TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 13

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The “Babylon” Pronouncement, a prophecy of Yeshayahu son of Amotz.

ma-SA ba-VEL a-SHER cha-ZAH ye-sha-YA-hu ben a-MOTZ

אמַשָּׂ֖א בָּבֶ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אָמֽוֹץ׃

2“Raise a standard upon a bare hill, Cry aloud to them; Wave a hand, and let them enter The gates of the nobles!

AL har nish-PEH s'-u NAYS ha-REE-mu KOL la-HEM ha-NEE-fu YAD v'-ya-VO-u pit-KHAY n'-dee-VEEM

בעַ֤ל הַר־נִשְׁפֶּה֙ שְֽׂאוּ־נֵ֔ס הָרִ֥ימוּ ק֖וֹל לָהֶ֑ם הָנִ֣יפוּ יָ֔ד וְיָבֹ֖אוּ פִּתְחֵ֥י נְדִיבִֽים׃

 13:2   Raise a standard upon a bare hill

Yeshayahu begins a series of prophecies against the nations (chapters 13-23) with a message to Babylon. He calls on Hashem’s army to assemble on a mountaintop against the Babylonians. The word that describes the mountain is nishpeh (נשפה), which means ‘bare.’ The selected mountaintop is bare and empty of trees — most likely so that the nays (נס), the ‘standard’ or signal for the warriors to gather, might be better seen from it. Yeshayahu contrasts the barren mountain of Babylon (which means ‘gates of gods’ in Ugaritic) with the genuine mountain of Hashem in Yerushalayim described in chapter 2, which is the source of knowledge and righteousness for the world.

3I have summoned My purified guests To execute My wrath; Behold, I have called My stalwarts, My proudly exultant ones.”

a-NEE tzi-VEE-tee lim-ku-da-SHAI, gam ka-RA-tee gi-BO-rai l'-a-PEE, a-li-ZAY ga-a-VA-tee

גאֲנִ֥י צִוֵּ֖יתִי לִמְקֻדָּשָׁ֑י גַּ֣ם קָרָ֤אתִי גִבּוֹרַי֙ לְאַפִּ֔י עַלִּיזֵ֖י גַּֽאֲוָתִֽי׃

4Hark! a tumult on the mountains— As of a mighty force; Hark! an uproar of kingdoms, Nations assembling! the lord of Hosts is mustering A host for war.

KOL ha-MOHN be-ha-REEM d'-MUT am-RAV, KOL sh'-ON mam-l'-KHOHT go-YIM ne-e-SA-FEEM, a-do-NAI tz'-va-OT m'-fa-KAYD tz'-va mil-KHA-mah

דק֥וֹל הָמ֛וֹן בֶּהָרִ֖ים דְּמ֣וּת עַם־רָ֑ב ק֠וֹל שְׁא֞וֹן מַמְלְכ֤וֹת גּוֹיִם֙ נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת מְפַקֵּ֖ד צְבָ֥א מִלְחָמָֽה׃

5They come from a distant land, From the end of the sky— Hashem with the weapons of His wrath— To ravage all the earth!

ba-EEM me-E-retz mer-KHAK mi-k'-TSEH ha-sha-MA-yim a-do-NAI u-k'-LEY za-MO l'-kha-BEL kol-ha-A-retz. (S)

הבָּאִ֛ים מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָ֖ק מִקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם יְהֹוָה֙ וּכְלֵ֣י זַעְמ֔וֹ לְחַבֵּ֖ל כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

6Howl! For the day of Hashem is near; It shall come like havoc from Shaddai.

HEE-lee-LOO kee ka-ROV YOM a-do-NAI ke-SHOD mi-SHA-dai ya-VO.

והֵילִ֕ילוּ כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּשֹׁ֖ד מִשַּׁדַּ֥י יָבֽוֹא׃

7Therefore all hands shall grow limp, And all men's hearts shall sink;

al-KEN kol-ya-DA-yim tir-PEE-nah, v'-kol l'-VAV e-NO-sh yim-MAS

זעַל־כֵּ֖ן כׇּל־יָדַ֣יִם תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה וְכׇל־לְבַ֥ב אֱנ֖וֹשׁ יִמָּֽס׃

8And, overcome by terror, They shall be seized by pangs and throes, Writhe like a woman in travail. They shall gaze at each other in horror, Their faces livid with fright.

v'-ni-v'-HA-lu tzi-RIM va-cha-va-LEEM yo-CHE-zun ka-yo-LE-da y'-chi-LUN, eesh el re-E-hu yit-ma-HU, p'-NEI l'-ha-VEEM p'-NE-hem.

חוְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ ׀ צִירִ֤ים וַֽחֲבָלִים֙ יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֖ה יְחִיל֑וּן אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יִתְמָ֔הוּ פְּנֵ֥י לְהָבִ֖ים פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

9Lo! The day of Hashem is coming With pitiless fury and wrath, To make the earth a desolation, To wipe out the sinners upon it.

hi-NEH yom a-do-NAI ba, akh-za-REE v'-ev-RAH va-kha-RON af la-SUM ha-A-retz l'-sha-MAH v'-kha-ta-E-ha yash-MEED mi-ME-nah

טהִנֵּ֤ה יוֹם־יְהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔א אַכְזָרִ֥י וְעֶבְרָ֖ה וַחֲר֣וֹן אָ֑ף לָשׂ֤וּם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְחַטָּאֶ֖יהָ יַשְׁמִ֥יד מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

10The stars and constellations of heaven Shall not give off their light; The sun shall be dark when it rises, And the moon shall diffuse no glow.

ki-KO-kh'-vay ha-sha-MA-yim u-k'-si-LAY-hem lo ya-HEL-lu o-RAM, kha-SHAKH ha-SHE-mesh b'-tze-E-to, v'-ya-RAY-akh lo ya-GI-ha o-RO.

יכִּֽי־כוֹכְבֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וּכְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א יָהֵ֖לּוּ אוֹרָ֑ם חָשַׁ֤ךְ הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ בְּצֵאת֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖חַ לֹֽא־יַגִּ֥יהַּ אוֹרֽוֹ׃

11“And I will requite to the world its evil, And to the wicked their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant And humble the haughtiness of tyrants.

u-fa-KA-de-TEE al tay-VEL ra-AH v'-al r'-sha-EEM a-VON-am v'-hish-ba-TEE g'-ON z'-DEEM v'-ga-a-VAT a-ree-TZEEM ash-PEEL

יאוּפָקַדְתִּ֤י עַל־תֵּבֵל֙ רָעָ֔ה וְעַל־רְשָׁעִ֖ים עֲוֺנָ֑ם וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ גְּא֣וֹן זֵדִ֔ים וְגַאֲוַ֥ת עָרִיצִ֖ים אַשְׁפִּֽיל׃

12I will make people scarcer than fine gold, And men than gold of Ophir.”

o-KIR e-NOSh mi-PAZ v'-a-DAM mi-KE-tem o-FIR

יבאוֹקִ֥יר אֱנ֖וֹשׁ מִפָּ֑ז וְאָדָ֖ם מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃

13Therefore shall heaven be shaken, And earth leap out of its place, At the fury of the lord of Hosts On the day of His burning wrath.

al-KEN sha-MA-yim ar-GEEZ v'-tir-ASH ha-A-retz mi-m'-ko-MAH b'-ev-RAT a-do-NAI t'-za-VA-OT u-v'-YOM cha-RON a-PO

יגעַל־כֵּן֙ שָׁמַ֣יִם אַרְגִּ֔יז וְתִרְעַ֥שׁ הָאָ֖רֶץ מִמְּקוֹמָ֑הּ בְּעֶבְרַת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּבְי֖וֹם חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃

14Then like gazelles that are chased, And like sheep that no man gathers, Each man shall turn back to his people, They shall flee every one to his land.

v'-ha-YA ki-tz'-VI mu-DACH u-k'-tzoN v'-AYN m'-ka-BETZ ish el a-MO yi-f'-NU v'-ish el ar-TZO ya-NU-su

ידוְהָיָה֙ כִּצְבִ֣י מֻדָּ֔ח וּכְצֹ֖אן וְאֵ֣ין מְקַבֵּ֑ץ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־עַמּוֹ֙ יִפְנ֔וּ וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶל־אַרְצ֖וֹ יָנֽוּסוּ׃

15All who remain shall be pierced through, All who are caught Shall fall by the sword.

KOL-ha-nim-TZA yid-DA-kayR, v'-KOL-ha-nis-PEH yip-POL be-cha-REV.

