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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 3

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Young Shmuel was in the service of Hashem under Eli. In those days the word of Hashem was rare; prophecy was not widespread.

v'-ha-NA-ar sh'-MU-el m'-sha-RAYT et a-do-NAI lif-NAY e-LI u-d'-VAR a-do-NAI ha-YAH ya-KAR ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM, AYN cha-ZON nif-RATZ.

אוְהַנַּ֧עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל מְשָׁרֵ֥ת אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י עֵלִ֑י וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָיָ֤ה יָקָר֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין חָז֖וֹן נִפְרָֽץ׃

2One day, Eli was asleep in his usual place; his eyes had begun to fail and he could barely see.

v'-ya-HEE ba-YOM ha-HU v'-e-LEE sho-KHEV bi-m'-KO-mo v'-ei-NAV he-KHE-lu k'-HOt lo yu-KHAL lir-Ot

בוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְעֵלִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ב בִּמְקוֹמ֑וֹ וְעֵינָו֙ הֵחֵ֣לּוּ כֵה֔וֹת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְאֽוֹת׃

3The lamp of Hashem had not yet gone out, and Shmuel was sleeping in the temple of Hashem where the Aron of Hashem was.

v'-NER e-lo-HIM TE-rem yikh-BEH u-sh'-mu-EL sho-KHEV b'-he-KHAL a-do-NAI a-SHER-sham a-RON e-lo-HIM.

גוְנֵ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ טֶ֣רֶם יִכְבֶּ֔ה וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל שֹׁכֵ֑ב בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן אֱלֹהִֽים׃

4Hashem called out to Shmuel, and he answered, “I'm coming.”

vai-YIK-ra a-do-NAI el sh'-mu-AYL va-YO-mer hi-NE-ni

דוַיִּקְרָ֧א יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃

5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But he replied, “I didn't call you; go back to sleep.” So he went back and lay down.

vai-YAR-tz el E-li, vai-YO-mer hin-NEE, kee-ka-RA-ta LEE, vai-YO-mer lo-ka-RA-tee, shuv she-KHAV, vai-YAY-lekh vai-YISH-kav. (Selah)

הוַיָּ֣רׇץ אֶל־עֵלִ֗י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הִנְנִי֙ כִּֽי־קָרָ֣אתָ לִּ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹֽא־קָרָ֖אתִי שׁ֣וּב שְׁכָ֑ב וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃

6Again Hashem called, “Shmuel!” Shmuel rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But he replied, “I didn't call, my son; go back to sleep.”—

vai-YO-sef a-do-NAI k'-RO od sh'-mu-AYL, vai-YA-kom sh'-mu-AYL vai-YAY-lekh el e-LEE, vai-YO-mer hin-NEE, kee ka-RA-ta LEE, vai-YO-mer lo ka-RA-tee v'-NEE, shuv sh'-KHAV

ווַיֹּ֣סֶף יְהֹוָ֗ה קְרֹ֣א עוֹד֮ שְׁמוּאֵל֒ וַיָּ֤קׇם שְׁמוּאֵל֙ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־עֵלִ֔י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הִנְנִ֔י כִּ֥י קָרָ֖אתָ לִ֑י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר לֹא־קָרָ֥אתִֽי בְנִ֖י שׁ֥וּב שְׁכָֽב׃

7Now Shmuel had not yet experienced Hashem; the word of Hashem had not yet been revealed to him.—

u-SHE-mu-EL TE-rem ya-DA ayt a-do-NAI, v'-TE-rem yi-GA-leh ay-LAV d'-VAR a-do-NAI

זוּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל טֶ֖רֶם יָדַ֣ע אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְטֶ֛רֶם יִגָּלֶ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃

8Hashem called Shmuel again, a third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that Hashem was calling the boy.

vai-YO-sef a-do-NAI k'-ro-SHE-mu-AYL ba-sh'-li-SHEET, vai-YA-kom vai-YAY-lekh el e-LEE, vai-YO-mer hin-NEE, kee ka-RA-ta LEE, vai-YA-ven e-LEE, kee a-do-NAI ko-RAY la-na-AR

