
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 38
Translation and Transliteration of
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1In those days Chizkiyahu fell dangerously ill. The Navi Yeshayahu son of Amotz came and said to him, “Thus said Hashem: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die; you will not get well.”
ba-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM kha-LAH khiz-ki-YA-hu la-MUT va-ya-VO ay-LAV y'-sha-ya-HU ven a-MOTZ ha-na-VEE va-YO-mer ay-LAV koh a-MAR a-do-NAI TZAV l'-vay-TE-kha KEE MAYT a-TAH v'-LO tikh-YEH
אבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵ֠לָ֠יו יְשַֽׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
38:1 For you are going to die; you will not get well
The Talmud (Berachot 10a) relates an ancient tradition regarding this exchange between Yeshayahu the prophet and King Chizkiyahu. When Chizkiyahu became sick, Yeshayahu came and said “You shall die and not live,” meaning you shall die in this world and not live in the world to come either, because you did not try to have children. Chizkiyahu responded that he acted this way because he saw through prophecy that his children would be evil (referring to his son and successor, Menashe). Yeshayahu said: “Why did you meddle with God’s secrets? You should have done as you were commanded!” Chizkiyahu repented, and was granted additional years of life. The Talmud concludes with an important lesson: Even if a sharp sword rests upon a man’s neck, he should not desist from prayer. It is never too late to return to Hashem and call out to Him in sincere prayer.
2Thereupon Chizkiyahu turned his face to the wall and prayed to Hashem.
vai-YA-sev khiz-ki-YA-hu pa-NAV el ha-KEER va-yi-tpa-LAYL el a-do-NAI
בוַיַּסֵּ֧ב חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃
3“Please, Hashem,” he said, “remember how I have walked before You sincerely and wholeheartedly, and have done what is pleasing to You.” And Chizkiyahu wept profusely.
vai-YO-mer a-NAH a-do-NAI z'-KOR-na et a-SHER hit-ha-LAkh-TEE l'-fa-NE-kha b'-e-MET u-v'-LEV sha-LEM v'-ha-TOV b'-ay-NE-kha a-see-TEE vai-YEV-k'-kha khiz-ki-YA-hu b'-khi ga-DOL. (Selah)
גוַיֹּאמַ֗ר אָנָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ זְכׇר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃
4Then the word of Hashem came to Yeshayahu:
vai-HI, d'-var a-do-NAI el y'-sha-a-YA-hu lay-MOR
דוַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
5“Go and tell Chizkiyahu: Thus said Hashem, the God of your father David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. I hereby add fifteen years to your life.
ha-LOKH v'-a-MAR-ta el khiz-ki-YA-hu, ko-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI da-VID a-VEE-kha, sha-MA-ti et t'-fi-LA-te-kha, ra-EE-tee et dim-a-TE-kha, hin-NEE yo-SIF al-ya-ME-kha, kha-MESH e-s'-RE sha-NAH.
ההָל֞וֹךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ יוֹסִ֣ף עַל־יָמֶ֔יךָ חֲמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָֽה׃
6I will also rescue you and this city from the hands of the king of Assyria. I will protect this city.
u-mi-KAF me-lekh a-SHU-ar a-tsi-L'-KHA v'-ET ha-IR ha-ZOT v'-ga-NO-ti al ha-IR ha-ZOT
ווּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִ֖י עַל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּֽאת׃
7And this is the sign for you from Hashem that Hashem will do the thing that He has promised:
v'-ZEH-l'-KHA ha-OT may-AYT a-do-NAI a-SHER ya-a-SEH a-do-NAI et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH a-SHER di-BER
זוְזֶה־לְּךָ֥ הָא֖וֹת מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃
8I am going to make the shadow on the steps, which has descended on the dial of Achaz because of the sun, recede ten steps.” And the sun['s shadow] receded ten steps, the same steps as it had descended.
hin-NI me-SHEEV et-TSEL ha-ma-a-LOT a-SHER ya-r'-DAH b'-ma-a-LOT a-KHAZ ba-SHEMESH a-KHO-ra-NEET e-SEER ma-a-LOT va-TA-shov ha-SHEMESH e-SEER ma-a-LOT ba-ma-a-LOT a-SHER ya-RA-dah.
