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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 4

Translation and Transliteration of 

1If you return, O Yisrael —declares Hashem—If you return to Me, If you remove your abominations from My presence And do not waver,

im-ta-SHUV yis-ra-AYL, ne-UM a-do-NAI, e-LAI ta-SHUV, v'-im-ta-SEER shi-KU-tze-KHA mi-pa-NAI, v'-LO ta-NUD

אאִם־תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד׃

2And swear, “As Hashem lives,” In sincerity, justice, and righteousness— Nations shall bless themselves by you And praise themselves by you.

v'-nish-BA-a-TAH khai a-do-NAI b'-e-MET b'-mish-PAHT u-vitz-da-KAH v'-hit-ba-RE-khu VO go-YIM u-VO yit-ha-la-LA-lu.

בוְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃

3For thus said Hashem to the men of Yehuda and to Yerushalayim: Break up the untilled ground, And do not sow among thorns.

ki-KHO a-MAR a-do-NAI l'-ISH y'-hu-DAH v'-li-ru-sha-LA-im ni-RO la-KHEM niR v'-al-tiz-r'-U el-ko-TZIM

גכִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם נִ֥ירוּ לָכֶ֖ם נִ֑יר וְאַֽל־תִּזְרְע֖וּ אֶל־קֹצִֽים׃

4Open your hearts to Hashem, Remove the thickening about your hearts— O men of Yehuda and inhabitants of Yerushalayim— Lest My wrath break forth like fire, And burn, with none to quench it, Because of your wicked acts.

hi-mol-U la-a-do-NAI v'-ha-SI-ru or-LOT l'-va-VE-khem, eesh y'-hu-DAH v'-yo-sh'-VAY y'-ru-sha-LA-yim, pen-tay-TZE kha-ESH kha-MA-tee u-va-a-RAH v'-AYN m'-ka-BEH mi-p'-NAY ro-a ma-a-l'-LAY-khem

דהִמֹּ֣לוּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָסִ֙רוּ֙ עׇרְל֣וֹת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם פֶּן־תֵּצֵ֨א כָאֵ֜שׁ חֲמָתִ֗י וּבָֽעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃

5Proclaim in Yehuda, Announce in Yerushalayim, And say: “Blow the shofar in the land!” Shout aloud and say: “Assemble, and let us go Into the fortified cities!”

ha-GI-du vi-YE-hu-DAH u-vi-ru-sha-LA-im ha-sh'-MI-u v'-im-RU (v'-ti-K'-u) [ti-K'-u] sho-FAR ba-A-retz kir-U mal-U v'-im-RU he-a-S'-FU v'-na-VO-a el-a-REI ha-miv-TZAR

ההַגִּ֣ידוּ בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ הַשְׁמִ֔יעוּ וְאִמְר֕וּ (ותקעו) [תִּקְע֥וּ] שׁוֹפָ֖ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ קִרְא֤וּ מַלְאוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הֵאָסְפ֥וּ וְנָב֖וֹאָה אֶל־עָרֵ֥י הַמִּבְצָֽר׃

6Set up a signpost: To Tzion. Take refuge, do not delay! For I bring evil from the north, And great disaster.

s'-u NAYS tzi-YO-nah ha-EE-zu al ta-a-MO-du KEE ra-AH a-no-KHEE may-VEE mi-tza-FON v'-SHE-ver ga-DOL

ושְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס צִיּ֔וֹנָה הָעִ֖יזוּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ כִּ֣י רָעָ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא מִצָּפ֖וֹן וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃

 4:6   Set up a signpost: To Tzion

Nes Tziona

After the sentry alerts the nation to the invaders from the north, the people flock to Yerushalayim for protection. To guide and direct them, signposts will be established on the roadways. The Hebrew term nes tziona (נס ציונה), ‘a signpost: To Tzion,’ became the name of one of the first towns established in Israel by returning Jews at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1891, a man by the name of Michael Halperin gathered a group of people in Central Israel and unfurled a blue and white flag emblazoned with the words nes tziona written in gold. This location became the modern-day city of Nes Tziona, and Halperin’s banner became the model for the future Israeli flag.