חוַיֹּ֨סֶף יְהֹוָ֥ה קְרֹא־שְׁמוּאֵל֮ בַּשְּׁלִישִׁת֒ וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־עֵלִ֔י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הִנְנִ֔י כִּ֥י קָרָ֖אתָ לִ֑י וַיָּ֣בֶן עֵלִ֔י כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה קֹרֵ֥א לַנָּֽעַר׃

9And Eli said to Shmuel, “Go lie down. If you are called again, say, ‘Speak, Hashem, for Your servant is listening.'” And Shmuel went to his place and lay down.

vai-YO-mer ay-LEE lish-mu-AYL, LEKH she-KHAV, va-HA-yah im yik-RA ay-LE-kha, va-a-MAR-ta, da-BER a-do-NAI, KEE sho-MAY-a av-DE-kha, vai-YE-lekh she-mu-AYL, vai-YISH-kav b'-m'-KO-mo.

טוַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵלִ֣י לִשְׁמוּאֵל֮ לֵ֣ךְ ׀ שְׁכָב֒ וְהָיָה֙ אִם־יִקְרָ֣א אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ דַּבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב בִּמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃

10Hashem came, and stood there, and He called as before: “Shmuel! Shmuel!” And Shmuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

vai-YA-voh a-do-NAI vai-yit-ya-TZAV vai-yik-RA k'-fa-AM b'-fa-AM sh'-mu-EL sh'-mu-EL vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-EL da-BER kee sho-MAY-a av-DE-kha.

יוַיָּבֹ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ וַיִּתְיַצַּ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֥א כְפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל ׀ שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ דַּבֵּ֔ר כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

11Hashem said to Shmuel: “I am going to do in Yisrael such a thing that both ears of anyone who hears about it will tingle.

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el sh'-mu-AYL, hi-NEH a-NO-khi o-SEH da-VAR b'-yis-ra-AYL, a-SHER kol sh'-mo-O t'-zi-LE-nah sh'-tay a-z'-NAV

יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל הִנֵּ֧ה אָנֹכִ֛י עֹשֶׂ֥ה דָבָ֖ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ כׇּל־שֹׁ֣מְע֔וֹ תְּצִלֶּ֖ינָה שְׁתֵּ֥י אׇזְנָֽיו׃

12In that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I spoke concerning his house, from beginning to end.

ba-YOM ha-HU a-KIM el-AY-lee et kol-a-SHER di-BAR-tee el-BAY-to ha-KHEL v'-ka-LEH

יבבַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ אָקִ֣ים אֶל־עֵלִ֔י אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ הָחֵ֖ל וְכַלֵּֽה׃

13And I declare to him that I sentence his house to endless punishment for the iniquity he knew about—how his sons committed sacrilege at will—and he did not rebuke them.

v'-hi-GAD-tee LO kee sho-FAYT a-NEE et bay-TO ad o-LAM ba-a-VON a-sher ya-DA kee m'-ka-l'-LEEM la-HEM ba-NAV v'-LO khi-HAH BAM

יגוְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־שֹׁפֵ֥ט אֲנִ֛י אֶת־בֵּית֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם בַּֽעֲוֺ֣ן אֲשֶׁר־יָדַ֗ע כִּֽי־מְקַלְלִ֤ים לָהֶם֙ בָּנָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א כִהָ֖ה בָּֽם׃

3:13   I sentence his house to endless punishment

God tells Shmuel that He will punish Eli for failing to rebuke his sons, Chofni and Pinchas, for their immoral behavior while serving in their leadership roles at the Mishkan in Shilo. Through their actions, they profane the Mishkan and discourage people from making pilgrimages there. Consequently, Eli’s sons will be killed and there will be no one left to continue his family’s mantle of leadership. Instead, Shmuel will become the new prophet and leader of the people. He will act the way a true leader should, travelling among the people as an inspiring role model, bringing them closer to Hashem.

