TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 42
Translation and Transliteration of
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1This is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom I delight. I have put My spirit upon him, He shall teach the true way to the nations.
HEIN av-DEE et-MOKH-bo b'-KHEE-ree ra-TZAH naf-SHEE, na-TA-tee ru-KHEE a-LAV, mish-PAT la-go-YIM yo-TZI.
אהֵ֤ן עַבְדִּי֙ אֶתְמׇךְ־בּ֔וֹ בְּחִירִ֖י רָצְתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י נָתַ֤תִּי רוּחִי֙ עָלָ֔יו מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לַגּוֹיִ֥ם יוֹצִֽיא׃
2He shall not cry out or shout aloud, Or make his voice heard in the streets.
lo yitz-AK v'-lo yi-SA v'-lo yash-MI-a ba-KHUtz KO-lo
בלֹ֥א יִצְעַ֖ק וְלֹ֣א יִשָּׂ֑א וְלֹא־יַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּח֖וּץ קוֹלֽוֹ׃
3He shall not break even a bruised reed, ,Or snuff out even a dim wick. He shall bring forth the true way.
KA-neh ra-TZUTS lo yish-BOR u-fish-TAH ke-HAH lo ye-ka-BE-nah le-e-MET yo-TZI mish-PAT
גקָנֶ֤ה רָצוּץ֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר וּפִשְׁתָּ֥ה כֵהָ֖ה לֹ֣א יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה לֶאֱמֶ֖ת יוֹצִ֥יא מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
4He shall not grow dim or be bruised Till he has established the true way on earth; And the coastlands shall await his teaching.
lo yikh-HEH v'-lo ya-RUTZ ad ya-SEEM ba-A-retz mish-PAT u-l'-to-RA-to i-YEEM y'-ya-KHE-lu.
דלֹ֤א יִכְהֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א יָר֔וּץ עַד־יָשִׂ֥ים בָּאָ֖רֶץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹ אִיִּ֥ים יְיַחֵֽלוּ׃
5Thus said Hashem the lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and what it brings forth, Who gave breath to the people upon it And life to those who walk thereon:
koh-a-MAR ha-EL a-do-NAI bo-RE ha-sha-MA-yim v'-no-TE-hem ro-KA a-RETZ v'-tze-a-tze-E-ha no-TEN ne-sha-MAH la-AM a-LE-ha v'-RU-akh la-hol-KHEEM BAH
הכֹּה־אָמַ֞ר הָאֵ֣ל ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה בּוֹרֵ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְנ֣וֹטֵיהֶ֔ם רֹקַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ וְצֶאֱצָאֶ֑יהָ נֹתֵ֤ן נְשָׁמָה֙ לָעָ֣ם עָלֶ֔יהָ וְר֖וּחַ לַהֹלְכִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃
6I Hashem, in My grace, have summoned you, And I have grasped you by the hand. I created you, and appointed you A covenant people, a light of nations—
a-NEE a-do-NAI k'-ra-TEE-kha v'-TZE-dek v'-akh-ZAYK b'-ya-DE-kha v'-e-tzor-KHA v'-e-ten-KHA liv-REET AM l'-OR go-YIM
ואֲנִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ בְצֶ֖דֶק וְאַחְזֵ֣ק בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ לִבְרִ֥ית עָ֖ם לְא֥וֹר גּוֹיִֽם׃
42:6 A light of nations
Emblem of the State of Israel
This famous phrase captures the mission statement of the People of Israel. For most of Jewish history, the role of “light unto the nations” has been understood primarily as a private call to have a positive influence on the world by living an ethical life and setting a personal example of righteous behavior. Rarely was anyone on the outside ever interested in what the Jews as a nation had to say, and so the concept of ‘ohr goyim’ was an ideal that individual Jews strived for. However, Yeshayahu is calling for so much more. The “light” in his stirring description is capable of opening the eyes of the blind and leading the imprisoned out of darkness. The establishment of the State of Israel and its role on the international stage calls for a transformation of the “light unto the nations” metaphor from a passive, individual candle, to a powerful blaze, firing up the nations and igniting the world with righteousness. The State of Israel represents the historic opportunity for the People of Israel to fulfil their religious destiny as a nation.