חהִנְנִ֣י מֵשִׁ֣יב אֶת־צֵ֣ל הַֽמַּעֲל֡וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָרְדָה֩ בְמַעֲל֨וֹת אָחָ֥ז בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת וַתָּ֤שׇׁב הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֔וֹת בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָֽדָה׃
9A poem by King Chizkiyahu of Yehuda when he recovered from the illness he had suffered:
mik-TAV l'-chi-z'-ki-YA-hu me-lekh y'-hu-DAH ba-kha-LO-to va-y'-khi me-kho-l'-YO
טמִכְתָּ֖ב לְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה בַּחֲלֹת֕וֹ וַיְחִ֖י מֵחׇלְיֽוֹ׃
10I had thought: I must depart in the middle of my days; I have been consigned to the gates of Sheol For the rest of my years.
a-NEE a-MAR-tee bid-MEE ya-MAI e-LE-kha b'-sha-a-RAY she-OL pu-KAD-tee ye-TER she-NO-tai
יאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי בִּדְמִ֥י יָמַ֛י אֵלֵ֖כָה בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י שְׁא֑וֹל פֻּקַּ֖דְתִּי יֶ֥תֶר שְׁנוֹתָֽי׃
11I thought, I shall never see Yah, Yah in the land of the living, Or ever behold men again Among those who inhabit the earth.
a-MAR-tee lo e-REH yah, yah b'-E-retz ha-cha-YEEM, lo a-BEET a-DAM od im yo-sh'-VAY cha-DEL
יאאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ לֹא־אֶרְאֶ֣ה יָ֔הּ יָ֖הּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַחַיִּ֑ים לֹא־אַבִּ֥יט אָדָ֛ם ע֖וֹד עִם־י֥וֹשְׁבֵי חָֽדֶל׃
12My dwelling is pulled up and removed from me Like a tent of shepherds; My life is rolled up like a web And cut from the thrum. Only from daybreak to nightfall Was I kept whole,
DO-ri ni-SA v'-ni-G'-LA mi-NI k'-O-HEL ro-I, ki-PA-d'-TI kha-o-REG kha-YAI mi-DA-LAH ye-va-TSE-e-NI, mi-YOM ad-LAI-lah tash-li-ME-ni.
יבדּוֹרִ֗י נִסַּ֧ע וְנִגְלָ֛ה מִנִּ֖י כְּאֹ֣הֶל רֹעִ֑י קִפַּ֨דְתִּי כָאֹרֵ֤ג חַיַּי֙ מִדַּלָּ֣ה יְבַצְּעֵ֔נִי מִיּ֥וֹם עַד־לַ֖יְלָה תַּשְׁלִימֵֽנִי׃
13Then it was as though a lion Were breaking all my bones; I cried out until morning. (Only from daybreak to nightfall Was I kept whole.)
shi-VEE-tee ad-BO-ker ka-a-REE, KEN y'-sha-BER kol-a-tz'-mo-TAI, mi-YOM ad-LAI-lah tash-LEE-m'-NEE
יגשִׁוִּ֤יתִי עַד־בֹּ֙קֶר֙ כָּאֲרִ֔י כֵּ֥ן יְשַׁבֵּ֖ר כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑י מִיּ֥וֹם עַד־לַ֖יְלָה תַּשְׁלִימֵֽנִי׃
14I piped like a swift or a swallow, I moaned like a dove, As my eyes, all worn, looked to heaven: “My Lord, I am in straits; Be my surety!”
k'-SUS a-GUR khen a-tzaf-TSEF e-HE-geh ka-yo-NAH da-LU e-NAI la-ma-ROm a-do-NAI a-sh'-KAH-lee o-r'-VE-nee
ידכְּס֤וּס עָגוּר֙ כֵּ֣ן אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף אֶהְגֶּ֖ה כַּיּוֹנָ֑ה דַּלּ֤וּ עֵינַי֙ לַמָּר֔וֹם אֲדֹנָ֖י עָֽשְׁקָה־לִּ֥י עׇרְבֵֽנִי׃
15What can I say? He promised me, And He it is who has wrought it. All my sleep had fled Because of the bitterness of my soul.
