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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 49

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Listen, O coastlands, to me, And give heed, O nations afar: Hashem appointed me before I was born, He named me while I was in my mother's womb.

SHI-m'u i-YIM e-LAI v'-ha-k'-shi-VU l'-u-MEEM me-ra-KHOK, a-do-NAI mi-BE-ten k'-ra-A-ni mi-m'-EI i-MI hiz-KI-RE sh'-MI

אשִׁמְע֤וּ אִיִּים֙ אֵלַ֔י וְהַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ לְאֻמִּ֖ים מֵרָח֑וֹק יְהֹוָה֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן קְרָאָ֔נִי מִמְּעֵ֥י אִמִּ֖י הִזְכִּ֥יר שְׁמִֽי׃

2He made my mouth like a sharpened blade, He hid me in the shadow of His hand, And He made me like a polished arrow; He concealed me in His quiver.

vai-YA-sem PEE k'-khe-REV kha-DAH b'-TZEL ya-DO hekh-bee-A-NEE, vai-si-MAY-nee l'-KHAYTS ba-ROOR b'-ash-PA-to his-ti-RA-NEE

בוַיָּ֤שֶׂם פִּי֙ כְּחֶ֣רֶב חַדָּ֔ה בְּצֵ֥ל יָד֖וֹ הֶחְבִּיאָ֑נִי וַיְשִׂימֵ֙נִי֙ לְחֵ֣ץ בָּר֔וּר בְּאַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ הִסְתִּירָֽנִי׃

3And He said to me, “You are My servant, Yisrael in whom I glory.”

vai-YO-mer li av-dee-a-TAH, yis-ra-AYL a-SHER b'-KHA et-PA-ar

גוַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֖י עַבְדִּי־אָ֑תָּה יִשְׂרָאֵ֕ל אֲשֶׁר־בְּךָ֖ אֶתְפָּאָֽר׃

4I thought, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for empty breath.” But my case rested with Hashem, My recompense was in the hands of my God.

v'-a-NEE a-MAR-tee l'-REEK ya-GA-tee l'-to-HU v'-he-VEL ko-KHEE k'-LEE-tee a-KHEN, mish-PA-tee et a-do-NAI u-f'-u-LA-tee et e-lo-HAI.

דוַֽאֲנִ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ לְרִ֣יק יָגַ֔עְתִּי לְתֹ֥הוּ וְהֶ֖בֶל כֹּחִ֣י כִלֵּ֑יתִי אָכֵן֙ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה וּפְעֻלָּתִ֖י אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃

5And now Hashem has resolved— He who formed me in the womb to be His servant— To bring back Yaakov to Himself, That Yisrael may be restored to Him. ,And I have been honored in the sight of Hashem, My Hashem has been my strength.

v'-a-TAH a-MAR a-do-NAI yo-t'-REE mi-BE-ten l'-E-ved LO l'-sho-VAYV ya-a-KOV ay-LAV v'-yis-ra-AYL (LO) [LO] ye-a-SEF v'-e-ka-VED b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI v'-e-lo-HAI ha-YAH u-ZI

הוְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה יֽוֹצְרִ֤י מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙ לְעֶ֣בֶד ל֔וֹ לְשׁוֹבֵ֤ב יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֵלָ֔יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (לא) [ל֣וֹ] יֵאָסֵ֑ף וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וֵאלֹהַ֖י הָיָ֥ה עֻזִּֽי׃

6For He has said: “It is too little that you should be My servant In that I raise up the tribes of Yaakov And restore the survivors of Yisrael: I will also make you a light of nations, That My salvation may reach the ends of the earth.”

vai-YO-mer na-KEL mi-h'-yo-T'-KHA li EVED l'-ha-KIM et shiv-TAY ya-a-KOV (v'-n'-tsu-RAY) [u-n'-tzu-RAY] yis-ra-AYL l'-ha-SHEEV u-n'-ta-TEE-kha l'-OR go-YIM li-H'-YOT y'-shu-a-TEE ad k'-TZEY ha-A-retz. (SA)

ווַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקֵ֨ל מִֽהְיוֹתְךָ֥ לִי֙ עֶ֔בֶד לְהָקִים֙ אֶת־שִׁבְטֵ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (ונצירי) [וּנְצוּרֵ֥י] יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהָשִׁ֑יב וּנְתַתִּ֙יךָ֙ לְא֣וֹר גּוֹיִ֔ם לִהְי֥וֹת יְשׁוּעָתִ֖י עַד־קְצֵ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃

7Thus said Hashem, The Redeemer of Yisrael, his Holy One, To the despised one, To the abhorred nations, To the slave of rulers: Kings shall see and stand up; Nobles, and they shall prostrate themselves— To the honor of Hashem, who is faithful, To the Holy One of Yisrael who chose you.

KO a-MAR-a-do-NAI GO-el yis-ra-AYL k'-DO-sho liv-ZOH-ne-FESH lim-ta-AYV go-Y l'-E-ved mo-SHE-leem m'-la-KHEEM yir-U va-KA-mu sa-REEM v'-yish-ta-KHA-vu l'-ma-AN a-do-NAI a-SHER ne-e-MAN k'-DOSH yis-ra-AYL vai-yiv-cha-RE-kha. {SELAH}

זכֹּ֣ה אָֽמַר־יְהֹוָה֩ גֹּאֵ֨ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל קְדוֹשׁ֗וֹ לִבְזֹה־נֶ֜פֶשׁ לִמְתָ֤עֵֽב גּוֹי֙ לְעֶ֣בֶד מֹשְׁלִ֔ים מְלָכִים֙ יִרְא֣וּ וָקָ֔מוּ שָׂרִ֖ים וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֑וּ לְמַ֤עַן יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נֶאֱמָ֔ן קְדֹ֥שׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיִּבְחָרֶֽךָּ׃

8Thus said Hashem: In an hour of favor I answer you, And on a day of salvation I help you— I created you and appointed you a covenant people— Restoring the land, Allotting anew the desolate holdings,

KO a-MAR a-do-NAI b'-AYT ra-TZON a-NEE-ti-KHA u-v'-YOM ye-shu-AH a-zar-TI-kha v'-et-TZE-r'-KHA v'-e-TEN-kha li-v'-REET am l'-ha-KIM e-RETZ l'-ha-n'-KHEEL ne-KHA-lot sho-ME-MOT

חכֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּעֵ֤ת רָצוֹן֙ עֲנִיתִ֔יךָ וּבְי֥וֹם יְשׁוּעָ֖ה עֲזַרְתִּ֑יךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֙ לִבְרִ֣ית עָ֔ם לְהָקִ֣ים אֶ֔רֶץ לְהַנְחִ֖יל נְחָל֥וֹת שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃

9Saying to the prisoners, “Go free,” To those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.” They shall pasture along the roads, On every bare height shall be their pasture.

lay-MOR la-a-su-REEM tse-U la-a-SHER ba-KHO-shekh hi-GA-lu, al d'-ra-KHEEM yir-U u-v'-KOL sh'-fa-YEEM mar-i-TAM

טלֵאמֹ֤ר לַֽאֲסוּרִים֙ צֵ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּחֹ֖שֶׁךְ הִגָּל֑וּ עַל־דְּרָכִ֣ים יִרְע֔וּ וּבְכׇל־שְׁפָיִ֖ים מַרְעִיתָֽם׃

10They shall not hunger or thirst, Hot wind and sun shall not strike them; For He who loves them will lead them, He will guide them to springs of water.

lo yir-a-VU v'-lo yitz-ma-U v'-lo ya-KHEM sha-RAV va-sha-MESH, ki-m'-ra-cha-MAM ye-na-ha-GEM v'-al ma-BU-ei ma-YIM ye-na-ha-LEM.

