TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 28

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Ah, the proud crowns of the drunkards of Efraim, Whose glorious beauty is but wilted flowers On the heads of men bloated with rich food, Who are overcome by wine!

HOY a-TE-ret GE-UT shi-ko-REY ef-RA-yim v'-TZITZ no-VEL t'-vi tif-a-RT-o a-SHER al-ROSH GEI-sh'-ma-NIM ha-LU-mei ya-YIN

אה֗וֹי עֲטֶ֤רֶת גֵּאוּת֙ שִׁכֹּרֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְצִ֥יץ נֹבֵ֖ל צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֛ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ גֵּֽיא־שְׁמָנִ֖ים הֲל֥וּמֵי יָֽיִן׃

2Lo, my Lord has something strong and mighty, Like a storm of hail, A shower of pestilence. Something like a storm of massive, torrential rain Shall be hurled with force to the ground.

hi-NEH kha-ZAK v'-a-MITS la-a-do-NAI k'-ZER-em ba-RAD sa-AR ka-TEV k'-ZER-em MA-yim ka-BEE-reem sho-t'-FEEM hi-NEE-akh la-a-RETZ b'-YAD

בהִנֵּ֨ה חָזָ֤ק וְאַמִּץ֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔י כְּזֶ֥רֶם בָּרָ֖ד שַׂ֣עַר קָ֑טֶב כְּ֠זֶ֠רֶם מַ֣יִם כַּבִּירִ֥ים שֹׁטְפִ֛ים הִנִּ֥יחַ לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָֽד׃

3Trampled underfoot shall be The proud crowns of the drunkards of Efraim,

b'-rag-LA-yim te-RA-mas-NAH a-te-RET ge-UT shi-KO-rei ef-RA-yim

גבְּרַגְלַ֖יִם תֵּרָמַ֑סְנָה עֲטֶ֥רֶת גֵּא֖וּת שִׁכּוֹרֵ֥י אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

4The wilted flowers— On the heads of men bloated with rich food— That are his glorious beauty. They shall be like an early fig Before the fruit harvest; Whoever sees it devours it While it is still in his hand.

v'-ha-YE-tah tzi-TZAT no-VEL t'-vee tif-a-RO-to a-SHER al-ROSH gay SHE-ma-NEEM k'-vi-KU-raH b'-TE-rem ka-YITZ a-SHER yir-EH ha-RO-EH o-TAH b'-o-DAH b'-ka-PO yi-vla-E-nah (s)

דוְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה צִיצַ֤ת נֹבֵל֙ צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹ֖אשׁ גֵּ֣יא שְׁמָנִ֑ים כְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙ בְּטֶ֣רֶם קַ֔יִץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְאֶ֤ה הָרֹאֶה֙ אוֹתָ֔הּ בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ בְּכַפּ֖וֹ יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃

5In that day, the lord of Hosts shall become a crown of beauty and a diadem of glory for the remnant of His people,

ba-YOM ha-HU yi-HE-yah a-do-NAI t'-va-OT la-a-TE-ret t'-VEE v'-litz-fi-RAH tif-a-RAH lish-A-ar a-MO

הבַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת לַעֲטֶ֣רֶת צְבִ֔י וְלִצְפִירַ֖ת תִּפְאָרָ֑ה לִשְׁאָ֖ר עַמּֽוֹ׃

6and a spirit of judgment for him who sits in judgment and of valor for those who repel attacks at the gate.

u-l'-RU-akh mish-PAT la-yo-SHAYV al ha-mish-PAT v'-li-g'-vu-RAH m'-shi-VEI mil-kha-MAH sha-o-RAH.

ווּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה מְשִׁיבֵ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה שָֽׁעְרָה׃

7But these are also muddled by wine And dazed by liquor: Kohen and Navi Are muddled by liquor; They are confused by wine, They are dazed by liquor; They are muddled in their visions, They stumble in judgment.

v'-GAM e-LEH ba-ya-YIN sha-GU u-va-she-KHAR ta-U KO-hen v'-na-VEE sha-GU va-she-KHAR ni-v'-LU min ha-ya-YIN ta-U min ha-she-KHAR sha-GU ba-RO-e p'-KU p'-li-li-YAH

זוְגַם־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ בַּיַּ֣יִן שָׁג֔וּ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֖ר תָּע֑וּ כֹּהֵ֣ן וְנָבִיא֩ שָׁג֨וּ בַשֵּׁכָ֜ר נִבְלְע֣וּ מִן־הַיַּ֗יִן תָּעוּ֙ מִן־הַשֵּׁכָ֔ר שָׁגוּ֙ בָּרֹאֶ֔ה פָּק֖וּ פְּלִילִיָּֽה׃

8Yea, all tables are covered With vomit and filth, So that no space is left.

ki kol-shul-cha-NOT mal-u KEE-a tzo-AH b'-li ma-KOM.