טוכׇּל־הַנִּמְצָ֖א יִדָּקֵ֑ר וְכׇל־הַנִּסְפֶּ֖ה יִפּ֥וֹל בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

16And their babes shall be dashed to pieces in their sight, Their homes shall be plundered, And their wives shall be raped.

v'-o-l'-LE-hem y'-ru-T'-shu l'-ay-NAY-hem yi-SHA-su ba-TE-hem u-n'-shei-HEM (tish-GAL-nah) [ti-sha-KHAV-nah]

טזוְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֥ם יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם יִשַּׁ֙סּוּ֙ בָּתֵּיהֶ֔ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם (תשגלנה) [תִּשָּׁכַֽבְנָה]׃

17“Behold, I stir up the Medes against them, Who do not value silver Or delight in gold.

hi-n'-NI me-EER a-LE-hem et ma-DAI a-SHER ke-SEF lo yakh-SHO-vu v'-za-HAV lo yakh-p'-TZU-vo

יזהִנְנִ֛י מֵעִ֥יר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אֶת־מָדָ֑י אֲשֶׁר־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לֹ֣א יַחְשֹׁ֔בוּ וְזָהָ֖ב לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֽוֹ׃

18Their bows shall shatter the young; They shall show no pity to infants, They shall not spare the children.”

u-k'-sha-TOT n'-a-REEM t'-ra-TASH-nah u-f'-ree-ve-TEN lo y'-ra-KHE-mu al ba-NEEM lo-ta-KHUSS ay-NAM

יחוּקְשָׁת֖וֹת נְעָרִ֣ים תְּרַטַּ֑שְׁנָה וּפְרִי־בֶ֙טֶן֙ לֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ עַל־בָּנִ֖ים לֹא־תָח֥וּס עֵינָֽם׃

19And Babylon, glory of kingdoms, Proud splendor of the Chaldeans, Shall become like Sodom and Gomorrah Overturned by Hashem.

v'-ha-YE-tah va-VEL t'-VEE mam-la-KHOT tif-E-ret g'-ON ka-s'-DEEM k'-ma-HE-f'-KHAT e-lo-HEEM et s'-DOM v'-et a-mo-RAH

יטוְהָיְתָ֤ה בָבֶל֙ צְבִ֣י מַמְלָכ֔וֹת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּא֣וֹן כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה׃

20Nevermore shall it be settled Nor dwelt in through all the ages. No Arab shall pitch his tent there, No shepherds make flocks lie down there.

lo-te-SHEV la-NE-tsakh, v'-lo tish-KON ad-DOR va-DOR, v'-lo ya-HEL sham a-ra-VEE, v'-ro-IM lo-yar-BI-tzu sham.

כלֹא־תֵשֵׁ֣ב לָנֶ֔צַח וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן עַד־דּ֣וֹר וָד֑וֹר וְלֹא־יַהֵ֥ל שָׁם֙ עֲרָבִ֔י וְרֹעִ֖ים לֹא־יַרְבִּ֥צוּ שָֽׁם׃

21But beasts shall lie down there, And the houses be filled with owls; There shall ostriches make their home, And there shall satyrs dance.

v'-ra-VE-tzu-SHAM tzi-YEEM u-ma-LU ba-TE-hem o-KHEEM v'-sho-KHE-nu SHAM b'-NOT ya-a-NAH u-s'-ee-REEM y'-ra-k'-DU-SHAM

כאוְרָבְצוּ־שָׁ֣ם צִיִּ֔ים וּמָלְא֥וּ בָתֵּיהֶ֖ם אֹחִ֑ים וְשָׁ֤כְנוּ שָׁם֙ בְּנ֣וֹת יַעֲנָ֔ה וּשְׂעִירִ֖ים יְרַקְּדוּ־שָֽׁם׃

22And jackals shall abide in its castles And dragons in the palaces of pleasure. Her hour is close at hand; Her days will not be long.

v'-a-NAH i-YEEM b'-al-m'-no-TAV v'-ta-NEEM b'-hekh-LAY o-NEG v'-ka-ROV la-VO it-TAH v'-ya-MAY-ha lo yi-ma-SHE-khu

כבוְעָנָ֤ה אִיִּים֙ בְּאַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו וְתַנִּ֖ים בְּהֵ֣יכְלֵי עֹ֑נֶג וְקָר֤וֹב לָבוֹא֙ עִתָּ֔הּ וְיָמֶ֖יהָ לֹ֥א יִמָּשֵֽׁכוּ׃