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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 5

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Let me sing for my beloved A song of my lover about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard On a fruitful hill.

a-SHEE-ra NA lee-dee-DEE shee-RAT do-DEE l'-khar-MO KE-rem ha-YAH lee-dee-DEE b'-KE-ren ben SHA-men

אאָשִׁ֤ירָה נָּא֙ לִֽידִידִ֔י שִׁירַ֥ת דּוֹדִ֖י לְכַרְמ֑וֹ כֶּ֛רֶם הָיָ֥ה לִידִידִ֖י בְּקֶ֥רֶן בֶּן־שָֽׁמֶן׃

 5:1   A song of my lover about his vineyard

This chapter presents one of the most famous parables in the Bible, known as the song of the vineyard. Yeshayahu gathers the people together to pass judgment on a disobedient vineyard. Despite the owner’s efforts to care for the vineyard that he loves (a metaphor for God’s care for the Children of Israel), it produces unripe grapes. Therefore, the owner announces that he will tear down the walls that protect the vineyard from thorns and other dangers of the forest. With beautiful word-play, Yeshayahu states, though the men of Yehuda are “the seedlings He lovingly tended,” instead of ‘justice,’ in Hebrew mishpat (משפט), they caused ‘injustice,’ mispach (משפח). Instead of ‘equity,’ tzedaka (צדקה), they caused ‘iniquity,’ tza’aka (צעקה) (verse 7). Hashem will therefore remove His protection from Israel and allow for its enemies to enter. The theme of injustice and oppression leading to destruction plays a prominent role in Yeshayahu’s prophecies. Ultimately, Tzion will be redeemed through justice and righteousness (Isaiah 1:27).

2He broke the ground, cleared it of stones, And planted it with choice vines. He built a watchtower inside it, He even hewed a wine press in it; For he hoped it would yield grapes. Instead, it yielded wild grapes.

vai-ya-a-ZE-khu va-yi-sa-KLE-hu va-yi-TA-e-hu so-REK va-yi-VEN mi-GDAL b'-TO-kho v'-gam-ye-KEV kha-TZEV BO va-YE-kav la-a-SOT a-na-VEEM va-YA-as b'-u-SHEEM

בוַֽיְעַזְּקֵ֣הוּ וַֽיְסַקְּלֵ֗הוּ וַיִּטָּעֵ֙הוּ֙ שֹׂרֵ֔ק וַיִּ֤בֶן מִגְדָּל֙ בְּתוֹכ֔וֹ וְגַם־יֶ֖קֶב חָצֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וַיְקַ֛ו לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת עֲנָבִ֖ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ בְּאֻשִֽׁים׃

3“Now, then, Dwellers of Yerushalayim And men of Yehuda, You be the judges Between Me and My vineyard:

v'-a-TAH yo-SHEV ye-ru-sha-LA-im v'-ISH ye-hu-DAH, shif-TU-na BAY-nee u-BAYN kar-MEE

גוְעַתָּ֛ה יוֹשֵׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֑ה שִׁפְטוּ־נָ֕א בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין כַּרְמִֽי׃

4What more could have been done for My vineyard That I failed to do in it? Why, when I hoped it would yield grapes, Did it yield wild grapes?

mah-la-a-SOT od l'-khar-MI, v'-lo a-see-TEE BO, ma-DO-a ki-VEE-tee la-a-SOT a-na-VIM, vai-YA-as b'-u-SHEEM

דמַה־לַּעֲשׂ֥וֹת עוֹד֙ לְכַרְמִ֔י וְלֹ֥א עָשִׂ֖יתִי בּ֑וֹ מַדּ֧וּעַ קִוֵּ֛יתִי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עֲנָבִ֖ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ בְּאֻשִֽׁים׃

5“Now I am going to tell you What I will do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge, That it may be ravaged; I will break down its wall, That it may be trampled.

v'-a-TAH o-di-AH-NA-na et-KHEM AYT a-SHER a-NEE o-SEH l'-khar-MEE ha-SEER m'-su-KA-to v'-ha-YAH l'-va-EHR pa-ROTZ g'-DE-ro v'-ha-YAH l'-mir-MAHS