חכִּ֚י כׇּל־שֻׁלְחָנ֔וֹת מָלְא֖וּ קִ֣יא צֹאָ֑ה בְּלִ֖י מָקֽוֹם׃

9“To whom would he give instruction? To whom expound a message? To those newly weaned from milk, Just taken away from the breast?

et-mee yo-REH de-AH v'-et-mee ya-VEEN sh'-mu-AH g'-mu-LEI me-KHA-lav a-ti-KEI mi-sha-DA-yim

טאֶת־מִי֙ יוֹרֶ֣ה דֵעָ֔ה וְאֶת־מִ֖י יָבִ֣ין שְׁמוּעָ֑ה גְּמוּלֵי֙ מֵחָלָ֔ב עַתִּיקֵ֖י מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃

10That same mutter upon mutter, Murmur upon murmur, Now here, now there!”

KI tzav la-TZAV tzav la-TZAV kav la-KAV kav la-KAV ze-EIR sham ze-EIR sham

יכִּ֣י צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ צַ֣ו לָצָ֔ו קַ֥ו לָקָ֖ו קַ֣ו לָקָ֑ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֥יר שָֽׁם׃

11Truly, as one who speaks to that people in a stammering jargon and an alien tongue

ki b'-la-a-GEI sa-FAH u-v'-la-SHON a-KHE-ret y'-da-BAYR el ha-A-am ha-ZEH

יאכִּ֚י בְּלַעֲגֵ֣י שָׂפָ֔ה וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן אַחֶ֑רֶת יְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

12is he who declares to them, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest; this is the place of re pose.” They refuse to listen.

a-SHER a-MAR a-LE-hem zo-AT ha-me-NU-khah ha-NEE-khu le-a-YEF v'-zo-AT ha-mar-GE-a v'-lo a-VO sh'-MO-a

יבאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֹ֤את הַמְּנוּחָה֙ הָנִ֣יחוּ לֶעָיֵ֔ף וְזֹ֖את הַמַּרְגֵּעָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וּא שְׁמֽוֹעַ׃

13To them the word of Hashem is: “Mutter upon mutter, Murmur upon murmur, Now here, now there.” And so they will march, But they shall fall backward, And be injured and snared and captured.

v'-ha-YA la-HEM d'-VAR a-do-NAI tzav la-TZAV tzav la-TZAV kav la-KAV kav la-KAV ze-EIR sham ze-EIR sham l'-ma-AN ye-l'-KHU v'-kha-sh'-LU a-KHOR v'-nish-BA-ru v'-no-k'-SHU v'-nil-KA-du.

יגוְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן יֵלְכ֜וּ וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אָחוֹר֙ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃

14Hear now the word of Hashem, You men of mockery, Who govern that people In Yerushalayim!

la-KHEN shi-MU d'-var a-do-NAI an-SHEI la-TZON mo-she-LAY ha-AM ha-ZEH a-SHER bi-ru-sha-LA-im

ידלָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָצ֑וֹן מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

15For you have said, “We have made a covenant with Death, Concluded a pact with Sheol. When the sweeping flood passes through, It shall not reach us; For we have made falsehood our refuge, Taken shelter in treachery.”

ki a-mar-TEM ka-RA-t'-NU b'-REET et-ma-VET v'-im-sh'-OL a-see-NU kho-ZEH (SHIT) [SHOT] sho-TEF ki-ya-[a-VOHR] (A-VER) lo ye-vo-E-nu ki sa-M'-NU ka-ZAV ma-kh'-SE-nu u-va-SHE-ker nis-ta-RE-nu. (P)

טוכִּ֣י אֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְעִם־שְׁא֖וֹל עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה (שיט) [שׁ֣וֹט] שׁוֹטֵ֤ף כִּי־[יַֽעֲבֹר֙] (עבר) לֹ֣א יְבוֹאֵ֔נוּ כִּ֣י שַׂ֧מְנוּ כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖נוּ וּבַשֶּׁ֥קֶר נִסְתָּֽרְנוּ׃

