
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 4
Translation and Transliteration of
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1“And you, O mortal, take a brick and put it in front of you, and incise on it a city, Yerushalayim.
v'-a-TAH ben a-DAM kakh-l'-KHA l'-VE-na, v'-na-ta-TAH o-TAH l'-fa-NE-kha, v'-cha-KO-ta a-LE-ha EER et y'-ru-sha-LA-im
אוְאַתָּ֤ה בֶן־אָדָם֙ קַח־לְךָ֣ לְבֵנָ֔ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה אוֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְחַקּוֹתָ֥ עָלֶ֛יהָ עִ֖יר אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
2Set up a siege against it, and build towers against it, and cast a mound against it; pitch camps against it, and bring up battering rams roundabout it.
v'-na-ta-TAH a-LE-ha ma-TZOR u-va-NEE-ta a-LE-ha DAY-yek v'-sha-FAKH-ta a-LE-ha sol-LAH v'-na-ta-TAH a-LE-ha ma-cha-NOT v'-SEEM a-LE-ha ka-REEM sa-VEEV
בוְנָתַתָּ֨ה עָלֶ֜יהָ מָצ֗וֹר וּבָנִ֤יתָ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ דָּיֵ֔ק וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֥ עָלֶ֖יהָ סֹלְלָ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֨ה עָלֶ֧יהָ מַחֲנ֛וֹת וְשִׂים־עָלֶ֥יהָ כָּרִ֖ים סָבִֽיב׃
3Then take an iron plate and place it as an iron wall between yourself and the city, and set your face against it. Thus it shall be under siege, you shall besiege it. This shall be an omen for the House of Yisrael.
v'-a-TAH kakh-l'-KHA ma-KHA-vat bar-ZEL v'-na-ta-TAH o-TAH kir bar-ZEL b'-NE-kha u-VEIN ha-iR va-ha-KHI-no-TAH et-PA-ne-KHA e-LE-ha v'-ha-YE-ta va-ma-TZOR v'-tza-RA-ta a-LE-ha o-T hi l'-VEYT yis-ra-AYL.
גוְאַתָּ֤ה קַח־לְךָ֙ מַֽחֲבַ֣ת בַּרְזֶ֔ל וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אוֹתָהּ֙ קִ֣יר בַּרְזֶ֔ל בֵּינְךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין הָעִ֑יר וַהֲכִינֹתָה֩ אֶת־פָּנֶ֨יךָ אֵלֶ֜יהָ וְהָיְתָ֤ה בַמָּצוֹר֙ וְצַרְתָּ֣ עָלֶ֔יהָ א֥וֹת הִ֖יא לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4“Then lie on your left side, and let it bear the punishment of the House of Yisrael; for as many days as you lie on it you shall bear their punishment.
v'-a-TAH sh'-KHAV al-tsi-d'-KHA ha-s'-ma-LEE v'-sam-TA et-a-VON bayt yis-ra-AYL a-LA-yu, mis-PAHR ha-ya-MEEM a-SHER tish-KAV a-LA-yu, tis-SA et-a-vo-NAM
דוְאַתָּ֤ה שְׁכַב֙ עַל־צִדְּךָ֣ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔י וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ אֶת־עֲוֺ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו מִסְפַּ֤ר הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עָלָ֔יו תִּשָּׂ֖א אֶת־עֲוֺנָֽם׃
5For I impose upon you three hundred and ninety days, corresponding to the number of the years of their punishment; and so you shall bear the punishment for the House of Yisrael.
va-a-NEE na-TA-tee l'-KHA et sh'-NAY a-VON-am l'-mis-PA-yim sha-LOSH-m'-OT v'-tish-EEM YOM va-na-SA-ta a-VON bayt yis-ra-AYL
הוַאֲנִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּֽי לְךָ֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י עֲוֺנָ֔ם לְמִסְפַּ֣ר יָמִ֔ים שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת וְתִשְׁעִ֖ים י֑וֹם וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ עֲוֺ֥ן בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6When you have completed these, you shall lie another forty days on your right side, and bear the punishment of the House of Yehuda. I impose on you one day for each year.