7The lion has come up from his thicket: The destroyer of nations has set out, Has departed from his place, To make your land a desolation; Your cities shall be ruined, Without inhabitants.

a-LAH ar-YAY mi-su-BE-kho u-mash-KHEET go-YEEM na-SA ya-TZA mi-m'-KO-mo la-SUM ar-TZEKH l'-sha-MAH a-RA-yikh ti-tse-NAH me-EYN yo-SHEV

זעָלָ֤ה אַרְיֵה֙ מִֽסֻּבְּכ֔וֹ וּמַשְׁחִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם נָסַ֖ע יָצָ֣א מִמְּקֹמ֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם אַרְצֵךְ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרַ֥יִךְ תִּצֶּ֖ינָה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

8For this, put on sackcloth, Mourn and wail; For the blazing anger of Hashem Has not turned away from us.

al-ZOT khig-ROO sa-KEEM sif-DOO v'-he-LEE-loo, kee LO-shav kha-RON af-a-do-NAI mi-ME-nu. (P)

חעַל־זֹ֛את חִגְר֥וּ שַׂקִּ֖ים סִפְד֣וּ וְהֵילִ֑ילוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־שָׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

9And in that day —declares Hashem— The mind of the king And the mind of the nobles shall fail, The Kohanim shall be appalled, And the Neviim shall stand aghast.

v'-ha-YA va-YOM ha-HU, n'-UM a-do-NAI, yo-BAD lev ha-ME-lekh v'-LEV ha-sa-REEM, v'-na-sha-MU ha-KO-ha-NEEM v'-ha-ne-vee-EEM yit-ma-HU.

טוְהָיָ֤ה בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ׃

10And I said: Ah, Hashem! Surely You have deceived this people and Yerushalayim saying: It shall be well with you— Yet the sword threatens the very life!

va-o-MAR a-HAH a-do-NAI ye-ho-VEE a-KHEN ha-SHE she-SHE-ta la-AM ha-ZEH v'-lee-ru-sha-LA-im lay-MOR sha-LOM yi-he-YEH la-KHEM v'-na-ge-AH khe-REV ad ha-NA-fesh

יוָֽאֹמַ֞ר אֲהָ֣הּ ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אָכֵן֩ הַשֵּׁ֨א הִשֵּׁ֜אתָ לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וְלִירוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁל֖וֹם יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָגְעָ֥ה חֶ֖רֶב עַד־הַנָּֽפֶשׁ׃

11At that time, it shall be said concerning this people and Yerushalayim: The conduct of My poor people is like searing wind From the bare heights of the desert— It will not serve to winnow or to fan.

ba-ET ha-HEE ye-a-MER la-AM ha-ZEH v'-li-ru-sha-LA-yim ru-ACH tzakh she-fa-YIM ba-mid-BAR DE-rekh bat-a-MEE lo liz-ROT v'-lo l'-ha-VAR

יאבָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָעָם־הַזֶּה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם ר֣וּחַ צַ֤ח שְׁפָיִם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּת־עַמִּ֑י ל֥וֹא לִזְר֖וֹת וְל֥וֹא לְהָבַֽר׃

12A full blast from them comes against Me: Now I in turn will bring charges against them.

RU-akh ma-LE me-E-leh ya-VO lee, a-TAH gam a-NEE a-da-BAYR mish-PA-TEEM o-TAM

יבר֧וּחַ מָלֵ֛א מֵאֵ֖לֶּה יָ֣בוֹא לִ֑י עַתָּ֕ה גַּם־אֲנִ֛י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים אוֹתָֽם׃

13Lo, he ascends like clouds, His chariots are like a whirlwind, His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, we are ruined!

hi-NEH ka-a-na-NIM ya-a-LEH v'-ka-SU-fah mar-k'-vo-TAV ka-LU mi-n'-sha-REEM su-SA-yav o-YI LA-nu ki shu-da-D'-nu

יגהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ כַּעֲנָנִ֣ים יַעֲלֶ֗ה וְכַסּוּפָה֙ מַרְכְּבוֹתָ֔יו קַלּ֥וּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֖ים סוּסָ֑יו א֥וֹי לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י שֻׁדָּֽדְנוּ׃

14Wash your heart clean of wickedness, O Yerushalayim, that you may be rescued. How long will you harbor within you Your evil designs?

ka-b'-SI me-ra-AH li-BEKH ye-ru-sha-LA-im l'-ma-an ti-vu-SHI, ad-ma-TAI ta-LEEN b'-kir-BEKH ma-kh'-she-VOT o-NEKH

ידכַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת אוֹנֵֽךְ׃

15Hark, one proclaims from Dan And announces calamity from Mount Efraim!

ki KOL ma-GID mi-DAN u-mash-MI-a a-VEN me-har ef-RA-yim

טוכִּ֛י ק֥וֹל מַגִּ֖יד מִדָּ֑ן וּמַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אָ֖וֶן מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