16Assuredly, Thus said Hashem: “Behold, I will found in Tzion, Stone by stone, A tower of precious cornerstones, Exceedingly firm; He who trusts need not fear.

la-KHAYN KO a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM hi-n'-NEE yi-SAD b'-tzi-YON A-ven E-ven BO-khan pi-NAT yik-RAT mu-SAD mu-SAD ha-ma-a-MEEN LO ya-KHEESH

טזלָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃

 28:16 I will found in Tzion, stone by stone

The Hebrew word for ‘stone’ is even (אבן). What is interesting about this word is that it contains within it the Hebrew words for ‘father,’ av (אב), and ‘son,’ ben (בן). Once again, the Hebrew root of a simple word teaches a profound lesson, by alluding to the fact that the bond between a father and his son is as strong as a rock, and as precious as a fine stone.

17But I will apply judgment as a measuring line And retribution as weights; Hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood, And flood-waters engulf your shelter.

v'-sam-TEE mish-PAT l'-KAV u-tz'-da-KAH l'-mish-ka-LET v'-ya-AH va-RAHD makh-SAY kha-ZAV v'-SE-ter ma-YIM yish-TO-fu. {SE}

יזוְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃

18Your covenant with Death shall be annulled, Your pact with Sheol shall not endure; When the sweeping flood passes through, You shall be its victims.

v'-ku-PAR b'-ree-T'-KHEM et-MA-vet v'-cha-ZU-t'-KHEM et-SHE-ol lo ta-KUM, SHOT SHO-tef ki ya-a-VOR vi-h'-yi-TEM lo l'-mir-MAS

יחוְכֻפַּ֤ר בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם אֶת־שְׁא֖וֹל לֹ֣א תָק֑וּם שׁ֤וֹט שׁוֹטֵף֙ כִּ֣י יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר וִהְיִ֥יתֶם ל֖וֹ לְמִרְמָֽס׃

19It shall catch you Every time it passes through; It shall pass through every morning, Every day and every night. And it shall be sheer horror To grasp the message.”

mi-DEY ov-RO yi-KAKH et-KHEM, ki-va-BO-ker ba-BO-ker ya-a-VOR ba-YOM u-va-la-YE-la, v'-ha-YA rak-ze-VA-a ha-VEEN sh'-mu-AH

יטמִדֵּ֤י עׇבְרוֹ֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֶתְכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־בַבֹּ֧קֶר בַּבֹּ֛קֶר יַעֲבֹ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָיָ֥ה רַק־זְוָעָ֖ה הָבִ֥ין שְׁמוּעָֽה׃

20The couch is too short for stretching out, And the cover too narrow for curling up!

ki-ka-TZAR ha-ma-TSA ma-his-ta-RE-a, v'-ha-ma-SE-kha tsa-RA k'-hit-ka-NES

ככִּֽי־קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽס׃

21For Hashem will arise As on the hill of Perazim, He will rouse Himself As in the vale of Givon, To do His work— Strange is His work! And to perform His task— Astounding is His task!

ki k'-har p'-RATZIM ya-KUM a-do-NAI, k'-E-mek b'-gi-VON yir-GAZ, la-a-SOT ma-a-SAY-hu ZAR ma-a-SAY-hu, v'-la-a-VOD a-vo-DA-to no-k'-ri-YAH a-vo-DA-to.

כאכִּ֤י כְהַר־פְּרָצִים֙ יָק֣וּם יְהֹוָ֔ה כְּעֵ֖מֶק בְּגִבְע֣וֹן יִרְגָּ֑ז לַֽעֲשׂ֤וֹת מַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ זָ֣ר מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ נׇכְרִיָּ֖ה עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃

22Therefore, refrain from mockery, Lest your bonds be tightened. For I have heard a decree of destruction From my Lord God of Hosts Against all the land.

v'-a-TAH al-tit-lo-TZATZU pen ye-ch'-Z'-KU mo-s'-REI-khem, kee-ka-LAH v'-ne-che-RA-tza sha-MA-ti may-AYT a-do-NAI y'-ho-VA tz'-va-OT al-KOL ha-A-retz.

כבוְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־יֶחְזְק֖וּ מֽוֹסְרֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־כָלָ֨ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי מֵאֵ֨ת אֲדֹנָ֧י יֱהֹוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת עַל־כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

23Give diligent ear to my words, Attend carefully to what I say.

ha-a-ZI-nu v'-shim-U ko-LI ha-k'-shi-VU v'-shim-U im-RA-ti

כגהַאֲזִ֥ינוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ קוֹלִ֑י הַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אִמְרָתִֽי׃

24Does he who plows to sow Plow all the time, Breaking up and furrowing his land?

ha-KHOL ha-YOM ya-KHA-rosh ha-KHO-resh liz-RO-a, ye-fa-TAKH vi-sa-DAYD ad-ma-TO

כדהֲכֹ֣ל הַיּ֔וֹם יַחֲרֹ֥שׁ הַחֹרֵ֖שׁ לִזְרֹ֑עַ יְפַתַּ֥ח וִֽישַׂדֵּ֖ד אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃

25When he has smoothed its surface, Does he not rather broadcast black cumin And scatter cumin, Or set wheat in a row, Barley in a strip, And emmer in a patch?

ha-LO im shi-VAH fa-NE-ha v'-hay-FEETZ KE-tzakh v'-kha-MON yiz-ROK v'-SAM khi-TAH so-RAH us-o-RAH nis-MAN v'-khu-SE-met g'-vu-la-TO

כההֲלוֹא֙ אִם־שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ וְהֵפִ֥יץ קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֣ן יִזְרֹ֑ק וְשָׂ֨ם חִטָּ֤ה שׂוֹרָה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֣ה נִסְמָ֔ן וְכֻסֶּ֖מֶת גְּבֻלָתֽוֹ׃

 28:25   Or set wheat in a row

Wheat, the first of the seven special agricultural products of Eretz Yisrael (Deuteronomy 8:8), has been one of the world’s major crops since biblical times. The first mention of wheat in the Bible is found in Sefer Bereishit (30:14): “Once, at the time of the wheat harvest, Reuven came upon some mandrakes in the field…” So important is wheat flour that the Rabbis taught: “Where there is no flour, there is no Torah; and where there is no Torah, there is no flour” (Ethics of the Fathers), emphasizing the mutual dependency of the physical world and spiritual pursuits.

Bales of wheat drying in the sun after harvest.

A wheat field in the Elah Valleh

26For He teaches him the right manner, His Hashem instructs him.

v'-yi-s'-RO la-mish-PAT e-lo-HAV yo-RE-nu

כווְיִסְּר֥וֹ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֱלֹהָ֥יו יוֹרֶֽנּוּ׃

27So, too, black cumin is not threshed with a threshing board, Nor is the wheel of a threshing sledge rolled over cumin; But black cumin is beaten out with a stick And cumin with a rod.

ki lo ve-cha-RUTZ yu-DASH ke-TZACH ve-o-FAN a-ga-LAH al ka-MON yu-SAV ki va-ma-TEH ye-CHA-vet ke-TZACH ve-ka-MON ba-SHA-vet

כזכִּ֣י לֹ֤א בֶחָרוּץ֙ י֣וּדַשׁ קֶ֔צַח וְאוֹפַ֣ן עֲגָלָ֔ה עַל־כַּמֹּ֖ן יוּסָּ֑ב כִּ֧י בַמַּטֶּ֛ה יֵחָ֥בֶט קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֥ן בַּשָּֽׁבֶט׃

28It is cereal that is crushed. For even if he threshes it thoroughly, And the wheel of his sledge and his horses overwhelm it, He does not crush it.

le-KHEM yu-DAK, kee LO la-NE-tsakh a-DOSH ye-DU-she-NU, v'-ha-MAM gil-GAL e-g'-LA-to u-fa-RA-sha-VAYV lo ye-DU-KE-nu.

כחלֶ֣חֶם יוּדָ֔ק כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אָד֣וֹשׁ יְדוּשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְ֠הָמַ֠ם גִּלְגַּ֧ל עֶגְלָת֛וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֖יו לֹ֥א יְדֻקֶּֽנּוּ׃

29That, too, is ordered by the lord of Hosts; His counsel is unfathomable, His wisdom marvelous.

gam-ZOT me-IM a-do-NAI t'-va-OT ya-TZA-a, hif-LEE ay-TZA hi-g'-DEEL tu-shi-YAH.

כטגַּם־זֹ֕את מֵעִ֛ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת יָצָ֑אָה הִפְלִ֣א עֵצָ֔ה הִגְדִּ֖יל תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