v'-khi-LEE-ta et E-leh v'-sha-KHAV-ta al tzi-D'-KHA (ha-y'-ma-NEE) [ha-y'-ma-NEE] sh'-NEET v'-na-sa-TA et a-VON bayt y'-hu-DAH ar-BA-eem YOM yom la-sha-NAH YOM la-sha-NAH n'-ta-TEEV LAKH
ווְכִלִּיתָ֣ אֶת־אֵ֗לֶּה וְשָׁ֨כַבְתָּ֜ עַֽל־צִדְּךָ֤ (הימיני) [הַיְמָנִי֙] שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן בֵּית־יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם י֧וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֛ה י֥וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֖ה נְתַתִּ֥יו לָֽךְ׃
7“Then, with bared arm, set your face toward besieged Yerushalayim and prophesy against it.
v'-el m'-TZOR ye-ru-sha-LA-im ta-KHEEN pa-NE-kha u-ze-ro-a-KHA kha-su-FAH v'-ni-BE-ta a-LE-ha
זוְאֶל־מְצ֤וֹר יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ תָּכִ֣ין פָּנֶ֔יךָ וּֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ חֲשׂוּפָ֑ה וְנִבֵּאתָ֖ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
8Now I put cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from side to side until you complete your days of siege.
v'-hi-NEH na-TA-tee a-LE-kha a-vo-TIM, v'-LO tay-ha-FAYKH mi-tzi-D'-KHA el tzi-DE-kha, ad ka-LO-t'-KHA y'-MAY m'-tzu-RE-kha
חוְהִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי עָלֶ֖יךָ עֲבוֹתִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־תֵהָפֵ֤ךְ מִֽצִּדְּךָ֙ אֶל־צִדֶּ֔ךָ עַד־כַּלּוֹתְךָ֖ יְמֵ֥י מְצוּרֶֽךָ׃
9“Further, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer. Put them into one vessel and bake them into bread. Eat it as many days as you lie on your side: three hundred and ninety.
v'-a-TAH kakh l'-KHA khi-TEEN us-o-REEM u-FOL va-a-da-SHEEM v'-DO-khan v'-khu-s'-MEEM v'-na-ta-TAH o-TAM bikh-LEE e-KHAD v'-a-SEE-ta o-TAM l'-KHA l'-LA-khem mis-PAR ha-ya-MEEM a-sher a-TAH sho-KHAYV al tzi-d'-KHA sh'-losh may-OT v'-tish-EEM YOM to-kh'-LE-nu
טוְאַתָּ֣ה קַח־לְךָ֡ חִטִּ֡ין וּ֠שְׂעֹרִ֠ים וּפ֨וֹל וַעֲדָשִׁ֜ים וְדֹ֣חַן וְכֻסְּמִ֗ים וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ בִּכְלִ֣י אֶחָ֔ד וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ אוֹתָ֛ם לְךָ֖ לְלָ֑חֶם מִסְפַּ֨ר הַיָּמִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֣ה ׀ שׁוֹכֵ֣ב עַֽל־צִדְּךָ֗ שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֧וֹת וְתִשְׁעִ֛ים י֖וֹם תֹּאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃
4:9 And bake them into bread
Yechezkel demonstrates to his listeners the dire straits the people from Yerushalayim are in during the final Babylonian siege against the city. According to the Talmud (Eruvin 81a), Yechezkel rations to himself inedible flour and inferior grains and limits his water in order to portray the austere conditions under which the people of Yerushalayim are suffering. As a final blow, these foods are prepared in an impure manner (verse 13), something repulsive to the sensitive prophet-priest. Indeed, bread and water were very scarce during the Babylonian siege of Yerushalayim, as the Bible indicates elsewhere: “The tongue of the suckling cleaves to its palate for thirst. Little children beg for bread; none gives them a morsel.” (Lamentations 4:4).
10The food that you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekalim a day; this you shall eat in the space of a day.
u-ma-a-kha-L'-KHA a-SHER to-KHE-le-NU b'-mish-KOL e-s'-REEM SHE-kel la-YOM, may-ET ad-ET to-KHE-le-NU.
יוּמַאֲכָֽלְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאכְלֶ֔נּוּ בְּמִשְׁק֕וֹל עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שֶׁ֖קֶל לַיּ֑וֹם מֵעֵ֥ת עַד־עֵ֖ת תֹּאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃
11And you shall drink water by measure; drink a sixth of a hin in the space of a day.
u-MA-yim bi-m'-su-RAH tish-TEH shi-SHEET ha-HEEN, may-ET ad-ET tish-TEH
יאוּמַ֛יִם בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה תִשְׁתֶּ֖ה שִׁשִּׁ֣ית הַהִ֑ין מֵעֵ֥ת עַד־עֵ֖ת תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃
12“Eat it as a barley cake; you shall bake it on human excrement before their eyes.
v'-u-GAT se-o-RIM to-kh'-LE-nah, v'-HEE b'-gel-LEI tze-AT ha-a-DAM, t'-u-GE-na l'-ei-NEI-hem. (S)
יבוְעֻגַ֥ת שְׂעֹרִ֖ים תֹּאכְלֶ֑נָּה וְהִ֗יא בְּגֶֽלְלֵי֙ צֵאַ֣ת הָֽאָדָ֔ם תְּעֻגֶ֖נָה לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃
13So,” said Hashem, “shall the people of Yisrael eat their bread, unclean, among the nations to which I will banish them.”
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI, ka-KHA yo-KH'-lu v'-nay yis-ra-AYL et lach-MAM ta-MAY ba-go-YIM a-SHER a-di-KHEM sham
יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה כָּ֣כָה יֹאכְל֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־לַחְמָ֖ם טָמֵ֑א בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַדִּיחֵ֖ם שָֽׁם׃
14Then I said, “Ah, Hashem, my person was never defiled; nor have I eaten anything that died of itself or was torn by beasts from my youth until now, nor has foul flesh entered my mouth.”
va-o-MAR a-HA a-do-NAI y'-ho-VAH, hi-NEH naf-SHEE lo m'-tu-ma-AH, u-ne-VE-lah u-t'-RE-fah lo a-khal-TEE mi-ne-u-RAI v'-ad-a-TAH, v'-lo-BA b'-fi b'-SAR pi-GOOL. (SeLaH)
ידוָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לֹ֣א מְטֻמָּאָ֑ה וּנְבֵלָ֨ה וּטְרֵפָ֤ה לֹא־אָכַ֙לְתִּי֙ מִנְּעוּרַ֣י וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה וְלֹא־בָ֥א בְּפִ֖י בְּשַׂ֥ר פִּגּֽוּל׃
15He answered me, “See, I allow you cow's dung instead of human excrement; prepare your bread on that.”
vai-YO-mer e-LAI, re-EH na-TA-tee LE-kha et t'-zee-FEE ha-ba-KAR ta-KHAT gel-LEI ha-a-DAM, v'-a-see-TA et lach-M'-KHA a-LE-hem. (SAH)
טווַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י רְאֵ֗ה נָתַ֤תִּֽי לְךָ֙ אֶת־[צְפִיעֵ֣י] (צפועי) הַבָּקָ֔ר תַּ֖חַת גֶּֽלְלֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֑ם וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶֽת־לַחְמְךָ֖ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
16And He said to me, “O mortal, I am going to break the staff of bread in Yerushalayim, and they shall eat bread by weight, in anxiety, and drink water by measure, in horror,
vai-YO-mer e-LAI ben a-DAM, hin-NEE sho-VAYR ma-TAY le-KHEM bi-ru-sha-LA-im, v'-a-KH'-lu le-KHEM b'-mish-KAL u-vi-da-GAH, u-MA-yim b'-mi-su-RAH u-v'-shi-MA-mon yish-TOO
טזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁבֵ֤ר מַטֵּֽה־לֶ֙חֶם֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְאָכְלוּ־לֶ֥חֶם בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל וּבִדְאָגָ֑ה וּמַ֕יִם בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה וּבְשִׁמָּמ֖וֹן יִשְׁתּֽוּ׃
17so that, lacking bread and water, they shall stare at each other, heartsick over their iniquity.
l'-ma-AN yakh-S'-RU le-KHEM va-MA-yim, va-na-SHAM-mu EESH v'-a-KHEEV, va-na-MAK-KU ba-a-VO-nam.
יזלְמַ֥עַן יַחְסְר֖וּ לֶ֣חֶם וָמָ֑יִם וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאָחִ֔יו וְנָמַ֖קּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָֽם׃