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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 59

Translation and Transliteration of 

1No, Hashem's arm is not too short to save, Or His ear too dull to hear;

HEN lo-KATZ-rah yad a-do-NAI me-ho-SHI-a, v'-lo-ka-VE-da a-Z'-no mi-sh'-MO-a.

אהֵ֛ן לֹא־קָצְרָ֥ה יַד־יְהֹוָ֖ה מֵהוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְלֹא־כָבְדָ֥ה אׇזְנ֖וֹ מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃

2But your iniquities have been a barrier Between you and your God, Your sins have made Him turn His face away And refuse to hear you.

KI im-a-vo-NOT-khem ha-YU mav-di-LEEM be-NE-khem le-VEIN e-lo-HE-khem v'-cha-to-TO-tay-khem his-ti-ROO fa-NEEM mi-KE-khem mi-sh'-MO-a

בכִּ֤י אִם־עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ הָי֣וּ מַבְדִּלִ֔ים בֵּינֵכֶ֕ם לְבֵ֖ין אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְחַטֹּאותֵיכֶ֗ם הִסְתִּ֧ירוּ פָנִ֛ים מִכֶּ֖ם מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃

3For your hands are defiled with crime And your fingers with iniquity. Your lips speak falsehood, Your tongue utters treachery.

ki ka-PE-khem ne-go-A-lu va-DAM v'-etz-be-o-tei-KHEM be-a-VON, sif-to-tei-KHEM di-be-ru-SHE-ker, l'-sho-nei-KHEM a-vo-LAH te-HE-ge.

גכִּ֤י כַפֵּיכֶם֙ נְגֹאֲל֣וּ בַדָּ֔ם וְאֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם בֶּעָוֺ֑ן שִׂפְתֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ דִּבְּרוּ־שֶׁ֔קֶר לְשׁוֹנְכֶ֖ם עַוְלָ֥ה תֶהְגֶּֽה׃

4No one sues justly Or pleads honestly; They rely on emptiness and speak falsehood, Conceiving wrong and begetting evil.

AYN-ko-RAY b'-tze-DEK v'-AYN nish-PAHT b'-e-mu-NAH ba-TO-akh al TO-hu v'-da-BER sha-VEH ha-RO a-MAL v'-ho-LEED a-VON

דאֵין־קֹרֵ֣א בְצֶ֔דֶק וְאֵ֥ין נִשְׁפָּ֖ט בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה בָּט֤וֹחַ עַל־תֹּ֙הוּ֙ וְדַבֶּר־שָׁ֔וְא הָר֥וֹ עָמָ֖ל וְהוֹלֵ֥יד אָֽוֶן׃

5They hatch adder's eggs And weave spider webs; He who eats of those eggs will die, And if one is crushed, it hatches out a viper.

be-TZEI tzi-f'o-NEE bi-KE-u v'-ku-REI a-KA-vish ye-e-RO-gu ha-o-KHEL mi-bei-TZEI-hem ya-MUT v'-ha-ZO-reh ti-BA-ka e-f'-a

הבֵּיצֵ֤י צִפְעוֹנִי֙ בִּקֵּ֔עוּ וְקוּרֵ֥י עַכָּבִ֖ישׁ יֶאֱרֹ֑גוּ הָאֹכֵ֤ל מִבֵּֽיצֵיהֶם֙ יָמ֔וּת וְהַזּוּרֶ֖ה תִּבָּקַ֥ע אֶפְעֶֽה׃

6Their webs will not serve as a garment, What they make cannot serve as clothing; Their deeds are deeds of mischief, Their hands commit lawless acts,

KU-rei-HEM lo yi-HU l'-BE-ged v'-lo yit-KA-su b'-ma-a-SEI-HEM, ma-a-SEI-HEM, ma-a-SEI-a-VON u-PO-al cha-MAS b'-ka-PEI-HEM.

וקֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ לֹֽא־יִהְי֣וּ לְבֶ֔גֶד וְלֹ֥א יִתְכַּסּ֖וּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ מַֽעֲשֵׂי־אָ֔וֶן וּפֹ֥עַל חָמָ֖ס בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃

7Their feet run after evil, They hasten to shed the blood of the innocent. Their plans are plans of mischief, Destructiveness and injury are on their roads.

rag-LE-hem la-RA ya-RU-tzu vi-ma-ha-RU lish-POKH dam na-KI ma-kh'-she-vo-TE-hem ma-kh'-she-VOT a-VEN SHOD va-SHE-ver bi-m'-si-LO-tam

זרַגְלֵיהֶם֙ לָרַ֣ע יָרֻ֔צוּ וִֽימַהֲר֔וּ לִשְׁפֹּ֖ךְ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י מַחְשְׁבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת אָ֔וֶן שֹׁ֥ד וָשֶׁ֖בֶר בִּמְסִלּוֹתָֽם׃

8They do not care for the way of integrity, There is no justice on their paths. They make their courses crooked, No one who walks in them cares for integrity.

DE-rekh sha-LOM lo ya-DA-u v'-AYN mish-PAT b'-ma-g'-lo-TAM, ne-tee-vo-TE-hem iK'-shu LA-hem, KOL do-REKH bah lo ya-DA sha-LOM.