16Tell the nations: Here they are! Announce concerning Yerushalayim: Watchers are coming from a distant land, They raise their voices against the towns of Yehuda.

ha-Z'-KIRU la-go-YIM hi-NEH ha-sh'-MIM u-al y'-ru-sha-LA-im notz-RIM ba-EEM me-E-retz ha-mer-KHAK va-yi-t'-NU al-a-rei y'-hu-DAH ko-LAM

טזהַזְכִּ֣ירוּ לַגּוֹיִ֗ם הִנֵּה֙ הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם נֹצְרִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ הַמֶּרְחָ֑ק וַֽיִּתְּנ֛וּ עַל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה קוֹלָֽם׃

17Like guards of fields, they surround her on every side. For she has rebelled against Me —declares Hashem.

k'-sho-m'-RAY sa-DAI ha-YU a-LE-ha mi-sa-VEEV, kee o-TEE ma-RA-ta n'-UM a-do-NAI

יזכְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

18Your conduct and your acts Have brought this upon you; This is your bitter punishment; It pierces your very heart.

dar-KEKH u-ma-a-LA-lai-KH a-SO e-LEH la-KH ZOT ra-a-TEKH, KEE mar KEE na-GA ad li-BEKH. (P)

יחדַּרְכֵּךְ֙ וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ עָשׂ֥וֹ אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ זֹ֤את רָעָתֵךְ֙ כִּ֣י מָ֔ר כִּ֥י נָגַ֖ע עַד־לִבֵּֽךְ׃

19Oh, my suffering, my suffering! How I writhe! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart moans within me, I cannot be silent; For I hear the blare of shofarot, Alarms of war.

me-AI, me-AI (a-KHO-la) [o-KHI-la] ki-ROT li-BI ho-MEH-li li-BI lo a-kha-RISH, ki-KOL sho-FAR (sha-MA-ti) [sha-ma-a-T'-ti] naf-SHI te-ru-A-at mil-KHA-ma

יטמֵעַ֣י ׀ מֵעַ֨י ׀ (אחולה) [אֹחִ֜ילָה] קִיר֥וֹת לִבִּ֛י הֹמֶה־לִּ֥י לִבִּ֖י לֹ֣א אַחֲרִ֑שׁ כִּ֣י ק֤וֹל שׁוֹפָר֙ (שמעתי) [שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ] נַפְשִׁ֔י תְּרוּעַ֖ת מִלְחָמָֽה׃

20Disaster overtakes disaster, For all the land has been ravaged. Suddenly my tents have been ravaged, In a moment, my tent cloths.

SHE-ver al-SHE-ver nik-RA kee shu-de-DA kol ha-A-retz pit-OM shu-de-DO o-ha-LAI re-GA ye-ree-o-TAI.

כשֶׁ֤בֶר עַל־שֶׁ֙בֶר֙ נִקְרָ֔א כִּ֥י שֻׁדְּדָ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּתְאֹם֙ שֻׁדְּד֣וּ אֹֽהָלַ֔י רֶ֖גַע יְרִיעֹתָֽי׃

21How long must I see standards And hear the blare of shofarot?

ad-ma-TAI er-EH-neh-NES esh-m'-AH kol sho-FAR.

כאעַד־מָתַ֖י אֶרְאֶה־נֵּ֑ס אֶשְׁמְעָ֖ה ק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃

22For My people are stupid, They give Me no heed; They are foolish children, They are not intelligent. They are clever at doing wrong, But unable to do right.

ki e-VIL a-MI o-TI lo ya-DA-u, ba-NIM se-KHA-leem he-MA, ve-lo ne-vo-NEEM he-MA, kha-ka-MEEM he-MA, le-ha-RA u-le-hee-TEEV lo ya-DA-u.