הוְעַתָּה֙ אוֹדִיעָה־נָּ֣א אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י עֹשֶׂ֖ה לְכַרְמִ֑י הָסֵ֤ר מְשׂוּכָּתוֹ֙ וְהָיָ֣ה לְבָעֵ֔ר פָּרֹ֥ץ גְּדֵר֖וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לְמִרְמָֽס׃

6And I will make it a desolation; It shall not be pruned or hoed, And it shall be overgrown with briers and thistles. And I will command the clouds To drop no rain on it.”

va-a-shi-TE-hu va-TAH lo yi-ZA-mer v'-lo ye-a-DEER va-a-LAH sha-MEER va-sha-YEET v'-al he-a-VEEM a-tza-VEH me-ha-m'-TEER a-LAV ma-TAR

ווַאֲשִׁיתֵ֣הוּ בָתָ֗ה לֹ֤א יִזָּמֵר֙ וְלֹ֣א יֵעָדֵ֔ר וְעָלָ֥ה שָׁמִ֖יר וָשָׁ֑יִת וְעַ֤ל הֶֽעָבִים֙ אֲצַוֶּ֔ה מֵהַמְטִ֥יר עָלָ֖יו מָטָֽר׃

7For the vineyard of the lord of Hosts Is the House of Yisrael, And the seedlings he lovingly tended Are the men of Yehuda. And He hoped for justice, But behold, injustice; For equity, But behold, iniquity!

ki KEREM a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, BAYT yis-ra-AYL, v'-ISH y'-hu-DAH, n'-TA sha-a-SHU-a-YAV, va-YA-kav l'-mish-PAHT, v'-hi-NEH mish-PAKH litz-da-KAH, v'-hi-NEH t'-a-KAH.

זכִּ֣י כֶ֜רֶם יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה נְטַ֖ע שַׁעֲשׁוּעָ֑יו וַיְקַ֤ו לְמִשְׁפָּט֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִשְׂפָּ֔ח לִצְדָקָ֖ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה צְעָקָֽה׃

8Ah, Those who add house to house And join field to field, Till there is room for none but you To dwell in the land!

HOY ma-GI-ei va-YIT b'-va-YIT sa-DE b'-sa-DE yak-REE-vu AD e-FES ma-KOM v'-hu-SHAV-tem l'-ba-D'-khem b'-KE-rev ha-A-retz

חה֗וֹי מַגִּיעֵ֥י בַ֙יִת֙ בְּבַ֔יִת שָׂדֶ֥ה בְשָׂדֶ֖ה יַקְרִ֑יבוּ עַ֚ד אֶ֣פֶס מָק֔וֹם וְהוּשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לְבַדְּכֶ֖ם בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃

9In my hearing [said] the lord of Hosts: Surely, great houses Shall lie forlorn, Spacious and splendid ones Without occupants.

b'-o-Z'-NAI a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, im-LO ba-TIM ra-BEEM l'-sha-MA yi-H'-YU g'-do-LEEM v'-to-VEEM me-EYN yo-SHAYV

טבְּאׇזְנָ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אִם־לֹ֞א בָּתִּ֤ים רַבִּים֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה יִֽהְי֔וּ גְּדֹלִ֥ים וְטוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

10For ten acres of vineyard Shall yield just one bat, And a field sown with a chomer of seed Shall yield a mere efah.

ki a-se-RET tzi-m'-DEI ke-REM ya-a-SU bat e-KHAT v'-ze-RA kho-MER ya-a-SEH ei-FAH. (s)

יכִּ֗י עֲשֶׂ֙רֶת֙ צִמְדֵּי־כֶ֔רֶם יַעֲשׂ֖וּ בַּ֣ת אֶחָ֑ת וְזֶ֥רַע חֹ֖מֶר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֵיפָֽה׃

11Ah, Those who chase liquor From early in the morning, And till late in the evening Are inflamed by wine!