7Opening eyes deprived of light, Rescuing prisoners from confinement, From the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
li-f'-KOKH ay-NAY-yim i-v'-ROT l'-ho-TZI m'-mas-GAYR a-SIR mi-BAYT ke-LE yosh-VAY kho-SHEKH
זלִפְקֹ֖חַ עֵינַ֣יִם עִוְר֑וֹת לְהוֹצִ֤יא מִמַּסְגֵּר֙ אַסִּ֔יר מִבֵּ֥ית כֶּ֖לֶא יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
8I am Hashem, that is My name; I will not yield My glory to another, Nor My renown to idols.
a-NEE a-do-NAI, HU sh'-MEE, u-k'-vo-DEE l'-a-KHER lo e-TEN, u-t'-hi-LA-tee la-p'-see-LEEM
חאֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא שְׁמִ֑י וּכְבוֹדִי֙ לְאַחֵ֣ר לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֔ן וּתְהִלָּתִ֖י לַפְּסִילִֽים׃
9See, the things once predicted have come, And now I foretell new things, Announce to you ere they sprout up.
ha-ri-SHO-not hi-NEH-va-U va-cha-da-SHOT a-NEE ma-GID b'-TE-rem titz-MAKH-nah ash-MEE-a et-KHEM.
טהָרִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת הִנֵּה־בָ֑אוּ וַֽחֲדָשׁוֹת֙ אֲנִ֣י מַגִּ֔יד בְּטֶ֥רֶם תִּצְמַ֖חְנָה אַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם׃
10Sing to Hashem a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth— You who sail the sea and you creatures in it, You coastlands and their inhabitants!
shi-ru la-a-do-NAI, shir kha-DASH, te-hi-LA-to mik-TZE ha-A-retz, yo-r'-DEI ha-YAM u-m'-LO-o, i-YEEM v'-yo-sh'-VE-hem
ישִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֔שׁ תְּהִלָּת֖וֹ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ יוֹרְדֵ֤י הַיָּם֙ וּמְלֹא֔וֹ אִיִּ֖ים וְיֹשְׁבֵיהֶֽם׃
11Let the desert and its towns cry aloud, The villages where Kedar dwells; Let Sela's inhabitants shout, Call out from the peaks of the mountains.
YIS-u mid-BAR v'-a-RAV kha-TZE-rim tay-SHEV kay-DAR ya-RO-nu yo-SHE-vee se-LA me-ROSH ha-REEM yitz-VA-khu
יאיִשְׂא֤וּ מִדְבָּר֙ וְעָרָ֔יו חֲצֵרִ֖ים תֵּשֵׁ֣ב קֵדָ֑ר יָרֹ֙נּוּ֙ יֹ֣שְׁבֵי סֶ֔לַע מֵרֹ֥אשׁ הָרִ֖ים יִצְוָֽחוּ׃
12Let them do honor to Hashem, And tell His glory in the coastlands.
ya-see-MU la-a-do-NAI ka-VO-d u-te-hi-LA-to ba-i-YIM ya-gi-DO
יביָשִׂ֥ימוּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה כָּב֑וֹד וּתְהִלָּת֖וֹ בָּאִיִּ֥ים יַגִּֽידוּ׃
13Hashem goes forth like a warrior, Like a fighter He whips up His rage. He yells, He roars aloud, He charges upon His enemies.