חדֶּ֤רֶךְ שָׁלוֹם֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ וְאֵ֥ין מִשְׁפָּ֖ט בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑ם נְתִיבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ עִקְּשׁ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם כֹּ֚ל דֹּרֵ֣ךְ בָּ֔הּ לֹ֥א יָדַ֖ע שָׁלֽוֹם׃

9“That is why redress is far from us, And vindication does not reach us. We hope for light, and lo! there is darkness; For a gleam, and we must walk in gloom.

al-KEN ra-KHAK mish-PAT mi-me-NU, v'-LO ta-see-GE-nu tze-da-KAH, ne-KAV-eh la-OR, v'-hi-NEH-KHO-shekh lin-go-HOT ba-a-FE-lot ne-ha-LEKH

טעַל־כֵּ֗ן רָחַ֤ק מִשְׁפָּט֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּ צְדָקָ֑ה נְקַוֶּ֤ה לָאוֹר֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לִנְגֹה֖וֹת בָּאֲפֵל֥וֹת נְהַלֵּֽךְ׃

10We grope, like blind men along a wall; Like those without eyes we grope. We stumble at noon, as if in darkness; Among the sturdy, we are like the dead.

n'-ga-sh'-SHA kha-i-VEE-reem KEER u-k'-AYN ay-NA-yim n'-ga-sh-SHA ka-SHA-l'-NU va-tzo-ho-RA-yim ka-NE-shef ba-ash-ma-NEEM ka-m'-TEEM

ינְגַשְׁשָׁ֤ה כַֽעִוְרִים֙ קִ֔יר וּכְאֵ֥ין עֵינַ֖יִם נְגַשֵּׁ֑שָׁה כָּשַׁ֤לְנוּ בַֽצׇּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁף בָּאַשְׁמַנִּ֖ים כַּמֵּתִֽים׃

11We all growl like bears And moan like doves. We hope for redress, and there is none; For victory, and it is far from us.

ne-he-MEH ka-du-BEEM ku-LA-nu v'-ka-yo-NEEM ha-GO-ah ne-HE-geh ne-ka-VEH la-mish-PAT va-A-yin li-shu-AH ra-cha-KAH mi-ME-nu

יאנֶהֱמֶ֤ה כַדֻּבִּים֙ כֻּלָּ֔נוּ וְכַיּוֹנִ֖ים הָגֹ֣ה נֶהְגֶּ֑ה נְקַוֶּ֤ה לַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ וָאַ֔יִן לִישׁוּעָ֖ה רָחֲקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

12For our many sins are before You, Our guilt testifies against us. We are aware of our sins, And we know well our iniquities:

ki-RA-vu f'-sha-EY-nu ne-G'-de-KHA v'-cha-to-O-tey-nu a-n'-TA ba-NU ki-f'-sha-EY-nu i-ta-NU va-a-vo-NOT-ey-nu y'-da-a-NUM

יבכִּֽי־רַבּ֤וּ פְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙ נֶגְדֶּ֔ךָ וְחַטֹּאותֵ֖ינוּ עָ֣נְתָה בָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי־פְשָׁעֵ֣ינוּ אִתָּ֔נוּ וַעֲוֺנֹתֵ֖ינוּ יְדַעֲנֽוּם׃

13Rebellion, faithlessness to Hashem, And turning away from our God, Planning fraud and treachery, Conceiving lies and uttering them with the throat.

pa-SHO-a v'-ka-KHESH ba-a-do-NAI v'-na-SOG me-a-KHAR e-lo-HE-nu da-BER o-SHEK v'-sa-RAH ho-RO v'-ho-GO mi-LEV div-rei-SHA-ker

יגפָּשֹׁ֤עַ וְכַחֵשׁ֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְנָס֖וֹג מֵאַחַ֣ר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ דַּבֶּר־עֹ֣שֶׁק וְסָרָ֔ה הֹר֧וֹ וְהֹג֛וֹ מִלֵּ֖ב דִּבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר׃

14And so redress is turned back And vindication stays afar, Because honesty stumbles in the public square And uprightness cannot enter.

v'-hu-SAG a-KHOR mish-PAT u-tze-da-KAH me-RA-khok ta-a-MOD, kee-khosh-LAH va-RE-khov e-MET u-ne-ko-KHA lo-tu-KHAL la-VO. (S)

ידוְהֻסַּ֤ג אָחוֹר֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה מֵרָח֣וֹק תַּעֲמֹ֑ד כִּֽי־כָשְׁלָ֤ה בָֽרְחוֹב֙ אֱמֶ֔ת וּנְכֹחָ֖ה לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל לָבֽוֹא׃

15Honesty has been lacking, He who turns away from evil is despoiled.” Hashem saw and was displeased That there was no redress.

va-T'-hee ha-e-MET ne-DER-et v'-SAHR may-RA mish-TO-lel va-YAR a-do-NAI va-YE-ra b'-ay-NAV kee-AYN mish-PAT