HOY mash-ki-MAY va-BO-ker SHE-khar yir-DO-fu m'-a-kha-RAY va-NE-shef ya-YIN yad-li-KAYM

יאה֛וֹי מַשְׁכִּימֵ֥י בַבֹּ֖קֶר שֵׁכָ֣ר יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ מְאַחֲרֵ֣י בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף יַ֖יִן יַדְלִיקֵֽם׃

12Who, at their banquets, Have lyre and lute, Timbrel, flute, and wine; But who never give a thought To the plan of Hashem, And take no note Of what He is designing.

v'-ha-YA ki-NOR va-NE-VEL TOF va-KHA-LEEL va-YA-yin mish-TE-hem v'-ET po-AL a-do-NAI lo ya-BI-tu u-ma-a-SEH ya-DAV lo ra-U

יבוְהָיָ֨ה כִנּ֜וֹר וָנֶ֗בֶל תֹּ֧ף וְחָלִ֛יל וָיַ֖יִן מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת פֹּ֤עַל יְהֹוָה֙ לֹ֣א יַבִּ֔יטוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃

13Assuredly, My people will suffer exile For not giving heed, Its multitude victims of hunger And its masses parched with thirst.

la-KHEN ga-LAH a-MEE mi-be-LEE-da-AT u-k'-vo-DO m'-TEY ra-AV va-ha-MO-no tzi-KHEH tza-MA

יגלָכֵ֛ן גָּלָ֥ה עַמִּ֖י מִבְּלִי־דָ֑עַת וּכְבוֹדוֹ֙ מְתֵ֣י רָעָ֔ב וַהֲמוֹנ֖וֹ צִחֵ֥ה צָמָֽא׃

14Assuredly, Sheol has opened wide its gullet And parted its jaws in a measureless gape; And down into it shall go, That splendor and tumult, That din and revelry.

la-KHEN hir-KHI-va SHE-ol naf-SHAH u-fa-a-RAH fi-HAH liv-LEE-KHOK, va-YA-rad ha-DA-rah va-ha-MO-nah u-SHE-o-NAH ve-a-LEZ BAH

ידלָכֵ֗ן הִרְחִ֤יבָה שְּׁאוֹל֙ נַפְשָׁ֔הּ וּפָעֲרָ֥ה פִ֖יהָ לִבְלִי־חֹ֑ק וְיָרַ֨ד הֲדָרָ֧הּ וַהֲמוֹנָ֛הּ וּשְׁאוֹנָ֖הּ וְעָלֵ֥ז בָּֽהּ׃

15Yea, man is bowed, And mortal brought low; Brought low is the pride of the haughty.

vai-YI-shakh a-DAM va-yish-PAL EESH v'-ay-NAY g'-vo-HEEM tish-PA-l'NAH

טווַיִּשַּׁ֥ח אָדָ֖ם וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִ֑ישׁ וְעֵינֵ֥י גְבֹהִ֖ים תִּשְׁפַּֽלְנָה׃

16And the lord of Hosts is exalted by judgment, The Holy Hashem proved holy by retribution.

vai-YIG-bah a-do-NAI t'-va-OT ba-mish-PAT, v'-ha-EL ha-ka-DOSh nik-DASH bi-tz'-da-KAH

טזוַיִּגְבַּ֛הּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְהָאֵל֙ הַקָּד֔וֹשׁ נִקְדָּ֖שׁ בִּצְדָקָֽה׃

17Then lambs shall graze As in their meadows, And strangers shall feed On the ruins of the stout.

v'-RA-u k'-va-SEEM k'-do-va-RAM v'-kho-r'-VOT may-KHEEM ga-REEM yo-KHE-lu. (S)

יזוְרָע֥וּ כְבָשִׂ֖ים כְּדׇבְרָ֑ם וְחׇרְב֥וֹת מֵחִ֖ים גָּרִ֥ים יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃

18Ah, Those who haul sin with cords of falsehood And iniquity as with cart ropes!

HOY mo-SHE-khe HE-a-VON b'-khav-LEI ha-SHA-VE v'-kha-a-VOT ha-a-GA-la kha-ta-AH

יחה֛וֹי מֹשְׁכֵ֥י הֶעָוֺ֖ן בְּחַבְלֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑וְא וְכַעֲב֥וֹת הָעֲגָלָ֖ה חַטָּאָֽה׃

19Who say, “Let Him speed, let Him hasten His purpose, If we are to give thought; Let the plans of the Holy One of Yisrael Be quickly fulfilled, If we are to give heed.”

ha-o-m'-REEM ya-ma-HER ya-KHEE-sha ma-a-SE-hu l'-ma-an nir-EH v'-tik-RAV v'-ta-vo-AH a-TZAT k'-DOSH yis-ra-AYL v'-ne-da-AH.

