Chapter 18

1The word of Hashem came to me:

vai-HI d'-VAR a-do-NAI e-LAI lay-MOR

אוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

2What do you mean by quoting this proverb upon the soil of Yisrael, “Parents eat sour grapes and their children's teeth are blunted”?

ma la-KHEM a-TEM mo-sh'-LEEM et ha-ma-SHAL ha-ZEH al ad-MAT yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR a-VOT YO-kh'-lu VO-ser v'-shi-NAY ha-ba-NEEM tik-HE-nah

במַה־לָּכֶ֗ם אַתֶּם֙ מֹֽשְׁלִים֙ אֶת־הַמָּשָׁ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבוֹת֙ יֹ֣אכְלוּ בֹ֔סֶר וְשִׁנֵּ֥י הַבָּנִ֖ים תִקְהֶֽינָה׃

3As I live—declares Hashem—this proverb shall no longer be current among you in Yisrael.

khai-a-NEE, n'-UM a-do-NAI y'-ho-VA, im yi-h'-YEH la-KHEM od m'-shol ha-ma-SHAL ha-ZEH b'-yis-ra-AYL

גחַי־אָ֕נִי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם ע֗וֹד מְשֹׁ֛ל הַמָּשָׁ֥ל הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

4Consider, all lives are Mine; the life of the parent and the life of the child are both Mine. The person who sins, only he shall die.

HEIN kol ha-ne-fa-SHOHT li HE-nah, ke-NE-fesh ha-AV u-ke-NE-fesh ha-BEN li-HE-nah, ha-NE-fesh ha-KHO-te-et HI ta-MUT.

דהֵ֤ן כׇּל־הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ לִ֣י הֵ֔נָּה כְּנֶ֧פֶשׁ הָאָ֛ב וּכְנֶ֥פֶשׁ הַבֵּ֖ן לִי־הֵ֑נָּה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֥יא תָמֽוּת׃

5Thus, if a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

v'-ISH KEE yi-HEH tza-DEEK v'-a-SA mish-PAT u-tze-da-KAH

הוְאִ֖ישׁ כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֣ה צַדִּ֑יק וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה׃

6If he has not eaten on the mountains or raised his eyes to the fetishes of the House of Yisrael; if he has not defiled another man's wife or approached a menstruous woman;

el-he-ha-REEM lo a-KHAL v'-ei-NAV lo na-SA el gi-lu-LEI beit yis-ra-AYL v'-et e-SHET re-EI-hu lo ti-MAY v'-el i-SHA ni-DAH lo yik-RAV

ואֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ לֹ֣א אָכָ֔ל וְעֵינָיו֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔א אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֶת־אֵ֤שֶׁת רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ לֹ֣א טִמֵּ֔א וְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֥ה נִדָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יִקְרָֽב׃

7if he has not wronged anyone; if he has returned the debtor's pledge to him and has taken nothing by robbery; if he has given bread to the hungry and clothed the naked;

v'-ish LO yo-NEH kha-vo-LA-to KHOV ya-SHEEV ge-ZAY-la LO yig-ZOL lakh-MO l'-ra-AYV yi-TEN v'-ei-ROM ye-ka-SEH-BA-ged

זוְאִישׁ֙ לֹ֣א יוֹנֶ֔ה חֲבֹלָת֥וֹ חוֹב֙ יָשִׁ֔יב גְּזֵלָ֖ה לֹ֣א יִגְזֹ֑ל לַחְמוֹ֙ לְרָעֵ֣ב יִתֵּ֔ן וְעֵירֹ֖ם יְכַסֶּה־בָּֽגֶד׃

8if he has not lent at advance interest or exacted accrued interest; if he has abstained from wrongdoing and executed true justice between man and man;

ba-NE-sh'-LO y'-TEN v'-tar-BEET lo yi-KAKH may-a-VAL ya-SHEEV ya-DO mish-PAT e-MET ya-a-SEH BAYN eeSH l'-eeSH

