TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 50

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Thus said Hashem: Where is the bill of divorce Of your mother whom I dismissed? And which of My creditors was it To whom I sold you off? You were only sold off for your sins, And your mother dismissed for your crimes.

KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI AY ZEH SAY-fer k'-ree-TUT i-m'-KHEM a-SHER shi-lakh-TEE-ha O MEE mi-no-SHAI a-sher ma-KHAR-tee et-KHEM LO HAYN ba-a-vo-no-tay-KHEM nim-kar-TEM uv-fish-ay-KHEM shu-l'-KHAH i-m'-KHEM

אכֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֵי זֶה סֵפֶר כְּרִיתוּת אִמְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר שִׁלַּחְתִּיהָ אוֹ מִי מִנּוֹשַׁי אֲשֶׁר־מָכַרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לוֹ הֵן בַּעֲוׂנֹתֵיכֶם נִמְכַּרְתֶּם וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶם שֻׁלְּחָה אִמְּכֶם׃

 50:1   Where is the bill of divorce of your mother whom I dismissed?

The prophets traditionally compare the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people to that of a marriage, and to that of a parent and child. Having been exiled, Israel has good reason to fear that they have been divorced from God, or sold (see Psalms 44:13). However, Hashem assures His people that he has not written them a bill of divorce, nor has He sold them for any price. Despite everything, the People of Israel are still Hashem’s children and the objects of His affection. The bond between God and Israel is eternal, and their claim to Eretz Yisrael, which He gave them, will never be uprooted.

2Why, when I came, was no one there, Why, when I called, would none respond? Is my arm, then, too short to rescue, Have I not the power to save? With a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, And turn rivers into desert. Their fish stink from lack of water; They lie dead of thirst.

במַדּוּעַ בָּאתִי וְאֵין אִישׁ קָרָאתִי וְאֵין עוֹנֶה הֲקָצוֹר קָצְרָה יָדִי מִפְּדוּת וְאִם־אֵין־בִּי כֹחַ לְהַצִּיל הֵן בְּגַעֲרָתִי אַחֲרִיב יָם אָשִׂים נְהָרוֹת מִדְבָּר תִּבְאַשׁ דְּגָתָם מֵאֵין מַיִם וְתָמֹת בַּצָּמָא׃

3I clothe the skies in blackness And make their raiment sackcloth.

גאַלְבִּישׁ שָׁמַיִם קַדְרוּת וְשַׂק אָשִׂים כְּסוּתָם׃

4Hashem gave me a skilled tongue, To know how to speak timely words to the weary. Morning by morning, He rouses, He rouses my ear To give heed like disciples.

דאֲדֹנָי יְהֹוִה נָתַן לִי לְשׁוֹן לִמּוּדִים לָדַעַת לָעוּת אֶת־יָעֵף דָּבָר יָעִיר בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר יָעִיר לִי אֹזֶן לִשְׁמֹעַ כַּלִּמּוּדִים׃

5Hashem opened my ears And I did not disobey, I did not run away.

האֲדֹנָי יְהוִה פָּתַח־לִי אֹזֶן וְאָנֹכִי לֹא מָרִיתִי אָחוֹר לֹא נְסוּגֹתִי׃

6I offered my back to the floggers, And my cheeks to those who tore out my hair. I did not hide my face From insult and spittle.

וגֵּוִי נָתַתִּי לְמַכִּים וּלְחָיַי לְמֹרְטִים פָּנַי לֹא הִסְתַּרְתִּי מִכְּלִמּוֹת וָרֹק׃

7But Hashem will help me— Therefore I feel no disgrace; Therefore I have set my face like flint, And I know I shall not be shamed.

זוַאדֹנָי יְהוִה יַעֲזָר־לִי עַל־כֵּן לֹא נִכְלָמְתִּי עַל־כֵּן שַׂמְתִּי פָנַי כַּחַלָּמִישׁ וָאֵדַע כִּי־לֹא אֵבוֹשׁ׃

8My Vindicator is at hand— Who dares contend with me? Let us stand up together! Who would be my opponent? Let him approach me!

חקָרוֹב מַצְדִּיקִי מִי־יָרִיב אִתִּי נַעַמְדָה יָּחַד מִי־בַעַל מִשְׁפָּטִי יִגַּשׁ אֵלָי׃

9Lo, Hashem will help me— Who can get a verdict against me? They shall all wear out like a garment, The moth shall consume them.

טהֵן אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה יַעֲזָר־לִי מִי־הוּא יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי הֵן כֻּלָּם כַּבֶּגֶד יִבְלוּ עָשׁ יֹאכְלֵם׃

10Who among you reveres Hashem And heeds the voice of His servant?— Though he walk in darkness And have no light, Let him trust in the name of Hashem And rely upon his God.

ימִי בָכֶם יְרֵא יְהֹוָה שֹׁמֵעַ בְּקוֹל עַבְדּוֹ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ חֲשֵׁכִים וְאֵין נֹגַהּ לוֹ יִבְטַח בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה וְיִשָּׁעֵן בֵּאלֹהָיו׃

11But you are all kindlers of fire, Girding on firebrands. Walk by the blaze of your fire, By the brands that you have lit! This has come to you from My hand: You shall lie down in pain.

יאהֵן כֻּלְּכֶם קֹדְחֵי אֵשׁ מְאַזְּרֵי זִיקוֹת לְכוּ בְּאוּר אֶשְׁכֶם וּבְזִיקוֹת בִּעַרְתֶּם מִיָּדִי הָיְתָה־זֹּאת לָכֶם לְמַעֲצֵבָה תִּשְׁכָּבוּן׃