14Assuredly, I swear concerning the house of Eli that the iniquity of the house of Eli will never be expiated by sacrifice or offering.”

v'-la-KHEN nish-BA-ti l'-veit E-li, im yit-ka-PER a-VON beit E-li b'-ze-VACH u-v'-min-CHA ad-o-LAM

ידוְלָכֵ֥ן נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לְבֵ֣ית עֵלִ֑י אִֽם־יִתְכַּפֵּ֞ר עֲוֺ֧ן בֵּית־עֵלִ֛י בְּזֶ֥בַח וּבְמִנְחָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

15Shmuel lay there until morning; and then he opened the doors of the House of Hashem. Shmuel was afraid to report the vision to Eli,

vai-YISH-kav she-mu-EL ad ha-BO-ker, vai-YIF-takh et dal-TOT beit-a-do-NAI, u-she-mu-EL ya-RAY me-ha-GID et ha-mar-AH el e-LI

טווַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב שְׁמוּאֵל֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־דַּלְת֣וֹת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל יָרֵ֔א מֵהַגִּ֥יד אֶת־הַמַּרְאָ֖ה אֶל־עֵלִֽי׃

16but Eli summoned Shmuel and said, “Shmuel, my son”; and he answered, “Here.”

vai-YIK-ra e-LI et sh'-mu-AYL, vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL b'-NEE, vai-YO-mer hi-NE-ni

טזוַיִּקְרָ֤א עֵלִי֙ אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל בְּנִ֑י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃

17And [Eli] asked, “What did He say to you? Keep nothing from me. Thus and more may Hashem do to you if you keep from me a single word of all that He said to you!”

vai-YO-mer, MAH ha-DA-var a-SHER di-BER e-LE-kha, al-NA t'-kha-KHED mi-ME-ni, KO ya-a-SEH-le-KHA e-lo-HEEM, v'-KO yo-SEEF, im-t'-kha-KHED mi-ME-ni, DA-var mi-KOL ha-DA-var a-SHER-di-BER e-LE-kha.

יזוַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֤ה הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ אַל־נָ֥א תְכַחֵ֖ד מִמֶּ֑נִּי כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ֤ אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף אִם־תְּכַחֵ֤ד מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ דָּבָ֔ר מִכׇּל־הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

18Shmuel then told him everything, withholding nothing from him. And [Eli] said, “He is Hashem; He will do what He deems right.”

vai-YA-ged LO she-mu-AYL et-KOL ha-de-va-REEM v'-LO khee-KHED mi-ME-nu va-YO-mer a-do-NAI HU ha-TOV b'-ay-NAV ya-a-SEH

יחוַיַּגֶּד־ל֤וֹ שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א כִחֵ֖ד מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר יְהֹוָ֣ה ה֔וּא הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינָ֖ו יַֽעֲשֶֽׂה׃

19Shmuel grew up and Hashem was with him: He did not leave any of Shmuel's predictions unfulfilled.

vai-yig-DAL sh'-mu-AYL va-a-do-NAI ha-YAH i-MO, v'-lo hi-FIL mi-KOL d'-va-RAV a-RETZ-AH

יטוַיִּגְדַּ֖ל שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַֽיהֹוָה֙ הָיָ֣ה עִמּ֔וֹ וְלֹא־הִפִּ֥יל מִכׇּל־דְּבָרָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

20All Yisrael, from Dan to Be'er Sheva, knew that Shmuel was trustworthy as a Navi of Hashem.

vai-YAY-da kol yis-ra-AYL mi-DAN v'-AD b'-AYR sha-VA, kee ne-e-MAN sh'-mu-AYL l'-na-VEE la-do-NAI. (Selah)

כוַיֵּ֙דַע֙ כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֚י נֶאֱמָ֣ן שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל לְנָבִ֖יא לַיהֹוָֽה׃

21And Hashem continued to appear at Shilo: Hashem revealed Himself to Shmuel at Shilo with the word of Hashem;

va-YO-sef a-do-NAI l'-hay-ra-OT v'-shi-LOH, kee nig-LAH a-do-NAI el sh'-mu-AYL b'-shi-LOH bid-VAR a-do-NAI. (P)

כאוַיֹּ֥סֶף יְהֹוָ֖ה לְהֵרָאֹ֣ה בְשִׁלֹ֑ה כִּֽי־נִגְלָ֨ה יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל בְּשִׁל֖וֹ בִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