חבַּנֶּ֣שֶׁךְ לֹֽא־יִתֵּ֗ן וְתַרְבִּית֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔ח מֵעָ֖וֶל יָשִׁ֣יב יָד֑וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱמֶת֙ יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ לְאִֽישׁ׃

9if he has followed My laws and kept My rules and acted honestly—he is righteous. Such a man shall live—declares Hashem.

b'-khu-ko-TAI y'-ha-LEKH u-mish-pa-TAI sha-MAR la-a-SOT e-MET tza-DEEK HU kha-YO yikh-YEH, n'-UM a-do-NAI y'-ho-VAH

טבְּחֻקּוֹתַ֧י יְהַלֵּ֛ךְ וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֥י שָׁמַ֖ר לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אֱמֶ֑ת צַדִּ֥יק הוּא֙ חָיֹ֣ה יִֽחְיֶ֔ה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃

10Suppose, now, that he has begotten a son who is a ruffian, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things,

v'-ho-LEED ben-PA-rits sho-FEKH DAM v'-a-SA a-KH m'-a-KHAD m'-E-leh

יוְהוֹלִ֥יד בֵּן־פָּרִ֖יץ שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ דָּ֑ם וְעָ֣שָׂה אָ֔ח מֵאַחַ֖ד מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃

11whereas he himself did none of these things. That is, [the son] has eaten on the mountains, has defiled another man's wife,

v'-HU et-KOL e-LEH lo a-SA, KI gam el-he-ha-REEM a-KHAL, v'-et e-SHET re-E-hu ti-MAY

יאוְה֕וּא אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֣א עָשָׂ֑ה כִּ֣י גַ֤ם אֶל־הֶהָרִים֙ אָכַ֔ל וְאֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ טִמֵּֽא׃

12has wronged the poor and the needy, has taken by robbery, has not returned a pledge, has raised his eyes to the fetishes, has committed abomination,

a-NEE v'-ev-YON ho-NAH g'-ZE-lot ga-ZAL cha-VOL lo ya-SHEEV v'-el ha-gi-LU-leem na-SA ay-NAV to-E-VAH a-SA

יבעָנִ֤י וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ הוֹנָ֔ה גְּזֵל֣וֹת גָּזָ֔ל חֲבֹ֖ל לֹ֣א יָשִׁ֑יב וְאֶל־הַגִּלּוּלִים֙ נָשָׂ֣א עֵינָ֔יו תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה עָשָֽׂה׃

13has lent at advance interest, or exacted accrued interest—shall he live? He shall not live! If he has committed any of these abominations, he shall die; he has forfeited his life.

ba-NE-sh'-akh na-TAN v'-tar-BEET la-KAKH va-KHAI lo yi-KHE-yeh et kol ha-to-E-vot ha-EL-leh a-SA mot yu-MAT da-MAV bo yi-HE-yeh

יגבַּנֶּ֧שֶׁךְ נָתַ֛ן וְתַרְבִּ֥ית לָקַ֖ח וָחָ֑י לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶ֗ה אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַתּוֹעֵב֤וֹת הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֔ת דָּמָ֖יו בּ֥וֹ יִֽהְיֶֽה׃

14Now suppose that he, in turn, has begotten a son who has seen all the sins that his father committed, but has taken heed and has not imitated them:

v'-hi-NEH ho-LEED ben va-YAR et-KOL kha-TOAT a-VEEV a-SHER a-SA va-YIR-EH v'-LO ya-a-SEH k'-HEN

ידוְהִנֵּה֙ הוֹלִ֣יד בֵּ֔ן וַיַּ֕רְא אֶת־כׇּל־חַטֹּ֥את אָבִ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּרְאֶ֕ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה כָּהֵֽן׃