ma-a-da-BAYR v'-a-MAR-li v'-HU a-SA, e-da-DEH kol sh'-no-TAI al-mar naf-SHI
טומָֽה־אֲדַבֵּ֥ר וְאָֽמַר־לִ֖י וְה֣וּא עָשָׂ֑ה אֶדַּדֶּ֥ה כׇל־שְׁנוֹתַ֖י עַל־מַ֥ר נַפְשִֽׁי׃
16My Lord, for all that and despite it My life-breath is revived; You have restored me to health and revived me.
a-do-NAI a-lay-HEM yi-KHEE-u, u-l'-KOL ba-HEN, kha-YAY ru-KHEE, v'-ta-kha-LEE-may-NEE, v'-ha-kha-YAY-nee
טזאֲדֹנָ֖י עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם יִֽחְי֑וּ וּלְכׇל־בָּהֶן֙ חַיֵּ֣י רוּחִ֔י וְתַחֲלִימֵ֖נִי וְהַחֲיֵֽנִי׃
17Truly, it was for my own good That I had such great bitterness: You saved my life From the pit of destruction, For You have cast behind Your back All my offenses.
hi-NEH l'-sha-LOM mar-LEE mar, v'-a-TAH kha-SHAK-ta naf-SHEE mi-sha-KHAT b'-LEE, kee hish-LAKH-ta a-kha-RAY g'-ve-KHA kol-kha-ta-AI
יזהִנֵּ֥ה לְשָׁל֖וֹם מַר־לִ֣י מָ֑ר וְאַתָּ֞ה חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ נַפְשִׁי֙ מִשַּׁ֣חַת בְּלִ֔י כִּ֥י הִשְׁלַ֛כְתָּ אַחֲרֵ֥י גֵוְךָ֖ כׇּל־חֲטָאָֽי׃
18For it is not Sheol that praises You, Not [the Land of] Death that extols You; Nor do they who descend into the Pit Hope for Your grace.
KI lo SHE-ol to-DE-kha MA-vet ye-HAL-le-kha, LO ye-SA-be-ru yo-r'-dei-BO-RA el a-mi-TE-kha.
יחכִּ֣י לֹ֥א שְׁא֛וֹל תּוֹדֶ֖ךָּ מָ֣וֶת יְהַלְלֶ֑ךָּ לֹא־יְשַׂבְּר֥וּ יוֹרְדֵי־ב֖וֹר אֶל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
19The living, only the living Can give thanks to You As I do this day; Fathers relate to children Your acts of grace:
KHAI KHAI HU yo-DE-kha ka-MO-nee ha-YOM av l'-ba-NEEM yo-DEE-a EL a-mi-TE-kha
יטחַ֥י חַ֛י ה֥וּא יוֹדֶ֖ךָ כָּמ֣וֹנִי הַיּ֑וֹם אָ֣ב לְבָנִ֔ים יוֹדִ֖יעַ אֶל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
20“[It has pleased] Hashem to deliver us, That is why we offer up music All the days of our lives At the House of Hashem.”
a-do-NAI l'-ho-shee-AY-nee, u-n'-gi-no-TAI n'-na-GAYN kol y'-MAY khay-YAY-nu al-bayt a-do-NAI
כיְהֹוָ֖ה לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי וּנְגִנוֹתַ֧י נְנַגֵּ֛ן כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּ֖ינוּ עַל־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
21When Yeshayahu said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the rash, and he will recover,”
vai-YO-mer y'-sha-YA-hu, yis-U d'-VE-let t'-E-nim, v'-yim-r'-KHU al ha-sh'-KHEEN v'-YE-khi
כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ יִשְׂא֖וּ דְּבֶ֣לֶת תְּאֵנִ֑ים וְיִמְרְח֥וּ עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין וְיֶֽחִי׃
22Chizkiyahu asked, “What will be the sign that I shall go up to the House of Hashem?”
vai-YO-mer khiz-ki-YA-hu MAH ot KEE e-a-LEH BAYT a-do-NAI.
כבוַיֹּ֥אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מָ֣ה א֑וֹת כִּ֥י אֶעֱלֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