back to him.
ki tif-GA shor o-yiv-KHA o kha-MO-ro to-EH ha-SHEV t'-shi-VE-nu LO. (S)
דכִּ֣י תִפְגַּ֞ע שׁ֧וֹר אֹֽיִבְךָ֛ א֥וֹ חֲמֹר֖וֹ תֹּעֶ֑ה הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֶ֖נּוּ לֽוֹ׃
5When you see the ass of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him.
ki-tir-EH kha-MOR so-NA-a-KHA ro-VETZ TA-khat ma-SA-o ve-kha-DAL-ta me-a-ZOv LO o-ZOV ta-a-ZOV i-MO.
הכִּֽי־תִרְאֶ֞ה חֲמ֣וֹר שֹׂנַאֲךָ֗ רֹבֵץ֙ תַּ֣חַת מַשָּׂא֔וֹ וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ מֵעֲזֹ֣ב ל֑וֹ עָזֹ֥ב תַּעֲזֹ֖ב עִמּֽוֹ׃
6You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes.
lo ta-TEH mish-PAT ev-yon-KHA b'-ree-VO
ולֹ֥א תַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּרִיבֽוֹ׃
7Keep far from a false charge; do not bring death on those who are innocent and in the right, for I will not acquit the wrongdoer.
mi-d'-VAR she-KER tir-KHAK, v'-NA-ki v'-tza-DEEK al-ta-ha-ROG, ki LO a-tza-DEEK ra-SHA
זמִדְּבַר־שֶׁ֖קֶר תִּרְחָ֑ק וְנָקִ֤י וְצַדִּיק֙ אַֽל־תַּהֲרֹ֔ג כִּ֥י לֹא־אַצְדִּ֖יק רָשָֽׁע׃
8Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right.
v'-SHO-khad lo ti-KACH, ki ha-SHO-khad y'-a-VER pik-KHIM vi-sa-LEF di-v'-REI tza-DEE-KEEM
חוְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח כִּ֤י הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים׃
9You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
v'-GER lo tikh-TZ, v'-A-TEM ye-da-TEM et NE-fesh ha-GER, kee-GEREEM he-yi-TEM b'-E-retz mitz-RA-yim
טוְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
10Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield;
v'-SHAYSH sha-NEEM tiz-RA et-ar-TZE-kha v'-a-SAFTAH et-t'-vu-AH-tah
יוְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ אֶת־תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃
11but in the seventh you shall let it rest and lie fallow. Let the needy among your people eat of it, and what they leave let the wild beasts eat. You shall do the same with your vineyards and your olive groves.
v'-ha-sh'-vee-IT tish-m'-TE-nah un-tash-TAH v'-a-kh'-LU ev-yo-NAY a-ME-kha v'-yit-RAM to-KHAL kha-YAT ha-sa-DEH kayn ta-a-SEH l'-khar-m'-KHA l'-zay-TE-kha
יאוְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְיִתְרָ֕ם תֹּאכַ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה כֵּֽן־תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְכַרְמְךָ֖ לְזֵיתֶֽךָ׃
23:11 In the seventh you shall let it rest and lie fallow

“This Field Observes the Sabbatical”
Every seventh year, all farms, fields, orchards and vineyards in Eretz Yisrael are left untended and unharvested. To this very day, the Sabbatical year is kept in Israel. The message of this unique commandment is similar to that of Shabbat. Just as we are commanded to keep Shabbat and cease our daily activities every seventh day, we are similarly to rest from working the fields every seventh year. Just as Shabbat reminds us that Hashem created the world (Exodus 20:10) and everything in it belongs to Him, the Sabbatical year reminds us that our economic success and all that we produce is in the hands of our Creator.
12Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor, in order that your ox and your ass may rest, and that your bondman and the stranger may be refreshed.
she-SHET ya-MEEM ta-a-SEH ma-a-SE-kha u-va-YOM ha-sh'-VI-i ti-SHOT l'-ma-an ya-NU-akh sho-RE-kha va-kha-MO-re-kha v'-yi-NA-fesh ben a-mat-KHA v'-ha-GER
יבשֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־אֲמָתְךָ֖ וְהַגֵּֽר׃
13Be on guard concerning all that I have told you. Make no mention of the names of other gods; they shall not be heard on your lips.
u-v'-KOL a-SHER a-MAR-tee a-LAY-khem ti-SHA-m'-RU, v'-SHEM e-lo-HEEM a-KHE-reem lo taz-kee-ROO, lo yi-SHA-ma al-pee-KHA
יגוּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ וְשֵׁ֨ם אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ לֹ֣א תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ לֹ֥א יִשָּׁמַ֖ע עַל־פִּֽיךָ׃
14Three times a year you shall hold a festival for Me:
sha-LOSH r'-ga-LEEM ta-KHOG lee ba-sha-NAH
ידשָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֔ים תָּחֹ֥ג לִ֖י בַּשָּׁנָֽה׃
15You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread—eating unleavened bread for seven days as I have commanded you—at the set time in the month of Abib, for in it you went forth from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty-handed;
et-khag ha-ma-TSOT tish-MOR, shiv-AHT ya-MEEM to-KHAL ma-TSOT ka-a-SHER tzi-vi-TI-kha le-mo-EID, kho-DESH ha-a-VEEV, ki-VO ya-TZA-ta mi-mitz-RA-yim, ve-lo ye-RA-u fa-NAI rei-KAM.
טואֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֮ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִים֩ תֹּאכַ֨ל מַצּ֜וֹת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ לְמוֹעֵד֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב כִּי־ב֖וֹ יָצָ֣אתָ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם׃
16and the Feast of the Harvest, of the first fruits of your work, of what you sow in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in the results of your work from the field.
v'-khag ha-ka-TZEER bi-ku-REY ma-a-SEY-kha a-SHER tiz-RA ba-sa-DEH v'-khag ha-a-SIF b'-tze-AT ha-sha-NAH b'-os-p'-KHA et ma-a-SEY-kha min ha-sa-DEH
טזוְחַ֤ג הַקָּצִיר֙ בִּכּוּרֵ֣י מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּזְרַ֖ע בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְחַ֤ג הָֽאָסִף֙ בְּצֵ֣את הַשָּׁנָ֔ה בְּאׇסְפְּךָ֥ אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
17Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign, Hashem.
sha-LOSH p'-a-MEEM ba-sha-NAH ye-ra-EH kol z'-ku-r'-KHA el p'-NAY ha-a-DON a-do-NAI
יזשָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה יֵרָאֶה֙ כׇּל־זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהֹוָֽה׃
18You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with anything leavened; and the fat of My festal offering shall not be left lying until morning.
lo-tiz-BACH al-cha-METZ dam-ziv-KHI, v'-lo-ya-LEEN KHE-lev-cha-GI ad-BO-ker
יחלֹֽא־תִזְבַּ֥ח עַל־חָמֵ֖ץ דַּם־זִבְחִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָלִ֥ין חֵֽלֶב־חַגִּ֖י עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃
19The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of Hashem your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.
RE-shit bi-KU-rei ad-ma-TE-kha ta-VEE bayt a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha lo t'-va-SHEL g'-DI ba-cha-LEV i-MO. (P)
יטרֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ׃
20I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have made ready.
hi-NAY a-no-KHEE sho-LAY-akh mal-AKH l'-fa-NE-kha lish-mor-KHA ba-DA-rekh v'-la-ha-VEE-a-KHA el ha-ma-KOM a-SHER ha-khi-NO-tee
כהִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י שֹׁלֵ֤חַ מַלְאָךְ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמׇרְךָ֖ בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲכִנֹֽתִי׃
21Pay heed to him and obey him. Do not defy him, for he will not pardon your offenses, since My Name is in him;
hi-SHAM-er mi-pa-NAV u-sh'-MA b'-KO-lo al-ta-MER BO, ki LO yi-SA l'-fish-a-KHEM, ki sh'-MI b'-kir-BO
כאהִשָּׁ֧מֶר מִפָּנָ֛יו וּשְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹל֖וֹ אַל־תַּמֵּ֣ר בּ֑וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם כִּ֥י שְׁמִ֖י בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃
22but if you obey him and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.
ki im-SHA-mo-a tish-MA b'-ko-LO v'-a-si-TA kol a-SHER a-da-BAYR v'-o-ya-v'-TI et oy-VE-kha v'-tzar-TI et-tzo-r'-RE-kha
כבכִּ֣י אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ וְצַרְתִּ֖י אֶת־צֹרְרֶֽיךָ׃
23When My angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I annihilate them,
ki-ye-LEKH mal-a-KHEE l'-fa-NE-kha, ve-he-vi-a-KHA el ha-e-MO-ree, ve-ha-KHI-tee, ve-ha-pe-REE-zee, ve-ha-ke-na-a-NEE, ha-khi-VEE, ve-ha-ye-vu-SEE, ve-hikh-kha-d'-TEE-o
כגכִּֽי־יֵלֵ֣ךְ מַלְאָכִי֮ לְפָנֶ֒יךָ֒ וֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗ אֶל־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י וְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו׃
24you shall not bow down to their gods in worship or follow their practices, but shall tear them down and smash their pillars to bits.
lo-tish-ta-cha-VEH le-lo-HE-hem v'-lo ta-o-VE-dem v'-lo ta-a-SEH k'-ma-a-SE-hem, kee ha-RES t'-ha-RE-sem v'-sha-BER t'-sha-BER mat-SE-vo-TE-hem.
כדלֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א תָֽעׇבְדֵ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כִּ֤י הָרֵס֙ תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
25You shall serve Hashem your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will remove sickness from your midst.
va-a-va-D'-TEM et a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem u-ve-RAKH et-lakh-m'-KHA v'-et-may-MAY-kha va-ha-si-RO-tee ma-kha-LAH mi-kir-BAY-kha. (S)
כהוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵרַ֥ךְ אֶֽת־לַחְמְךָ֖ וְאֶת־מֵימֶ֑יךָ וַהֲסִרֹתִ֥י מַחֲלָ֖ה מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃
26No woman in your land shall miscarry or be barren. I will let you enjoy the full count of your days.
lo tih-YE m'-sha-KE-la va-a-ka-RAH b'-ar-TZE-kha et mis-PA-y'-KHA a-ma-LAY
כולֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֛ה מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה וַעֲקָרָ֖ה בְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָ אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר יָמֶ֖יךָ אֲמַלֵּֽא׃
27I will send forth My terror before you, and I will throw into panic all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn tail before you.
et-ei-MA-tee a-sha-LAKH l'-fa-NE-kha v'-ha-mo-TEE et-KOL ha-AHM a-SHER ta-VO ba-HEM v'-na-ta-TEE et-KOL o-Y'-ve-KHA e-LE-kha o-REF
כזאֶת־אֵֽימָתִי֙ אֲשַׁלַּ֣ח לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְהַמֹּתִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּבֹ֖א בָּהֶ֑ם וְנָתַתִּ֧י אֶת־כׇּל־אֹיְבֶ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֹֽרֶף׃
28I will send a plague ahead of you, and it shall drive out before you the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites.
v'-sha-LAKH-tee et ha-tzir-AH l'-fa-NE-kha, v'-ge-r'-SHAH et ha-khi-VEE et ha-k'-na-a-NEE v'-et ha-khi-TEE mi-l'-fa-NE-kha
כחוְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥י אֶת־הַצִּרְעָ֖ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְגֵרְשָׁ֗ה אֶת־הַחִוִּ֧י אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י וְאֶת־הַחִתִּ֖י מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃
29I will not drive them out before you in a single year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply to your hurt.
lo a-gar-SHE-nu mi-pa-NE-kha b'-sha-NAH e-KHAT, PEN ti-HEH ha-A-retz sh'-ma-MAH, v'-ra-BAH a-LE-kha kha-YAT ha-sa-DEH
כטלֹ֧א אֲגָרְשֶׁ֛נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת פֶּן־תִּהְיֶ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְרַבָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יךָ חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
30I will drive them out before you little by little, until you have increased and possess the land.
m'-AT m'-AT a-ga-r'-SHE-nu mi-pa-NE-kha AD a-SHER tif-REH v'-na-khal-TA et ha-A-retz
למְעַ֥ט מְעַ֛ט אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְרֶ֔ה וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
23:30 until you have increased and possess the land

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1167)
In these verses, Hashem describes a precise plan to inherit the Land of Israel through a gradual process. Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, a well-known medieval commentator, poet and philosopher, explains that although God could have destroyed the inhabitants of Canaan instantaneously, He gave the Jewish people time to increase and take over the land in an incremental, natural way. We are privileged to live in an era in which we can see this verse being fulfilled before our eyes. The once desolate land has warmly embraced the gradual return of the Jewish people and has become a source of spiritual blessing and economic success. Israel is known around the world for its scientific, medical, economic, technological and agricultural research and innovation.
31I will set your borders from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of Philistia, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and you will drive them out before you.
v'-sha-TI et g'-vul-KHA mi-yam-SUF v'-ad-yam p'-lish-TIM u-mi-mid-BAR ad ha-NA-har, KEE e-TAYN b'-yed-KHEM et yo-sh'-VAY ha-A-retz v'-ge-ra-sh'-TA-mo mi-pa-NE-kha
לאוְשַׁתִּ֣י אֶת־גְּבֻלְךָ֗ מִיַּם־סוּף֙ וְעַד־יָ֣ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִמִּדְבָּ֖ר עַד־הַנָּהָ֑ר כִּ֣י ׀ אֶתֵּ֣ן בְּיֶדְכֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וְגֵרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃
32You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.
lo-tikh-ROT la-HEM v'-le-lo-HE-hem b'-REET
לבלֹֽא־תִכְרֹ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם וְלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית׃
33They shall not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me; for you will serve their gods—and it will prove a snare to you.
lo yesh-vu b'-ar-t'-KHA pen ya-kha-TEE-u ot-KHA li, KEE ta-a-VOD et e-lo-HE-hem, KEE yi-HE-yeh l'-KHA l'-mo-KAYSH.
לגלֹ֤א יֵשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְךָ֔ פֶּן־יַחֲטִ֥יאוּ אֹתְךָ֖ לִ֑י כִּ֤י תַעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