כבכִּ֣י ׀ אֱוִ֣יל עַמִּ֗י אוֹתִי֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בָּנִ֤ים סְכָלִים֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְלֹ֥א נְבוֹנִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לְהָרַ֔ע וּלְהֵיטִ֖יב לֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃

23I look at the earth, It is unformed and void; At the skies, And their light is gone.

ra-EE-tee et ha-A-retz v'-hi-NEH to-HU va-VO-HU v'-el ha-sha-MA-yim v'-AYN o-RAM

כגרָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ין אוֹרָֽם׃

24I look at the mountains, They are quaking; And all the hills are rocking.

ra-EE-tee he-ha-REEM v'-hi-NEH ro-a-SHEEM v'-kol ha-ge-va-OT hit-kal-KA-lu

כדרָאִ֙יתִי֙ הֶהָרִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה רֹעֲשִׁ֑ים וְכׇל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת הִתְקַלְקָֽלוּ׃

25I look: no man is left, And all the birds of the sky have fled.

ra-EE-tee v'-hi-NEH AYN ha-a-DAM v'-kol-of ha-sha-MA-yim na-DA-du

כהרָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣ין הָאָדָ֑ם וְכׇל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נָדָֽדוּ׃

26I look: the farm land is desert, And all its towns are in ruin— Because of Hashem, Because of His blazing anger.

ra-EE-tee v'-hi-NEH ha-KAR-mel ha-mid-BAR v'-KOL a-RAV ni-t'-TZU mi-p'-NAY a-do-NAI mi-p'-NAY kha-RON a-PO.

כורָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכׇל־עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃

27For thus said Hashem: The whole land shall be desolate, But I will not make an end of it.)

ki-KHO a-MAR a-do-NAI sh'-MA-mah tih-YE kol-ha-A-retz v'-kha-LAH lo e-a-SEH

כזכִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שְׁמָמָ֥ה תִֽהְיֶ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָלָ֖ה לֹ֥א אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃

28For this the earth mourns, And skies are dark above— Because I have spoken, I have planned, And I will not relent or turn back from it.

al-zot te-a-VAL ha-A-retz v'-kad-ROO ha-sha-MA-yim mi-MA-al al KEE di-BAR-tee za-MO-tee v'-lo ni-KHAM-tee v'-lo a-SHUUV mi-ME-nah

כחעַל־זֹאת֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְקָדְר֥וּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מִמָּ֑עַל עַ֤ל כִּֽי־דִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ זַמֹּ֔תִי וְלֹ֥א נִחַ֖מְתִּי וְלֹא־אָשׁ֥וּב מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

29At the shout of horseman and bowman The whole city flees. They enter the thickets, They clamber up the rocks. The whole city is deserted, Not a man remains there.

mi-KOL pa-RASH v'-ro-MAY k'-SHET bo-RA-khat kol-ha-EER ba-U be-a-VIM u-va-ke-FEEM a-LU kol-ha-EER a-ZU-va v'-AYN yo-SHAYV ba-HEN EEsh

כטמִקּ֨וֹל פָּרָ֜שׁ וְרֹ֣מֵה קֶ֗שֶׁת בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ כׇּל־הָעִ֔יר בָּ֚אוּ בֶּעָבִ֔ים וּבַכֵּפִ֖ים עָל֑וּ כׇּל־הָעִ֣יר עֲזוּבָ֔ה וְאֵין־יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּהֵ֖ן אִֽישׁ׃

30And you, who are doomed to ruin, What do you accomplish by wearing crimson, By decking yourself in jewels of gold, By enlarging your eyes with kohl? You beautify yourself in vain: Lovers despise you, They seek your life!

(v'-a-TI) [v'-a-TET] sha-DUD ma-ta-a-SEE, ki-til-B'-shi sha-NEE, ki-ta-a-DEE a-DEE-za-HAV, ki-tik-r'-i va-PUKH e-NA-yikh, la-sha-V' tit-ya-PI, ma-a-SU-vakh o-g'-VEEM naf-SHEKH, ye-va-KE-shu

ל(ואתי) [וְאַ֨תְּ] שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּֽי־תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃

31I hear a voice as of one in travail, Anguish as of a woman bearing her first child, The voice of Fair Tzion Panting, stretching out her hands: “Alas for me! I faint Before the killers!”

ki-KHOL k'-KHO-la sha-MA-ti tza-RAH k'-ma-v'-KI-rah k'-KHOl bat tzi-YON tit-ya-PE-akh t'-fa-RESH ka-PE-ha o-YI-NAH LEE ki-a-YE-fa naf-SHEE l'-ho-r'-GEEM.

לאכִּי֩ ק֨וֹל כְּחוֹלָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי צָרָה֙ כְּמַבְכִּירָ֔ה ק֧וֹל בַּת־צִיּ֛וֹן תִּתְיַפֵּ֖חַ תְּפָרֵ֣שׂ כַּפֶּ֑יהָ אֽוֹי־נָ֣א לִ֔י כִּֽי־עָיְפָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י לְהֹרְגִֽים׃