Chapter 4

1But Moshe spoke up and said, “What if they do not believe me and do not listen to me, but say: Hashem did not appear to you?”

v'-ha-A-dam ya-DA ayt-kha-VA eesh-TO va-TA-har va-TAY-led ayt-KAYN va-TO-mer ka-NEE-tee eesh ayt a-do-NAI

אוְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

2Hashem said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he replied, “A rod.”

va-TOS-sef la-LE-det et a-KHEEV et ha-VEL, va-Y'-hee ha-VEL ro-EH tso-AN, v'-KA-yin ha-YAH o-VED a-da-MAH

בוַתֹּ֣סֶף לָלֶ֔דֶת אֶת־אָחִ֖יו אֶת־הָ֑בֶל וַֽיְהִי־הֶ֙בֶל֙ רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן וְקַ֕יִן הָיָ֖ה עֹבֵ֥ד אֲדָמָֽה׃

3He said, “Cast it on the ground.” He cast it on the ground and it became a snake; and Moshe recoiled from it.

vai-HI mi-KETZ ya-MEEM, va-ya-VAY KAYN mi-p'-REE ha-a-DA-ma, min-KHAH la-a-do-NAI

גוַֽיְהִ֖י מִקֵּ֣ץ יָמִ֑ים וַיָּבֵ֨א קַ֜יִן מִפְּרִ֧י הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה מִנְחָ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

4Then Hashem said to Moshe, “Put out your hand and grasp it by the tail”—he put out his hand and seized it, and it became a rod in his hand

v'-he-VEL he-VEE gam-HU mi-b'-KHO-rot tzo-NO u-m'-khel-ve-HEN va-YI-sha a-do-NAI el he-VEL v'-el mi-n'-kha-TO

דוְהֶ֨בֶל הֵבִ֥יא גַם־ה֛וּא מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן וַיִּ֣שַׁע יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־הֶ֖בֶל וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֽוֹ׃

5“that they may believe that Hashem, the God of their fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchak, and the God of Yaakov, did appear to you.”

v'-el-KAYN v'-el-min-KHA-to lo sha-AH va-YI-khar l'-KAYN m'-OD va-yi-PE-lu pa-NAV

הוְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָת֖וֹ לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֙יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃

6Hashem said to him further, “Put your hand into your bosom.” He put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out, his hand was encrusted with snowy scales!

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el ka-YIN, la-MA kha-RA la-KH, v'-la-MA na-f'-LU fa-NE-kha

ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־קָ֑יִן לָ֚מָּה חָ֣רָה לָ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה נָפְל֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃

7And He said, “Put your hand back into your bosom.”—He put his hand back into his bosom; and when he took it out of his bosom, there it was again like the rest of his body.

ha-LO im-TEET-eiv se-ET v'-im lo TEET-eiv la-pe-TACH cha-TAT ro-VETZ v'-E-le-KHA te-shu-KA-to v'-a-TAH tim-shol-BO

זהֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּמְשׇׁל־בּֽוֹ׃

8“And if they do not believe you or pay heed to the first sign, they will believe the second.

vai-YO-mer KAYN el HE-vel a-KHEE-v, vai-HI bi-h'-yo-TAM ba-SA-deh, vai-YA-kom KAYN el HE-vel a-KHEE-v, vai-YA-har-GE-hu

חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יו וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּהְיוֹתָ֣ם בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיָּ֥קׇם קַ֛יִן אֶל־הֶ֥בֶל אָחִ֖יו וַיַּהַרְגֵֽהוּ׃

9And if they are not convinced by both these signs and still do not heed you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and it—the water that you take from the Nile—will turn to blood on the dry ground.”

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el KAI-yin, AY he-VAYL a-KHEE-kha? va-YO-mer, lo ya-DA-tee, ha-SHO-mer a-KHEE a-NO-khee.

טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃

10But Moshe said to Hashem, “Please, O Hashem, I have never been a man of words, either in times past or now that You have spoken to Your servant; I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

vai-YO-mer meh a-SEE-ta, KOL d'-MEI a-KHEE-kha tzo-a-KEEM e-LAI min ha-a-da-MAH

יוַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃

11And Hashem said to him, “Who gives man speech? Who makes him dumb or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Hashem?

v'-a-TAH a-RUR a-TAH min ha-a-da-MAH a-SHER patz-TAH et-pee-HA la-ka-KHAT et d'-MEY a-KHEE-KHA mi-YA-de-KHA

יאוְעַתָּ֖ה אָר֣וּר אָ֑תָּה מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּצְתָ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־דְּמֵ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃

12Now go, and I will be with you as you speak and will instruct you what to say.”

KI ta-a-VOD et-ha-a-da-MAH lo-to-SEF TET-ko-KHAH LAKH, NA va-NAHD ti-HE-yeh va-A-retz.