15He has not eaten on the mountains or raised his eyes to the fetishes of the House of Yisrael; he has not defiled another man's wife;

al-he-ha-REEM lo a-KHAL v'-ei-NAV lo na-SA el gi-lu-LEI bayt yis-ra-AYL et EY-shet re-EY-hu lo ti-MAY

טועַל־הֶהָרִים֙ לֹ֣א אָכָ֔ל וְעֵינָיו֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔א אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ לֹ֥א טִמֵּֽא׃

16he has not wronged anyone; he has not seized a pledge or taken anything by robbery; he has given his bread to the hungry and clothed the naked;

v'-ISH lo ho-NA kha-VOL lo kha-VAL u-g'-ZAY-la lo ga-ZAL, lakh-MO l'-ra-AYV na-TAN v'-AY-rom ki-SA va-GED

טזוְאִישׁ֙ לֹ֣א הוֹנָ֔ה חֲבֹל֙ לֹ֣א חָבָ֔ל וּגְזֵלָ֖ה לֹ֣א גָזָ֑ל לַחְמוֹ֙ לְרָעֵ֣ב נָתָ֔ן וְעֵר֖וֹם כִּסָּה־בָֽגֶד׃

17he has refrained from oppressing the poor; he has not exacted advance or accrued interest; he has obeyed My rules and followed My laws—he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, but shall live.

me-a-NEE he-SHEEV ya-DO ne-SHEKH v'-tar-BEET lo la-KAKH mish-PA-tai a-SA b'-khuk-KO-tai ha-LAKH, HU lo ya-MUT ba-a-VIYV kha-YO yikh-YE

יזמֵעָנִ֞י הֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֗וֹ נֶ֤שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית֙ לֹ֣א לָקָ֔ח מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י עָשָׂ֔ה בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֖י הָלָ֑ךְ ה֗וּא לֹ֥א יָמ֛וּת בַּעֲוֺ֥ן אָבִ֖יו חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃

18To be sure, his father, because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and acted wickedly among his kin, did die for his iniquity;

a-VEEV kee-a-SHAK o-SHEK ga-ZAL GE-zel ACH va-a-SHER lo-TOV a-SA b'-TOCH a-MAV v'-hi-NEH-mayt ba-a-VO-no

יחאָבִ֞יו כִּֽי־עָ֣שַׁק עֹ֗שֶׁק גָּזַל֙ גֵּ֣זֶל אָ֔ח וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ט֛וֹב עָשָׂ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ עַמָּ֑יו וְהִנֵּה־מֵ֖ת בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ׃

19and now you ask, “Why has not the son shared the burden of his father's guilt?” But the son has done what is right and just, and has carefully kept all My laws: he shall live!

va-a-mar-TEM, ma-DU-a lo-na-SA ha-BEN ba-a-VON ha-AV, v'-ha-BEN mish-PAT u-tz'-DA-ka a-SA et-KOL-khu-KO-tai sha-MAR, va-ya-a-SEH o-TAM kha-YO-ha yi-KHEH

יטוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מַדֻּ֛עַ לֹא־נָשָׂ֥א הַבֵּ֖ן בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הָאָ֑ב וְהַבֵּ֞ן מִשְׁפָּ֧ט וּצְדָקָ֣ה עָשָׂ֗ה אֵ֣ת כׇּל־חֻקּוֹתַ֥י שָׁמַ֛ר וַיַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃

20The person who sins, he alone shall die. A child shall not share the burden of a parent's guilt, nor shall a parent share the burden of a child's guilt; the righteousness of the righteous shall be accounted to him alone, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be accounted to him alone.

ha-NE-fesh ha-cho-TET hee ta-MUT ben lo-yi-SA ba-a-VON ha-AV v'-AV lo yi-SA ba-a-VON ha-BEN tzid-KAT ha-TZAD-DEEK a-LAV ti-HE-yeh v'-rish-AT (rash) [ha-ra-SHA] a-LAV ti-HE-yeh.

כהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֣יא תָמ֑וּת בֵּ֞ן לֹֽא־יִשָּׂ֣א ׀ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הָאָ֗ב וְאָב֙ לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן הַבֵּ֔ן צִדְקַ֤ת הַצַּדִּיק֙ עָלָ֣יו תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְרִשְׁעַ֥ת (רשע) [הָרָשָׁ֖ע] עָלָ֥יו תִּֽהְיֶֽה׃

21Moreover, if the wicked one repents of all the sins that he committed and keeps all My laws and does what is just and right, he shall live; he shall not die.

v'-ha-ra-SHA ki ya-SHU-v mi-kol-kha-TO-tav a-SHER a-SA v'-sha-MAR et-KOL-khu-ko-TAI v'-a-SA mish-PAH u-tze-da-KAH cha-YO yikh-YE lo ya-MUT

כאוְהָרָשָׁ֗ע כִּ֤י יָשׁוּב֙ מִכׇּל־חַטֹּאתָו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְשָׁמַר֙ אֶת־כׇּל־חֻקוֹתַ֔י וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה חָיֹ֥ה יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃

22None of the transgressions he committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness he has practiced, he shall live.

kol-p'-sha-a-YAV a-SHER a-SA lo yi-ZAKH-ru lo b'-tzid-ka-TO a-SHER a-SA yi-KHE-ya

כבכׇּל־פְּשָׁעָיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה לֹ֥א יִזָּכְר֖וּ ל֑וֹ בְּצִדְקָת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה יִֽחְיֶֽה׃

23Is it my desire that a wicked person shall die?—says Hashem. It is rather that he shall turn back from his ways and live.

he-KHA-fotz ekh-POTZ mot ra-SHA n'-UM a-do-NAI y'-ho-VAH ha-LO b'-shu-VO mi-d'-ra-KHAV v'-kha-YAH.

כגהֶחָפֹ֤ץ אֶחְפֹּץ֙ מ֣וֹת רָשָׁ֔ע נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הֲל֛וֹא בְּשׁוּב֥וֹ מִדְּרָכָ֖יו וְחָיָֽה׃

24So, too, if a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does wrong, practicing the very abominations that the wicked person practiced, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he did shall be remembered; because of the treachery he has practiced and the sins he has committed—because of these, he shall die.

u-ve-SHU-v tza-DEEK mi-tzid-ka-TO v'-a-SA a-VAL k'-KOL ha-to-E-vot a-SHER a-SA ha-ra-SHA ya-a-SEH va-KHAI kol tzi-d'-KO-tav a-SHER a-SA lo tiz-ka-r'-NA b'-ma-a-LO a-SHER ma-AL u-ve-kha-ta-TO a-SHER kha-TA bam ya-MUT

כדוּבְשׁ֨וּב צַדִּ֤יק מִצִּדְקָתוֹ֙ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֔וֶל כְּכֹ֨ל הַתּוֹעֵב֜וֹת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֧ה הָרָשָׁ֛ע יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה וָחָ֑י כׇּל־צִדְקֹתָ֤ו אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה֙ לֹ֣א תִזָּכַ֔רְנָה בְּמַעֲל֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר־מָעַ֛ל וּבְחַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֖א בָּ֥ם יָמֽוּת׃

25Yet you say, “The way of Hashem is unfair.” Listen, O House of Yisrael: Is My way unfair? It is your ways that are unfair!

va-a-mar-TEM, lo yi-ta-KHEN de-REKH a-do-NAI, shim-U-na, bayt yis-ra-AYL, ha-dar-KI, lo yi-ta-KHEN, ha-lo, dar-KAY-khem, lo yi-ta-KHE-nu

כהוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲדַרְכִּי֙ לֹ֣א יִתָּכֵ֔ן הֲלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵֽנוּ׃

26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does wrong, he shall die for it; he shall die for the wrong he has done.