ילֹ֤א יִרְעָ֙בוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִצְמָ֔אוּ וְלֹא־יַכֵּ֥ם שָׁרָ֖ב וָשָׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּי־מְרַחֲמָ֣ם יְנַהֲגֵ֔ם וְעַל־מַבּ֥וּעֵי מַ֖יִם יְנַהֲלֵֽם׃

11I will make all My mountains a road, And My highways shall be built up.

v'-sam-TEE kol-ha-RAI la-DA-rekh u-m'-si-LO-tai ye-ru-MUN

יאוְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כׇל־הָרַ֖י לַדָּ֑רֶךְ וּמְסִלֹּתַ֖י יְרֻמֽוּן׃

12Look! These are coming from afar, These from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim.

hi-NEH e-LEH me-ra-KHOK ya-VO-u v'-hi-NEH e-LEH mi-tza-FON u-mi-YAM v'-e-LEH me-E-rets si-NIM

יבהִנֵּה־אֵ֕לֶּה מֵרָח֖וֹק יָבֹ֑אוּ וְהִֽנֵּה־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִצָּפ֣וֹן וּמִיָּ֔ם וְאֵ֖לֶּה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ סִינִֽים׃

13Shout, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Break into shouting, O hills! For Hashem has comforted His people, And has taken back His afflicted ones in love.

ra-NU sha-MA-yim v'-gi-LI a-RETZ (yif-TZ'-khu) [u-fitz-KHU] ha-RIM ri-NAH, KI-ni-KHAM a-do-NAI a-MO, va-a-nee-YAV ye-ra-KHEM. (SELAH)

יגרׇנּ֤וּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְגִ֣ילִי אָ֔רֶץ (יפצחו) [וּפִצְח֥וּ] הָרִ֖ים רִנָּ֑ה כִּֽי־נִחַ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ עַמּ֔וֹ וַעֲנִיָּ֖יו יְרַחֵֽם׃

14Tzion says, “Hashem has forsaken me, My Lord has forgotten me.”

va-to-MER tsi-YON a-za-VA-ni a-do-NAI va-a-do-NAI sh'-khe-KHA-ni

ידוַתֹּ֥אמֶר צִיּ֖וֹן עֲזָבַ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֑ה וַאדֹנָ֖י שְׁכֵחָֽנִי׃

15Can a woman forget her baby, Or disown the child of her womb? Though she might forget, I never could forget you.

ha-tish-KAKH i-SHAH u-LAH may-ra-KHAYM ben bit-NAH gam AY-leh tish-KAKH-nah v'-a-no-KHEE lo esh-ka-KHAYKH

טוהֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ עוּלָ֔הּ מֵרַחֵ֖ם בֶּן־בִּטְנָ֑הּ גַּם־אֵ֣לֶּה תִשְׁכַּ֔חְנָה וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א אֶשְׁכָּחֵֽךְ׃

49:15   I never could forget you

The relationship between Hashem and the Children of Israel is often compared to that of a husband and wife. There is, however, an additional element to the relationship; that of a parent and a child. While husbands and wives can fall out of love and the relationship can be formally ended, the mother who carries and gives birth to a child will always be that child’s mother. In verse 14, Israel expresses its feelings of being abandoned and forgotten by Hashem. God responds in this verse by saying that His love for the Children of Israel is even deeper than a mother’s love for her child, and promises that He could never forget His people.

16See, I have engraved you On the palms of My hands, Your walls are ever before Me.

hen al-ka-PA-yim cha-KO-tay-KHEM, cho-MO-tay-KHEM ne-G'-di ta-MEED

טזהֵ֥ן עַל־כַּפַּ֖יִם חַקֹּתִ֑יךְ חוֹמֹתַ֥יִךְ נֶגְדִּ֖י תָּמִֽיד׃

17Swiftly your children are coming; Those who ravaged and ruined you shall leave you.

mi-ha-RO ba-NA-yikh m'-ha-RE-sa-YIKH u-ma-ha-ree-VA-yikh mi-MEKH ye-TSE-u

יזמִהֲר֖וּ בָּנָ֑יִךְ מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַ֖יִךְ מִמֵּ֥ךְ יֵצֵֽאוּ׃

18Look up all around you and see: They are all assembled, are come to you! As I live —declares Hashem— You shall don them all like jewels, Deck yourself with them like a bride.

se-i-sa-VEE-sa-VEEKH u-REE KU-lam nik-B'-TZU va-u-LAKH, KHAI-a-NEE n'-UM a-do-NAI, KEE KU-lam ka-a-DEE til-BA-SHEE u-t'-ka-sh'-REEM ka-ka-la.