טווַתְּהִ֤י הָאֱמֶת֙ נֶעְדֶּ֔רֶת וְסָ֥ר מֵרָ֖ע מִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑ל וַיַּ֧רְא יְהֹוָ֛ה וַיֵּ֥רַע בְּעֵינָ֖יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

16He saw that there was no man, He gazed long, but no one intervened. Then His own arm won Him triumph, His victorious right hand supported Him.

vai-YAR ki-EIN EESH, vai-yish-TO-mem ki-EIN maf-GEE-a, va-TO-sha LO ze-RO-o, v'-tzid-ka-TO hi s'-ma-KHA-te-HU

טזוַיַּרְא֙ כִּֽי־אֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין מַפְגִּ֑יעַ וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע לוֹ֙ זְרֹע֔וֹ וְצִדְקָת֖וֹ הִ֥יא סְמָכָֽתְהוּ׃

17He donned victory like a coat of mail, With a helmet of triumph on His head; He clothed Himself with garments of retribution, Wrapped himself in zeal as in a robe.

vai-YIL-bash t'-za-da-KAH ka-sh'-RYAN v'-ko-VAY y'-shu-AH b'-RO-sho vai-YIL-bash big-DAY na-KAM til-BO-shet vai-YA-at ka-m'-EEL kin-AH

יזוַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁ צְדָקָה֙ כַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ן וְכ֥וֹבַע יְשׁוּעָ֖ה בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁ בִּגְדֵ֤י נָקָם֙ תִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיַּ֥עַט כַּמְעִ֖יל קִנְאָֽה׃

18According to their deserts, So shall He repay fury to His foes; He shall make requital to His enemies, Requital to the distant lands.

k'-AL g'-mu-LOT k'-AL y'-sha-LAYM khe-MA l'-tza-RAV g'-MUL l'-o-y'-VAV la-i-YIM g'-MUL y'-sha-LAYM

יחכְּעַ֤ל גְּמֻלוֹת֙ כְּעַ֣ל יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם חֵמָ֣ה לְצָרָ֔יו גְּמ֖וּל לְאֹיְבָ֑יו לָאִיִּ֖ים גְּמ֥וּל יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

19From the west, they shall revere the name of Hashem, And from the east, His Presence. For He shall come like a hemmed-in stream Which the wind of Hashem drives on;

v'-yi-ru mi-ma-a-RAV et-SHEM a-do-NAI u-mi-miZ-RAKH SHE-mesh et k'-vo-DO, kee ya-VO kha-na-HAR tzar, ru-akh a-do-NAI no-SE-sa BO.

יטוְיִֽרְא֤וּ מִֽמַּעֲרָב֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ אֶת־כְּבוֹד֑וֹ כִּֽי־יָב֤וֹא כַנָּהָר֙ צָ֔ר ר֥וּחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה נֹ֥סְסָה בֽוֹ׃

20He shall come as redeemer to Tzion, To those in Yaakov who turn back from sin —declares Hashem.

u-VA l'-tzi-YON go-AYL ul-sha-VAY FE-sha b'-ya-a-KOV n'-UM a-do-NAI

כוּבָ֤א לְצִיּוֹן֙ גּוֹאֵ֔ל וּלְשָׁבֵ֥י פֶ֖שַׁע בְּיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

 59:20   He shall come as redeemer to Tzion

Ancient ruins in Caesarea.

After the climactic battle described above, Yesha­yahu promises that a redeemer will come to Tzion. Rashi observes, “As long as Tzion is in ruins, the redeemer has not yet come.” On a simple level, Rashi is saying that once the redeemer comes, Tzion will be rebuilt. Hence, if Tzion remains in ruins then surely he has not yet come. On a deeper level, perhaps he is implying that for the redeemer to come, Tzion cannot be in a state of disrepair; instead, the city of Yeru­shalayim and the Land of Israel must first be built by the returnees to the land. Only then will God’s spirit enter the people. Indeed, as the returnees of modern times have begun to rebuild and Eretz Yisrael flourishes, our generation eagerly awaits the redeemer to come.

21And this shall be My covenant with them, said Hashem: My spirit which is upon you, and the words which I have placed in your mouth, shall not be absent from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children's children—said Hashem—from now on, for all time.

va-a-NI zot b'-ree-TEE o-TAM a-MAR a-do-NAI ru-KHEE a-SHER a-LE-kha u-d'-va-RAI a-SHER sa-M'-TEE b'-fi-KHA, lo ya-MU-shu mi-pi-KHA u-mi-pi za-ra-a-KHA u-mi-pi ze-RA za-ra-a-KHA a-MAR a-do-NAI, may-a-TAH v'-ad-o-LAM. (SeLaH)

כאוַאֲנִ֗י זֹ֣את בְּרִיתִ֤י אוֹתָם֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה רוּחִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלֶ֔יךָ וּדְבָרַ֖י אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי בְּפִ֑יךָ לֹֽא־יָמ֡וּשׁוּ מִפִּ֩יךָ֩ וּמִפִּ֨י זַרְעֲךָ֜ וּמִפִּ֨י זֶ֤רַע זַרְעֲךָ֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה מֵעַתָּ֖ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