a-do-NAI ka-gi-VOR ye-TZE k'-ISH mil-kha-MOT ya-EER kin-AH ya-REE-a af-yatz-REE-a al-o-y'-VA-v yit-GA-bar
יגיְהֹוָה֙ כַּגִּבּ֣וֹר יֵצֵ֔א כְּאִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמ֖וֹת יָעִ֣יר קִנְאָ֑ה יָרִ֙יעַ֙ אַף־יַצְרִ֔יחַ עַל־אֹיְבָ֖יו יִתְגַּבָּֽר׃
14“I have kept silent far too long, Kept still and restrained Myself; Now I will scream like a woman in labor, I will pant and I will gasp.
he-khe-SHEE-tee me-o-LAM a-kha-REESH et-a-PAK ka-yo-LE-da ef-EH esh-OM v'-esh-AF YA-khad
ידהֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם אַחֲרִ֖ישׁ אֶתְאַפָּ֑ק כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֣ה אֶפְעֶ֔ה אֶשֹּׁ֥ם וְאֶשְׁאַ֖ף יָֽחַד׃
15Hills and heights will I scorch, Cause all their green to wither; I will turn rivers into isles, And dry the marshes up.
a-kha-REEV ha-REEM u-g'-va-OT v'-KOL e-s'-BAM o-VISH va-sam-TEE n'-ha-ROT la-i-YEEM va-a-ga-MEEM o-VISH
טואַחֲרִ֤יב הָרִים֙ וּגְבָע֔וֹת וְכׇל־עֶשְׂבָּ֖ם אוֹבִ֑ישׁ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י נְהָרוֹת֙ לָאִיִּ֔ים וַאֲגַמִּ֖ים אוֹבִֽישׁ׃
16I will lead the blind By a road they did not know, And I will make them walk By paths they never knew. I will turn darkness before them to light, Rough places into level ground. These are the promises— I will keep them without fail.
v'-ho-la-kh'-TI ee-VE-reem b'-de-REKH lo ya-DA-u, bin-tee-VOT lo ya-DA-u, ad-ree-KHEM a-SEEM ma-KHA-shakh lif-NE-hem la-OR, u-ma-a-KA-sheem l'-mee-SHOR, AY-leh ha-de-va-REEM a-see-TEEM v'-lo a-zaft-EEM.
טזוְהוֹלַכְתִּ֣י עִוְרִ֗ים בְּדֶ֙רֶךְ֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בִּנְתִיב֥וֹת לֹא־יָדְע֖וּ אַדְרִיכֵ֑ם אָשִׂים֩ מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָא֗וֹר וּמַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים עֲשִׂיתִ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתִּֽים׃
17Driven back and utterly shamed Shall be those who trust in an image, Those who say to idols, ‘You are our gods!'”
na-SOG-u a-KHOR ye-VOSH-u BO-shet ha-bot-KHEEM ba-PA-sel ha-o-m'-REEM le-ma-SE-kha a-TEM e-lo-HE-nu.
יזנָסֹ֤גוּ אָחוֹר֙ יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ בֹ֔שֶׁת הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑סֶל הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה אַתֶּ֥ם אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
18Listen, you who are deaf; You blind ones, look up and see!
ha-KHE-resh-EEM sh'-ma-U, v'-ha-i-v'-REEM ha-BEE-tu lir-OT.
יחהַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים שְׁמָ֑עוּ וְהַעִוְרִ֖ים הַבִּ֥יטוּ לִרְאֽוֹת׃
19Who is so blind as My servant, So deaf as the messenger I send? Who is so blind as the chosen one, So blind as the servant of Hashem?
mi i-VER ki im-a-v'-DI v'-khe-RESH k'-mal-a-KHI esh-LAKH, mi i-VER ki m'-shu-LAM v'-i-VER k'-e-VED a-do-NAI.
יטמִ֤י עִוֵּר֙ כִּ֣י אִם־עַבְדִּ֔י וְחֵרֵ֖שׁ כְּמַלְאָכִ֣י אֶשְׁלָ֑ח מִ֤י עִוֵּר֙ כִּמְשֻׁלָּ֔ם וְעִוֵּ֖ר כְּעֶ֥בֶד יְהֹוָֽה׃
20Seeing many things, he gives no heed; With ears open, he hears nothing.