יחשְׂאִֽי־סָבִ֤יב עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ וּרְאִ֔י כֻּלָּ֖ם נִקְבְּצ֣וּ בָֽאוּ־לָ֑ךְ חַי־אָ֣נִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ כָּעֲדִ֣י תִלְבָּ֔שִׁי וּֽתְקַשְּׁרִ֖ים כַּכַּלָּֽה׃

19As for your ruins and desolate places And your land laid waste— You shall soon be crowded with settlers, While destroyers stay far from you.

ki khor-vo-TA-yikh v'-sho-m'-mo-TA-yikh v'-E-rets ha-ri-su-TEKH, ki a-TAH tay-tz'-REE mi-yo-SHEV v'-ra-cha-KHU m'-va-l'-a-YI-kh

יטכִּ֤י חׇרְבֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וְשֹׁ֣מְמֹתַ֔יִךְ וְאֶ֖רֶץ הֲרִסֻתֵ֑ךְ כִּ֤י עַתָּה֙ תֵּצְרִ֣י מִיּוֹשֵׁ֔ב וְרָחֲק֖וּ מְבַלְּעָֽיִךְ׃

20The children you thought you had lost Shall yet say in your hearing, “The place is too crowded for me; Make room for me to settle.”

OD yo-M'RU v'-OZ-na-YIKH b'-NAY shi-KU-la-YIKH tzar-LI ha-MA-kom g'-SHA-li v'-ay-SHE-va

כע֚וֹד יֹאמְר֣וּ בְאׇזְנַ֔יִךְ בְּנֵ֖י שִׁכֻּלָ֑יִךְ צַר־לִ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם גְּשָׁה־לִּ֥י וְאֵשֵֽׁבָה׃

21And you will say to yourself, “Who bore these for me When I was bereaved and barren, Exiled and disdained— By whom, then, were these reared? I was left all alone— And where have these been?”

v'-a-MAR-t' bi-l'-va-VAYKH, mee ya-LAD-LEE et E-leh, va-a-NEE sh'-KOO-la v'-gal-mu-DAH, go-LAH u-su-RAH, v'-E-leh mee gi-DAYL, HAYN a-NEE nish-a-RTI l'-va-DAI, E-leh AY-foh HAYM. (pey)

כאוְאָמַ֣רְתְּ בִּלְבָבֵ֗ךְ מִ֤י יָֽלַד־לִי֙ אֶת־אֵ֔לֶּה וַאֲנִ֥י שְׁכוּלָ֖ה וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה גֹּלָ֣ה ׀ וְסוּרָ֗ה וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִ֣י גִדֵּ֔ל הֵ֤ן אֲנִי֙ נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי לְבַדִּ֔י אֵ֖לֶּה אֵיפֹ֥ה הֵֽם׃

22Thus said Hashem: I will raise My hand to nations And lift up My ensign to peoples; And they shall bring your sons in their bosoms, And carry your daughters on their backs.

koh a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM hi-NAY e-SA el go-YIM ya-DEE v'-el a-MEEM a-REEM ni-SEE v'-hay-VEE-u va-NA-yikh b'-KHO-tzen uv-no-TA-yikh al ka-TAYF ti-na-SE-na

כבכֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אֶשָּׂ֤א אֶל־גּוֹיִם֙ יָדִ֔י וְאֶל־עַמִּ֖ים אָרִ֣ים נִסִּ֑י וְהֵבִ֤יאוּ בָנַ֙יִךְ֙ בְּחֹ֔צֶן וּבְנֹתַ֖יִךְ עַל־כָּתֵ֥ף תִּנָּשֶֽׂאנָה׃