b'-SHUV tza-DEEK mi-tzid-KA-to, v'-a-SA a-VAL u-MAYT a-LE-hem, b'-a-VAL-o a-SHER a-SA ya-MUT. (S)

כובְּשׁוּב־צַדִּ֧יק מִצִּדְקָת֛וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה עָ֖וֶל וּמֵ֣ת עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם בְּעַוְל֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה יָמֽוּת׃

27And if a wicked person turns back from the wickedness that he practiced and does what is just and right, such a person shall save his life.

u-v'-SHUV ra-SHA me-ri-sha-TO a-SHER a-SA va-YA-ash mish-PAH u-tze-da-KAH HU et-NAF-sho ye-cha-YEH

כזוּבְשׁ֣וּב רָשָׁ֗ע מֵֽרִשְׁעָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה ה֖וּא אֶת־נַפְשׁ֥וֹ יְחַיֶּֽה׃

28Because he took heed and turned back from all the transgressions that he committed, he shall live; he shall not die.

vai-YI-reh (vai-YA-shov) [vai-YA-shov] mi-KOL p'-sha-AV a-SHER a-SA, kha-YO yi-KHE-yeh lo ya-MUT

כחוַיִּרְאֶ֣ה (וישוב) [וַיָּ֔שׇׁב] מִכׇּל־פְּשָׁעָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה חָי֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃

29Yet the House of Yisrael say, “The way of Hashem is unfair.” Are My ways unfair, O House of Yisrael? It is your ways that are unfair!

v'-a-M'-RU, bayt yis-ra-AYL, lo yi-ta-KHEN de-REKH a-do-NAI, ha-de-ra-KHAI lo yi-ta-KHE-nu, bayt yis-ra-AYL, ha-LO dar-KHAY-khem lo yi-ta-KHE-nu.

כטוְאָֽמְרוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י הַדְּרָכַ֞י לֹ֤א יִתָּֽכְנוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲלֹ֥א דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵֽן׃

30Be assured, O House of Yisrael, I will judge each one of you according to his ways—declares Hashem. Repent and turn back from your transgressions; let them not be a stumbling block of guilt for you.

la-KHEN, eesh ki-d'-ra-KHAV es-POt et-KHEM, bayt yis-ra-AYL, n'-UM a-do-NAI y'-ho-VA, shu-VU v'-ha-SHI-vu mi-KOL pish-AY-khem, v'-lo yi-HE-yeh LA-khem l'-mikh-SHOL a-VON.

ללָכֵן֩ אִ֨ישׁ כִּדְרָכָ֜יו אֶשְׁפֹּ֤ט אֶתְכֶם֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה שׁ֤וּבוּ וְהָשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ מִכׇּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם לְמִכְשׁ֖וֹל עָוֺֽן׃

31Cast away all the transgressions by which you have offended, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, that you may not die, O House of Yisrael.

ha-sh'-LIKHU me-a-le-KHEM et-KOL pish-AY-khem a-SHER p'-sha-TEM BAM va-a-SU la-KHEM lev cha-DASH v'-ru-ACH cha-da-SHAH v'-la-MAH ta-MU-tu BEIT yis-ra-AYL

לאהַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֗ם אֶת־כׇּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֣ם בָּ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לֵ֥ב חָדָ֖שׁ וְר֣וּחַ חֲדָשָׁ֑ה וְלָ֥מָּה תָמֻ֖תוּ בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

32For it is not My desire that anyone shall die—declares Hashem. Repent, therefore, and live!

ki LO ekh-POTZ b'-MOT ha-MAYT, n'-UM a-do-NAI y'-ho-VAH, v'-ha-SHI-vu vi-KHYU.

לבכִּ֣י לֹ֤א אֶחְפֹּץ֙ בְּמ֣וֹת הַמֵּ֔ת נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה וְהָשִׁ֖יבוּ וִֽחְיֽוּ׃