יטהָאֹמְרִ֗ים יְמַהֵ֧ר ׀ יָחִ֛ישָׁה מַעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ לְמַ֣עַן נִרְאֶ֑ה וְתִקְרַ֣ב וְתָב֗וֹאָה עֲצַ֛ת קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְנֵדָֽעָה׃

20Ah, Those who call evil good And good evil; Who present darkness as light And light as darkness; Who present bitter as sweet And sweet as bitter!

hoi ha-o-m'-REEM la-RA tov v'-la-TOV RA sa-MEEM khosh-ek l'-OR v'-OR l'-khosh-ek sa-MEEM mar l'-ma-TOK u-ma-TOK l'-MAR.

כה֣וֹי הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לָרַ֛ע ט֖וֹב וְלַטּ֣וֹב רָ֑ע שָׂמִ֨ים חֹ֤שֶׁךְ לְאוֹר֙ וְא֣וֹר לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ שָׂמִ֥ים מַ֛ר לְמָת֖וֹק וּמָת֥וֹק לְמָֽר׃

21Ah, Those who are so wise— In their own opinion; So clever— In their own judgment!

HOY kha-KA-meem b'-ay-NAY-hem v'-NE-ged p'-NE-hem n'-vo-NEEM. (S)

כאה֖וֹי חֲכָמִ֣ים בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְנֶ֥גֶד פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם נְבֹנִֽים׃

22Ah, Those who are so doughty— As drinkers of wine, And so valiant— As mixers of drink!

HOY gi-BO-reem lish-TOT ya-YIN v'-an-SHEI-kha-YIL lim-SOKH she-KHAR

כבה֕וֹי גִּבּוֹרִ֖ים לִשְׁתּ֣וֹת יָ֑יִן וְאַנְשֵׁי־חַ֖יִל לִמְסֹ֥ךְ שֵׁכָֽר׃

23Who vindicate him who is in the wrong In return for a bribe, And withhold vindication From him who is in the right.

matz-di-KEI ra-SHA ek-EV sho-KHAD v'-tzid-KAT tzad-di-KEEM ya-SEE-ru mi-ME-nu.

כגמַצְדִּיקֵ֥י רָשָׁ֖ע עֵ֣קֶב שֹׁ֑חַד וְצִדְקַ֥ת צַדִּיקִ֖ים יָסִ֥ירוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

24Assuredly, As straw is consumed by a tongue of fire And hay shrivels as it burns, Their stock shall become like rot, And their buds shall blow away like dust. For they have rejected the instruction of the lord of Hosts, Spurned the word of the Holy One of Yisrael.

la-KHEN ke-e-KHOL kash le-SHON esh va-kha-SHASH le-ha-VAH yir-PEH shor-SHAM ka-MAK yi-HEH u-fi-RAM ka-a-VAHK ya-a-LEH kee ma-A-su et to-RAT a-do-NAI tze-VA-OT ve-et im-RAT ke-DOSH yis-ra-AYL ni-E-tzu

כדלָכֵן֩ כֶּֽאֱכֹ֨ל קַ֜שׁ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֵ֗שׁ וַחֲשַׁ֤שׁ לֶהָבָה֙ יִרְפֶּ֔ה שׇׁרְשָׁם֙ כַּמָּ֣ק יִֽהְיֶ֔ה וּפִרְחָ֖ם כָּאָבָ֣ק יַעֲלֶ֑ה כִּ֣י מָאֲס֗וּ אֵ֚ת תּוֹרַת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אִמְרַ֥ת קְדֽוֹשׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִאֵֽצוּ׃

25That is why Hashem's anger was roused Against His people, Why He stretched out His arm against it And struck it, So that the mountains quaked, And its corpses lay Like refuse in the streets. Yet his anger has not turned back, And His arm is outstretched still.

