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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 51

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Listen to Me, you who pursue justice, You who seek Hashem: Look to the rock you were hewn from, To the quarry you were dug from.

shi-MU e-LAI ro-d'-FEI tze-DEK m'-va-k'-SHEI a-do-NAI ha-BI-tu el tzuR khu-TZAV-tem v'-el ma-KE-vet BOR nu-KAR-tem

אשִׁמְע֥וּ אֵלַ֛י רֹ֥דְפֵי צֶ֖דֶק מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ אֶל־צ֣וּר חֻצַּבְתֶּ֔ם וְאֶל־מַקֶּ֥בֶת בּ֖וֹר נֻקַּרְתֶּֽם׃

2Look back to Avraham your father And to Sara who brought you forth. For he was only one when I called him, But I blessed him and made him many.

ha-BI-tu el av-ra-HAM a-vee-KHEM v'-el sa-RAH te-kho-lel-KHEM kee e-KHAD k'-ra-TEE-v va-a-va-re-KHEE-hu v'-ar-BE-hu

בהַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֣ם אֲבִיכֶ֔ם וְאֶל־שָׂרָ֖ה תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אֶחָ֣ד קְרָאתִ֔יו וַאֲבָרְכֵ֖הוּ וְאַרְבֵּֽהוּ׃

3Truly Hashem has comforted Tzion, Comforted all her ruins; He has made her wilderness like Eden, Her desert like the Garden of Hashem. Gladness and joy shall abide there, Thanksgiving and the sound of music.

kee ni-KHAM a-do-NAI tzi-YON ni-KHAM kol kho-r'-vo-TE-ha va-YA-sem mid-ba-RAH k'-AY-den v'-ar-va-TAH k'-gan a-do-NAI sa-SON v'-sim-KHA yi-ma-TZAY VAH to-DA v'-KOL zim-RAH

גכִּֽי־נִחַ֨ם יְהֹוָ֜ה צִיּ֗וֹן נִחַם֙ כׇּל־חׇרְבֹתֶ֔יהָ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם מִדְבָּרָהּ֙ כְּעֵ֔דֶן וְעַרְבָתָ֖הּ כְּגַן־יְהֹוָ֑ה שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יִמָּ֣צֵא בָ֔הּ תּוֹדָ֖ה וְק֥וֹל זִמְרָֽה׃

 51:3   Comforted all her ruins; he has made her wilderness like Eden

Beit Hanan, Israel, then and now (1933/2007)

The Land of Israel has a supernatural quality to it. While under foreign oc­cu­pation, it resembles an arid desert. However, under Jewish sovereignty, it comes to life, flourishes, and yields great produce. Indeed, for nearly two millennia, as the land switched hands numerous times between various foreign powers, including the Romans, the Arabs and the Turks, the land lay utterly desolate. Amazingly, the modern rebirth of the Jewish state in 1948 has brought with it an astounding development of the land, to the point where once again the Jewish people can claim a flourishing country all their own. In agriculture, technology, and culture, Israel ranks among the most advanced countries of the world. Indeed, we are witnessing the Lord comfort “all her ruins.”

4Hearken to Me, My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation, For teaching shall go forth from Me, My way for the light of peoples. In a moment I will bring it:

ha-k'-shi-VU e-LAI a-MI, u-l'-u-MI e-LAI ha-a-ZI-nu, KI to-RAH may-i-TI tay-TZE, u-mish-PA-TEE l'-OR a-MEEM ar-GI-a

דהַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ אֵלַי֙ עַמִּ֔י וּלְאוּמִּ֖י אֵלַ֣י הַאֲזִ֑ינוּ כִּ֤י תוֹרָה֙ מֵאִתִּ֣י תֵצֵ֔א וּמִ֨שְׁפָּטִ֔י לְא֥וֹר עַמִּ֖ים אַרְגִּֽיעַ׃

5The triumph I grant is near, The success I give has gone forth. My arms shall provide for the peoples; The coastlands shall trust in Me, They shall look to My arm.

ka-ROV tzid-KI ya-TZA yi-SHI u-ze-RO-a-AM yish-PO-tu, e-LAI i-YIM ye-KAV-vu, v'-el ze-RO-i ye-ya-KHE-lun.

הקָר֤וֹב צִדְקִי֙ יָצָ֣א יִשְׁעִ֔י וּזְרֹעַ֖י עַמִּ֣ים יִשְׁפֹּ֑טוּ אֵלַי֙ אִיִּ֣ים יְקַוּ֔וּ וְאֶל־זְרֹעִ֖י יְיַחֵלֽוּן׃

6Raise your eyes to the heavens, And look upon the earth beneath: Though the heavens should melt away like smoke, And the earth wear out like a garment, And its inhabitants die out as well, My victory shall stand forever, My triumph shall remain unbroken.