יבכִּ֤י תַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹֽא־תֹסֵ֥ף תֵּת־כֹּחָ֖הּ לָ֑ךְ נָ֥ע וָנָ֖ד תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה בָאָֽרֶץ׃

13But he said, “Please, O Hashem, make someone else Your agent.”

vai-YO-mer KAYN el a-do-NAI, ga-DOL a-VO-NEE mi-n'-so-a

יגוַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל עֲוֺנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃*(בספרי ספרד ואשכנז מִנְּשֽׂוֹא)

14Hashem became angry with Moshe, and He said, “There is your brother Aharon the Levite. He, I know, speaks readily. Even now he is setting out to meet you, and he will be happy to see you.

HEN GE-rash-TA o-TI ha-YOM me-AL pe-NEI ha-a-da-MAH u-mi-PA-ne-KHA e-SA-ter ve-HA-yi-TI NA va-NAHD ba-A-retz ve-HA-yah kol-mo-tze-I ya-HAR-ge-NI.

ידהֵן֩ גֵּרַ֨שְׁתָּ אֹתִ֜י הַיּ֗וֹם מֵעַל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה וּמִפָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶסָּתֵ֑ר וְהָיִ֜יתִי נָ֤ע וָנָד֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה כׇל־מֹצְאִ֖י יַֽהַרְגֵֽנִי׃

15You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth—I will be with you and with him as you speak, and tell both of you what to do

vai-YO-mer LO a-do-NAI la-KHEN, kol ho-RAYG KAY-in shi-v'-TA-yim yu-KAM, va-YA-sem a-do-NAI l'-KAY-in OT l'-vil-TEE ha-KOT o-TO, kol mo-t'-ZO

טווַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יְהֹוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כׇּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֤ה לְקַ֙יִן֙ א֔וֹת לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכּוֹת־אֹת֖וֹ כׇּל־מֹצְאֽוֹ׃

16and he shall speak for you to the people. Thus he shall serve as your spokesman, with you playing the role of Hashem to him,

vai-YAY-tzay KAYN mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI, vai-YAY-shev b'-E-retz-NOD kid-MAT-e-DEN

טזוַיֵּ֥צֵא קַ֖יִן מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־נ֖וֹד קִדְמַת־עֵֽדֶן׃

17and take with you this rod, with which you shall perform the signs.”

vai-YAY-da KAYN et ish-TO, va-TA-har va-TAY-led et-KHA-nokh, vai-HI bo-NEH ir, vai-yik-RA shem ha-IR k'-shem b'-NO kha-NOkh

יזוַיֵּ֤דַע קַ֙יִן֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־חֲנ֑וֹךְ וַֽיְהִי֙ בֹּ֣נֶה עִ֔יר וַיִּקְרָא֙ שֵׁ֣ם הָעִ֔יר כְּשֵׁ֖ם בְּנ֥וֹ חֲנֽוֹךְ׃

18Moshe went back to his father-in-law Jether and said to him, “Let me go back to my kinsmen in Egypt and see how they are faring.” And Jethro said to Moshe, “Go in peace.”

vai-yi-va-LED la-kha-NOCH et i-RAD, v'-i-RAD ya-LAD et m'-KHU-ya-EL, u-m'-khi-YA-EL ya-LAD et m'-TU-sha-EL, u-m'-TU-sha-EL ya-LAD et LA-mekh

יחוַיִּוָּלֵ֤ד לַֽחֲנוֹךְ֙ אֶת־עִירָ֔ד וְעִירָ֕ד יָלַ֖ד אֶת־מְחֽוּיָאֵ֑ל וּמְחִיָּיאֵ֗ל יָלַד֙ אֶת־מְת֣וּשָׁאֵ֔ל וּמְתוּשָׁאֵ֖ל יָלַ֥ד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ׃

19Hashem said to Moshe in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”

vai-YI-kakh-LO le-MEKH sh'-TAY na-SHEEM, SHEM ha-a-KHAT a-DAH, v'-SHEM ha-SHE-nee-TZI-lah

יטוַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֥וֹ לֶ֖מֶךְ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ עָדָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית צִלָּֽה׃

20So Moshe took his wife and sons, mounted them on an ass, and went back to the land of Egypt; and Moshe took the rod of Hashem with him.

va-TEL-ed a-DAH et ya-BAL, HU ha-YAH a-VEE yo-SHEV o-HEL u-mik-NEH

כוַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃

21And Hashem said to Moshe, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the marvels that I have put within your power. I, however, will stiffen his heart so that he will not let the people go.

v'-SHEM a-KHEEV yu-BAL, HU ha-YAH a-VEE kol-TO-fes ki-NOR v'-u-GAV

כאוְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יוּבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י כׇּל־תֹּפֵ֥שׂ כִּנּ֖וֹר וְעוּגָֽב׃

22Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Hashem: Yisrael is My first-born son.

v'-a-mar-TA el par-OH KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI b'-NEE v'-kho-REE yis-ra-AYL

כבוְצִלָּ֣ה גַם־הִ֗וא יָֽלְדָה֙ אֶת־תּ֣וּבַל קַ֔יִן לֹטֵ֕שׁ כׇּל־חֹרֵ֥שׁ נְחֹ֖שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל וַֽאֲח֥וֹת תּֽוּבַל־קַ֖יִן נַֽעֲמָֽה׃

23I have said to you, “Let My son go, that he may worship Me,” yet you refuse to let him go. Now I will slay your first-born son.'”

vai-YO-mer LE-mek l'-na-SHA-v AD-a v'-tsi-LAH sh'-ma-AN ko-LEE, ne-SHEI LE-mek ha-a-ZE-nah im-RA-tee, KEE eesh ha-RAK-tee l'-fitz-EE, v'-YE-led l'-kha-bu-RA-tee

כגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לֶ֜מֶךְ לְנָשָׁ֗יו עָדָ֤ה וְצִלָּה֙ שְׁמַ֣עַן קוֹלִ֔י נְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֔מֶךְ הַאְזֵ֖נָּה אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּ֣י אִ֤ישׁ הָרַ֙גְתִּי֙ לְפִצְעִ֔י וְיֶ֖לֶד לְחַבֻּרָתִֽי׃

24At a night encampment on the way, Hashem encountered him and sought to kill him.

ki shiv-a-ta-yim yu-kam-kayin v'-le-mekh shiv-eem v'-shiv-a

כדכִּ֥י שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקַּם־קָ֑יִן וְלֶ֖מֶךְ שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃

25So Tzipora took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin, and touched his legs with it, saying, “You are truly a bridegroom of blood to me!”

vai-YAY-da a-DAM OD et i-SH'-TO va-TAY-led BEN va-tik-RA et SHE-mo SHAYT KEE SHAT-LEE e-lo-HEEM ZE-ra a-KHER ta-KHAT HE-vel KEE ha-RA-go KAYN

כהוַיֵּ֨דַע אָדָ֥ם עוֹד֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁ֑ת כִּ֣י שָֽׁת־לִ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ זֶ֣רַע אַחֵ֔ר תַּ֣חַת הֶ֔בֶל כִּ֥י הֲרָג֖וֹ קָֽיִן׃

26And when He let him alone, she added, “A bridegroom of blood because of the circumcision.”

u-l'-SHAYT gam-HU yu-LAD-BAYN va-yik-RA et-SHE-mo e-NOSh az HU-khal lik-RO b'-SHEM a-do-NAI.

כווּלְשֵׁ֤ת גַּם־הוּא֙ יֻלַּד־בֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱנ֑וֹשׁ אָ֣ז הוּחַ֔ל לִקְרֹ֖א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

27Hashem said to Aharon, “Go to meet Moshe in the wilderness.” He went and met him at the mountain of Hashem, and he kissed him.

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el a-ha-RON, LEKH lik-RA-at mo-SHE ha-mid-BA-rah, vai-YE-lekh vai-yif-G'-she-HU b'-har ha-e-lo-HEEM vai-yi-SHAK-lo

כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את מֹשֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֽוֹ׃

28Moshe told Aharon about all the things that Hashem had committed to him and all the signs about which He had instructed him.

vai-YA-ged mo-SHEH l'-a-ha-RON AYT kol di-VREI a-do-NAI a-SHER she-la-KHO v'-AYT kol ha-o-TOT a-SHER tzi-VA-hu

כחוַיַּגֵּ֤ד מֹשֶׁה֙ לְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֛ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלָח֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ת כׇּל־הָאֹתֹ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽהוּ׃

29Then Moshe and Aharon went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites.

vai-YAY-lekh MO-sheh v'-a-ha-RON, va-ya-a-SU et-KOL zi-K'-NAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL

כטוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ אֶת־כׇּל־זִקְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

30Aharon repeated all the words that Hashem had spoken to Moshe, and he performed the signs in the sight of the people,

vai-da-BAYR a-ha-RON, AYT kol ha-d'-va-REEM a-SHER di-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHE, vai-YA-as ha-o-TOT l'-ay-NAY ha-AHM

לוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃

31and the people were convinced. When they heard that Hashem had taken note of the Israelites and that He had seen their plight, they bowed low in homage.

vai-ya-a-MEN ha-AM va-yish-MU, KI-PA-kad a-do-NAI et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, v'-KI ra-AH et o-NYAM, va-yi-K'-du va-yish-ta-KHA-vu

לאוַֽיַּאֲמֵ֖ן הָעָ֑ם וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֡וּ כִּֽי־פָקַ֨ד יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְכִ֤י רָאָה֙ אֶת־עׇנְיָ֔ם וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