al-KEN kha-RAH af-a-do-NAI b'-a-MO va-YAYT ya-DO a-LAV va-ya-KAY-hu va-yir-GAY-zu he-ha-REEM va-TE-hee niv-LA-tam ka-SU-kha b'-KE-rev KHO-tzot b'-KOL-zot lo-SHAV a-PO v'-OD ya-DO ne-tu-YAH

כהעַל־כֵּ֡ן חָרָה֩ אַף־יְהֹוָ֨ה בְּעַמּ֜וֹ וַיֵּ֣ט יָד֧וֹ עָלָ֣יו וַיַּכֵּ֗הוּ וַֽיִּרְגְּזוּ֙ הֶהָרִ֔ים וַתְּהִ֧י נִבְלָתָ֛ם כַּסּוּחָ֖ה בְּקֶ֣רֶב חוּצ֑וֹת בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃

26He will raise an ensign to a nation afar, Whistle to one at the end of the earth. There it comes with lightning speed!

v'-na-SA-nes la-go-YIM me-RA-khok v'-sha-RAK lo mik-TSE ha-A-retz v'-hi-NEH me-HE-ra kal ya-VO

כווְנָֽשָׂא־נֵ֤ס לַגּוֹיִם֙ מֵרָח֔וֹק וְשָׁ֥רַק ל֖וֹ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה מְהֵרָ֖ה קַ֥ל יָבֽוֹא׃

27In its ranks, none is weary or stumbles, They never sleep or slumber; The belts on their waists do not come loose, Nor do the thongs of their sandals break.

AYN-a-YEF v'-AYN-KO-shel BO, lo ya-NOOM v'-lo yi-SHAN, v'-lo nif-TAKH e-ZOR cha-LA-tzav, v'-lo ni-TAKH se-ROKH ne-a-LAV.

כזאֵין־עָיֵ֤ף וְאֵין־כּוֹשֵׁל֙ בּ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יָנ֖וּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן וְלֹ֤א נִפְתַּח֙ אֵז֣וֹר חֲלָצָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א נִתַּ֖ק שְׂר֥וֹךְ נְעָלָֽיו׃

28Their arrows are sharpened, And all their bows are drawn. Their horses' hoofs are like flint, Their chariot wheels like the whirlwind.

a-SHER chi-TZA-yav sh'-nu-NIM v'-kol kash-SHO-tav d'-ru-KHOT par-SOT su-SA-yav ka-tzar nech-SHA-vu v'-gal-gi-LA-yav ka-su-FAH

כחאֲשֶׁ֤ר חִצָּיו֙ שְׁנוּנִ֔ים וְכׇל־קַשְּׁתֹתָ֖יו דְּרֻכ֑וֹת פַּרְס֤וֹת סוּסָיו֙ כַּצַּ֣ר נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וְגַלְגִּלָּ֖יו כַּסּוּפָֽה׃

29Their roaring is like a lion's, They roar like the great beasts; When they growl and seize a prey, They carry it off and none can recover it.

SH'-a-GAH LO ka-la-VI (v'-sha-G) [yish-AG] ka-k'-fi-REEM v'-yin-HOM v'-yo-KHEZ TE-ref v'-yaf-LEET v'-AYN mat-SEEL

כטשְׁאָגָ֥ה ל֖וֹ כַּלָּבִ֑יא (ושאג) [יִשְׁאַ֨ג] כַּכְּפִירִ֤ים וְיִנְהֹם֙ וְיֹאחֵ֣ז טֶ֔רֶף וְיַפְלִ֖יט וְאֵ֥ין מַצִּֽיל׃

30But in that day, a roaring shall resound over him like that of the sea; and then he shall look below and, behold, Distressing darkness, with light; Darkness, in its lowering clouds.

v'-yin-HOM a-LAV ba-YOM ha-HU k'-na-ha-MAT yam, v'-ni-BAT la-A-retz v'-hi-NEH-kho-SHEKH tzar va-OR, kha-SHEKH ba-a-ri-FE-ha. (Selah)

לוְיִנְהֹ֥ם עָלָ֛יו בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כְּנַהֲמַת־יָ֑ם וְנִבַּ֤ט לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ צַ֣ר וָא֔וֹר חָשַׁ֖ךְ בַּעֲרִיפֶֽיהָ׃