 49:22   And they shall bring your sons in their bosoms

Yeshayahu describes the great con­tributions that the nations and individual non-Jews will play in the resettlement of Eretz Yisrael. In modern times, this prophecy is being fulfilled by the unprece­dented number of non-Jews who visit, support and pray for Israel. Great individual Christian warriors for Tzion have also emerged to fulfill Yeshayahu’s prophecy. For example, Major-General Orde Charles Wingate (1903-1944) was a British officer in Palestine during the Mandate, and trained many of the future leaders of the Israeli army. He drew on his love and knowledge of the Bible, and distilled strategies from the battles of Yehoshua, Gidon and King David. Known throughout Israel as “ha-yedid” (הידיד) or, ‘the friend,’ the Jewish people remember Orde Wingate and all the righteous non-Jews whose love for the Bible drove them to stand with Israel in her moment of need.

Major-General Orde Charles Wingate (1903-1944)

Nations from around the world flock to Jerusalem during The Feast of Tabernacles to worship and affirm their love and support for Israel. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

23Kings shall tend your children, Their queens shall serve you as nurses. They shall bow to you, face to the ground, And lick the dust of your feet. And you shall know that I am Hashem— Those who trust in Me shall not be shamed.

v'-ha-YU me-la-KHIM o-m'-NA-yikh v'-sa-ro-TE-hem mey-nee-ko-TA-yikh a-PA-yim e-RETZ yish-ta-KHA-vu lakh va-a-FAR rag-la-YIKH ye-la-KHE-khu v'-ya-da-a-T'-KHI ki a-NEE a-do-NAI a-SHER lo ye-VO-shu ko-VAI. (Selah)

כגוְהָי֨וּ מְלָכִ֜ים אֹמְנַ֗יִךְ וְשָׂרֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ מֵינִ֣יקֹתַ֔יִךְ אַפַּ֗יִם אֶ֚רֶץ יִשְׁתַּ֣חֲווּ לָ֔ךְ וַעֲפַ֥ר רַגְלַ֖יִךְ יְלַחֵ֑כוּ וְיָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ כִּי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ קֹוָֽי׃

24Can spoil be taken from a warrior, Or captives retrieved from a victor?

ha-YU-kakh mi-gi-BOR mal-KO-akh, v'-im sh'-VI tza-DEEK yi-ma-LET. (S)

כדהֲיֻקַּ֥ח מִגִּבּ֖וֹר מַלְק֑וֹחַ וְאִם־שְׁבִ֥י צַדִּ֖יק יִמָּלֵֽט׃

25Yet thus said Hashem: Captives shall be taken from a warrior And spoil shall be retrieved from a tyrant; For I will contend with your adversaries, And I will deliver your children.

ki-KHO a-MAR a-do-NAI gam-shee-VEE gi-BOR yu-KAKH u-mal-KO-akh a-REETZ yi-ma-LET v'-ET yi-ri-VEKH a-NO-khi a-REEV v'-ET ba-NA-yikh a-NO-khi o-SHI-a

כהכִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה גַּם־שְׁבִ֤י גִבּוֹר֙ יֻקָּ֔ח וּמַלְק֥וֹחַ עָרִ֖יץ יִמָּלֵ֑ט וְאֶת־יְרִיבֵךְ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י אָרִ֔יב וְאֶת־בָּנַ֖יִךְ אָנֹכִ֥י אוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃

26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, They shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. And all mankind shall know That I Hashem am your Savior, The Mighty One of Yaakov, your Redeemer.

v'-ha-a-khal-TEE et mo-NA-yikh et b'-sa-RAM v'-khe-a-SEEYS da-MAM yish-ka-RUN v'-ya-d'-U kol ba-SAR kee a-NEE a-do-NAI mo-shee-EKH v'-go-a-LEKH a-VEER ya-a-KOV. (S)

כווְהַאֲכַלְתִּ֤י אֶת־מוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ אֶת־בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְכֶעָסִ֖יס דָּמָ֣ם יִשְׁכָּר֑וּן וְיָדְע֣וּ כׇל־בָּשָׂ֗ר כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ מֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֔ךְ וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ אֲבִ֥יר יַעֲקֹֽב׃