SE-u la-SHA-ma-YIM EY-ne-KHEM v'-ha-BI-tu el ha-A-RETZ mi-TA-khat KI-sha-MA-yim ke-a-SHAN nim-LA-khu v'-ha-A-RETZ ka-BE-ged tiv-LEH v'-yo-SHE-ve-HA ke-MO-khen ye-MU-tun vi-shu-A-ti l'-o-LAM ti-HE-yeh v'-tziD-ka-ti lo te-KHAT. (PAUSE)

ושְׂאוּ֩ לַשָּׁמַ֨יִם עֵֽינֵיכֶ֜ם וְֽהַבִּ֧יטוּ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ מִתַּ֗חַת כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֜יִם כֶּעָשָׁ֤ן נִמְלָ֙חוּ֙ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ כַּבֶּ֣גֶד תִּבְלֶ֔ה וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כְּמוֹ־כֵ֣ן יְמוּת֑וּן וִישֽׁוּעָתִי֙ לְעוֹלָ֣ם תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְצִדְקָתִ֖י לֹ֥א תֵחָֽת׃

7Listen to Me, you who care for the right, O people who lay My instruction to heart! Fear not the insults of men, And be not dismayed at their jeers;

shi-MU e-LAI yo-D'-ei tze-DEK am to-RA-tee b'-li-BAM al ti-RE-u kher-PAT e-NOSh u-mi-gi-du-PO-tam al te-KHA-tu

זשִׁמְע֤וּ אֵלַי֙ יֹ֣דְעֵי צֶ֔דֶק עַ֖ם תּוֹרָתִ֣י בְלִבָּ֑ם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ חֶרְפַּ֣ת אֱנ֔וֹשׁ וּמִגִּדֻּפֹתָ֖ם אַל־תֵּחָֽתּוּ׃

8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, The worm shall eat them up like wool. But My triumph shall endure forever, My salvation through all the ages.

ki ka-VE-ged yo-KH'-lem aSH v'-ka-TSE-mer yo-KH'-lem SAS v'-tzid-ka-TEE l'-o-LAM ti-HE-yeh vi-shu-a-TEE l'-DOR DO-rim. (Selah)

חכִּ֤י כַבֶּ֙גֶד֙ יֹאכְלֵ֣ם עָ֔שׁ וְכַצֶּ֖מֶר יֹאכְלֵ֣ם סָ֑ס וְצִדְקָתִי֙ לְעוֹלָ֣ם תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וִישׁוּעָתִ֖י לְד֥וֹר דּוֹרִֽים׃

9Awake, awake, clothe yourself with splendor. O arm of Hashem! Awake as in days of old, As in former ages! It was you that hacked Rahab in pieces, That pierced the Dragon.

u-RI u-RI lv-SHI-oz z'-RO-a a-do-NAI u-RI k'-MEY k'-DEM do-ROT o-LA-meem ha-LO a-T'-HEE ha-makh-TZ'-vet ra-HAV m'-kho-LE-let ta-NEEN

טעוּרִ֨י עוּרִ֤י לִבְשִׁי־עֹז֙ זְר֣וֹעַ יְהֹוָ֔ה ע֚וּרִי כִּ֣ימֵי קֶ֔דֶם דֹּר֖וֹת עוֹלָמִ֑ים הֲל֥וֹא אַתְּ־הִ֛יא הַמַּחְצֶ֥בֶת רַ֖הַב מְחוֹלֶ֥לֶת תַּנִּֽין׃

10It was you that dried up the Sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the abysses of the Sea A road the redeemed might walk.

ha-LO-a a-T' hi ha-ma-kha-REV yam mei TE-hom ra-BA ha-sa-MAH ma-a-ma-KEI-yam DE-rekh la-a-VOR ge-u-LIM

יהֲל֤וֹא אַתְּ־הִיא֙ הַמַּחֲרֶ֣בֶת יָ֔ם מֵ֖י תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֑ה הַשָּׂ֙מָה֙ מַֽעֲמַקֵּי־יָ֔ם דֶּ֖רֶךְ לַעֲבֹ֥ר גְּאוּלִֽים׃

11So let the ransomed of Hashem return, And come with shouting to Tzion, Crowned with joy everlasting. Let them attain joy and gladness, While sorrow and sighing flee.

u-f'-du-YAY a-do-NAI y'-shu-VUN u-va-U tzi-YON b'-ri-NAH v'-sim-KHAT o-LAM al ro-SHAM sa-SOHN v'-sim-KHAH ya-see-GUN na-SU ya-GOHN va-a-na-KHAH.

יאוּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה יְשׁוּב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיּוֹן֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יַשִּׂיג֔וּן נָ֖סוּ יָג֥וֹן וַאֲנָחָֽה׃

12I, I am He who comforts you! What ails you that you fear Man who must die, Mortals who fare like grass?

a-NO-khi a-NO-khi hu me-na-KHEM-khem, mi-a-TET va-ti-RE-i me-e-NOSH ya-MUT u-mi-ben-a-DAM kha-TZIR yi-NA-ten

יבאָנֹכִ֧י אָנֹכִ֛י ה֖וּא מְנַחֶמְכֶ֑ם מִי־אַ֤תְּ וַתִּֽירְאִי֙ מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁ יָמ֔וּת וּמִבֶּן־אָדָ֖ם חָצִ֥יר יִנָּתֵֽן׃

13You have forgotten Hashem your Maker, Who stretched out the skies and made firm the earth! And you live all day in constant dread Because of the rage of an oppressor Who is aiming to cut [you] down. Yet of what account is the rage of an oppressor?

va-tish-KAKH a-do-NAI o-SE-kha no-TEH sha-MA-yim v'-yo-SAYD a-RETZ va-t'-fa-KHAYD ta-MEED kol ha-YOM mi-p'-NAY kha-MAT ha-m'-TSEEK ka-a-SHER ko-NAYN l'-ha-sh'-KHEET v'-a-YAY kha-MAT ha-m'-TSEEK

יגוַתִּשְׁכַּ֞ח יְהֹוָ֣ה עֹשֶׂ֗ךָ נוֹטֶ֣ה שָׁמַ֘יִם֮ וְיֹסֵ֣ד אָ֒רֶץ֒ וַתְּפַחֵ֨ד תָּמִ֜יד כׇּל־הַיּ֗וֹם מִפְּנֵי֙ חֲמַ֣ת הַמֵּצִ֔יק כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר כּוֹנֵ֖ן לְהַשְׁחִ֑ית וְאַיֵּ֖ה חֲמַ֥ת הַמֵּצִֽיק׃

14Quickly the crouching one is freed; He is not cut down and slain, And he shall not want for food.

mi-HAR tzo-EH l'-hi-pa-TE-akh, v'-lo ya-MUT la-sha-KHAT, v'-lo y'-kh'-SAR la-KH'-mo.

ידמִהַ֥ר צֹעֶ֖ה לְהִפָּתֵ֑חַ וְלֹא־יָמ֣וּת לַשַּׁ֔חַת וְלֹ֥א יֶחְסַ֖ר לַחְמֽוֹ׃

15For I Hashem your God— Who stir up the sea into roaring waves, Whose name is LORD of Hosts—

v'-a-NO-khee a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha ro-GA ha-YAM va-ye-he-MU ga-LA-yav, a-do-NAI t'-va-OT sh'-MO

טווְאָנֹכִי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ רֹגַ֣ע הַיָּ֔ם וַיֶּהֱמ֖וּ גַּלָּ֑יו יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃

16Have put My words in your mouth And sheltered you with My hand; I, who planted the skies and made firm the earth, Have said to Tzion: You are My people!

va-a-SIM d'-va-RAI b'-fi-KHA u-v'-TZEL ya-DEE ki-SEE-tee-KHA lin-TO-a sha-MA-yim v'-lee-SOD a-RETZ v'-le-MOR l'-tzi-YON a-MEE-a-TAH. (Selah)

טזוָאָשִׂ֤ם דְּבָרַי֙ בְּפִ֔יךָ וּבְצֵ֥ל יָדִ֖י כִּסִּיתִ֑יךָ לִנְטֹ֤עַ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלִיסֹ֣ד אָ֔רֶץ וְלֵאמֹ֥ר לְצִיּ֖וֹן עַמִּי־אָֽתָּה׃

17Rouse, rouse yourself! Arise, O Yerushalayim, You who from Hashem's hand Have drunk the cup of His wrath, You who have drained to the dregs The bowl, the cup of reeling!

hit-o-r'-RI hit-o-r'-RI, ku-MI ye-ru-sha-LA-im, a-SHER sha-TEET mi-YAD a-do-NAI et-KOS cha-MA-to, et-ku-BA-at KOS ha-tar-E-la, sha-TEET ma-TZEET.