(ra-IT) [ra-OT] ra-BOT v'-lo tish-MOR pa-KO-akh a-z'-NA-yim v'-lo yish-MA
כ(ראית) [רָא֥וֹת] רַבּ֖וֹת וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמֹ֑ר פָּק֥וֹחַ אׇזְנַ֖יִם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽע׃
21Hashem desires His [servant's] vindication, That he may magnify and glorify [His] Teaching.
a-do-NAI kha-FAYTS l'-ma-AN tzi-D'-KO, yag-DIL to-RAH v'-ya-DIR
כאיְהֹוָ֥ה חָפֵ֖ץ לְמַ֣עַן צִדְק֑וֹ יַגְדִּ֥יל תּוֹרָ֖ה וְיַאְדִּֽיר׃
22Yet it is a people plundered and despoiled: All of them are trapped in holes, Imprisoned in dungeons. They are given over to plunder, with none to rescue them; To despoilment, with none to say “Give back!”
v'-HU am-BA-zuz v'-sha-SU-y, ha-FAY-akh ba-KHU-rim ku-LAM u-ve-tay k'-la-EEM ha-KH'-ba-u, ha-YU la-BAZ v'-AYN ma-TZIL m'-shi-SA v'-AYN o-MER ha-SHAV
כבוְהוּא֮ עַם־בָּז֣וּז וְשָׁסוּי֒ הָפֵ֤חַ בַּחוּרִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם וּבְבָתֵּ֥י כְלָאִ֖ים הׇחְבָּ֑אוּ הָי֤וּ לָבַז֙ וְאֵ֣ין מַצִּ֔יל מְשִׁסָּ֖ה וְאֵין־אֹמֵ֥ר הָשַֽׁב׃
23If only you would listen to this, Attend and give heed from now on!
mi-VA-khem ya-a-ZEEN ZOT yak-SHEEV v'-yish-MA l'-a-KHOR
כגמִ֥י בָכֶ֖ם יַאֲזִ֣ין זֹ֑את יַקְשִׁ֥ב וְיִשְׁמַ֖ע לְאָחֽוֹר׃
24Who was it gave Yaakov over to despoilment And Yisrael to plunderers? Surely, Hashem against whom they sinned In whose ways they would not walk And whose Teaching they would not obey.
mi-na-TAN (le-m'-sho-SA) [lim-shi-SAH] ya-a-KOV v'-yis-ra-AYL l'-voz-ZE-zim ha-LO y'-ho-VAH zu kha-ta-NU lo v'-lo-a-VOO bid-ra-KHAV ha-LOKH v'-lo sha-M'-U b'-to-RA-to
כדמִֽי־נָתַ֨ן (למשוסה) [לִמְשִׁסָּ֧ה] יַעֲקֹ֛ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל לְבֹזְזִ֖ים הֲל֣וֹא יְהֹוָ֑ה ז֚וּ חָטָ֣אנוּ ל֔וֹ וְלֹֽא־אָב֤וּ בִדְרָכָיו֙ הָל֔וֹךְ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּתוֹרָתֽוֹ׃
25So He poured out wrath upon them, His anger and the fury of war. It blazed upon them all about, but they heeded not; It burned among them, but they gave it no thought.
vai-YISH-pokh a-LAV khe-MA a-PO ve-e-ZUZ mil-kha-MAH va-t'-la-ha-TE-hu mi-sa-VEEV ve-LO ya-DA va-tiv-Ar-BO ve-LO ya-SIM al-LEV
כהוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֤ךְ עָלָיו֙ חֵמָ֣ה אַפּ֔וֹ וֶעֱז֖וּז מִלְחָמָ֑ה וַתְּלַהֲטֵ֤הוּ מִסָּבִיב֙ וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֔ע וַתִּבְעַר־בּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־יָשִׂ֥ים עַל־לֵֽב׃