יזהִתְעוֹרְרִ֣י הִֽתְעוֹרְרִ֗י ק֚וּמִי יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁתִ֛ית מִיַּ֥ד יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־כּ֣וֹס חֲמָת֑וֹ אֶת־קֻבַּ֜עַת כּ֧וֹס הַתַּרְעֵלָ֛ה שָׁתִ֖ית מָצִֽית׃

18She has none to guide her Of all the sons she bore; None takes her by the hand, Of all the sons she reared.

AYN-m'-na-HAYL LAH mi-KOL-ba-NEEM ya-LA-dah v'-AYN ma-kha-ZEEK b'-ya-DAH mi-KOL-ba-NEEM gi-DAY-lah

יחאֵין־מְנַהֵ֣ל לָ֔הּ מִכׇּל־בָּנִ֖ים יָלָ֑דָה וְאֵ֤ין מַחֲזִיק֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ מִכׇּל־בָּנִ֖ים גִּדֵּֽלָה׃

19These two things have befallen you: Wrack and ruin—who can console you? Famine and sword—how shall I comfort you?

sh'-ta-YIM he-Nah kor-o-DA-ta-YIKH, mee ya-NUD LAKH, ha-SHOD v'-ha-SHE-ver v'-ha-ra-AV v'-ha-khe-REV, mee a-na-kha-MEKH

יטשְׁתַּ֤יִם הֵ֙נָּה֙ קֹרְאֹתַ֔יִךְ מִ֖י יָנ֣וּד לָ֑ךְ הַשֹּׁ֧ד וְהַשֶּׁ֛בֶר וְהָרָעָ֥ב וְהַחֶ֖רֶב מִ֥י אֲנַחֲמֵֽךְ׃

20Your sons lie in a swoon At the corner of every street— Like an antelope caught in a net— Drunk with the wrath of Hashem, With the rebuke of your God.

ba-NA-yikh u-LO-fu sha-KH'-vu b'-ROSH kol-KHU-tzot k'-TO mikh-MAR ha-m'-LE-im cha-MAT a-do-NAI ga-a-RAT e-lo-HA-yikh

כבָּנַ֜יִךְ עֻלְּפ֥וּ שָׁכְב֛וּ בְּרֹ֥אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצ֖וֹת כְּת֣וֹא מִכְמָ֑ר הַֽמְלֵאִ֥ים חֲמַת־יְהֹוָ֖ה גַּעֲרַ֥ת אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃

21Therefore, Listen to this, unhappy one, Who are drunk, but not with wine!

la-KHEN shim-EE-na ZOT a-nee-YAH u-sh'-ku-RAT v'-lo mi-YAYN.

כאלָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְעִי־נָ֥א זֹ֖את עֲנִיָּ֑ה וּשְׁכֻרַ֖ת וְלֹ֥א מִיָּֽיִן׃

22Thus said Hashem, your Lord, Your God who champions His people: Herewith I take from your hand The cup of reeling, The bowl, the cup of My wrath; You shall never drink it again.

KOH-a-MAR a-do-NAI-yikh a-do-NAI v'-e-lo-HA-yikh ya-REEV a-MO hi-NEH la-kaKH-tee mi-YA-dekh et-KOS ha-tar-E-la et-ku-BA-at KOS kha-ma-TEE lo-to-SEE lee-she-TO-ta od

כבכֹּה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנַ֣יִךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה וֵאלֹהַ֙יִךְ֙ יָרִ֣יב עַמּ֔וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה לָקַ֛חְתִּי מִיָּדֵ֖ךְ אֶת־כּ֣וֹס הַתַּרְעֵלָ֑ה אֶת־קֻבַּ֙עַת֙ כּ֣וֹס חֲמָתִ֔י לֹא־תוֹסִ֥יפִי לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֖הּ עֽוֹד׃

23I will put it in the hands of your tormentors, Who have commanded you, “Get down, that we may walk over you”— So that you made your back like the ground, Like a street for passersby.

v'-sam-TEE-ha b'-yad mo-GA-yikh, a-SHER a-M'-RU l'-naf-SHEKH, sh'-khi v'-na-a-vo-RAH, va-ta-SEE-mi kha-a-RETZ g'-VEKH, v'-kha-KHUtz la-o-v'-REEM. (P)

כגוְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ בְּיַד־מוֹגַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־אָמְר֥וּ לְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ שְׁחִ֣י וְנַעֲבֹ֑רָה וַתָּשִׂ֤ימִי כָאָ֙רֶץ֙ גֵּוֵ֔ךְ וְכַח֖וּץ לַעֹבְרִֽים׃