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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Jonah - Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The word of Hashem came to Yona son of Amitai:

vai-HI, d'-VAR a-do-NAI el yo-NA ben a-mi-TAI lay-MOR

אוַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־יוֹנָ֥ה בֶן־אֲמִתַּ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃

2Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it; for their wickedness has come before Me.

KUM LEKH el ni-NVEH ha-iR ha-g'-DO-lah u-kr'-AH a-LE-ha, KEE a-l'-TA ra-A-tam l'-fa-NAI.

בק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָעִ֥יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה וּקְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּֽי־עָלְתָ֥ה רָעָתָ֖ם לְפָנָֽי׃

3Yona, however, started out to flee to Tarshish from Hashem's service. He went down to Yaffo and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went aboard to sail with the others to Tarshish, away from the service of Hashem.

va-YA-kom yo-NAH liv-RO-akh tar-SHEE-shah mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI va-YAY-red ya-FO va-yim-TZA o-ni-YAH ba-AH tar-SHEESH va-yi-TAYN s'-kha-RAH va-YAY-red BAH la-VO i-ma-HEM tar-SHEE-shah mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI

גוַיָּ֤קׇם יוֹנָה֙ לִבְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ וַיִּמְצָ֥א אֳנִיָּ֣ה ׀ בָּאָ֣ה תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜הּ וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּהּ֙ לָב֤וֹא עִמָּהֶם֙ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃

 1:3  Yona, however, started out to flee to Tarshish from Hashem’s service

How could Yona even entertain the possibility that he could flee from God? Doesn’t Hashem’s providence and dominion extend over all the earth? Many commentators, such as Rashi, Radak, Malbim, and others explain that while Yona knew that Hashem’s rule extends everywhere, the highest level of spiritual consciousness, necessary for direct prophetic communication, is possible only in the Holy Land. By leaving Eretz Yisrael, Yona thought that he had managed to disqualify himself from receiving future prophecies, and that Hashem would have to turn to another prophet to deliver His message.

4But Hashem cast a mighty wind upon the sea, and such a great tempest came upon the sea that the ship was in danger of breaking up.

va-a-do-NAI he-TEEL ru-akh go-do-LAH el ha-YAM va-Y'-hee sa-aR ga-doL ba-YAM v'-ha-o-nee-YAH khee-sh'-VAH l'-hi-sha-VAYR

דוַֽיהֹוָ֗ה הֵטִ֤יל רֽוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה֙ אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם וַיְהִ֥י סַֽעַר־גָּד֖וֹל בַּיָּ֑ם וְהָ֣אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְהִשָּׁבֵֽר׃

5In their fright, the sailors cried out, each to his own god; and they flung the ship's cargo overboard to make it lighter for them. Yona, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold of the vessel where he lay down and fell asleep.

vai-YI-ra-u ha-ma-la-KHEEM va-yiz-a-KU, EESH el e-lo-HAV, va-ya-TI-lu et ha-ke-LEEM a-SHER ba-o-NEE-yah el ha-YAM, l'-ha-KEL me-a-LE-hem, v'-yo-NAH ya-RAD el yar-K'-TEI ha-se-fee-NAH, va-yish-KAV va-ye-RA-dam.

הוַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הַמַּלָּחִ֗ים וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֮ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אֱלֹהָיו֒ וַיָּטִ֨לוּ אֶת־הַכֵּלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּֽאֳנִיָּה֙ אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם לְהָקֵ֖ל מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְיוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַסְּפִינָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַיֵּרָדַֽם׃

6The captain went over to him and cried out, “How can you be sleeping so soundly! Up, call upon your god! Perhaps the god will be kind to us and we will not perish.”

vai-YIK-rav e-LAV rav ha-KHO-vel va-YO-mer LO ma-le-KHA niR-DAM, KUM kra el e-lo-HE-kha u-LAI yit-a-SHEYT ha-e-lo-HEEM LA-nu v'-LO no-VEYD

ווַיִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָיו֙ רַ֣ב הַחֹבֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ מַה־לְּךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם ק֚וּם קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖נוּ וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד׃

7The men said to one another, “Let us cast lots and find out on whose account this misfortune has come upon us.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Yona.

vai-YO-mer-U eesh el ray-E-hu, l'-KU u-na-pee-LAH go-ra-LOT, v'-ne-D'-a b'-she-LE-mee ha-ra-AH ha-ZOT LA-nu, vai-ya-pee-LOO go-ra-LOT, vai-YI-pol ha-go-RAHL al yo-NAH

זוַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ לְכוּ֙ וְנַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּשֶׁלְּמִ֛י הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָ֑נוּ וַיַּפִּ֙לוּ֙ גּֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וַיִּפֹּ֥ל הַגּוֹרָ֖ל עַל־יוֹנָֽה׃

8They said to him, “Tell us, you who have brought this misfortune upon us, what is your business? Where have you come from? What is your country, and of what people are you?”

vai-YO-mer-U e-LAV ha-gee-DA-na LA-nu ba-a-SHER l'-MI ha-ra-AH ha-ZOT LA-nu, MAH m'-la-kh'-TE-kha u-m'-a-YIN ta-VO, MAH ar-TZE-kha v'-AY-mi-ZEH aM a-TAH

חוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו הַגִּידָה־נָּ֣א לָ֔נוּ בַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר לְמִי־הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָ֑נוּ מַה־מְּלַאכְתְּךָ֙ וּמֵאַ֣יִן תָּב֔וֹא מָ֣ה אַרְצֶ֔ךָ וְאֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה עַ֖ם אָֽתָּה׃

9“I am a Hebrew,” he replied. “I worship Hashem, the God of Heaven, who made both sea and land.”

vai-YO-mer a-LE-hem iv-REE a-NO-khi, v'-ET a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY ha-sha-MA-yim a-NEE ya-RAY, a-SHER a-SA et ha-YAM v'-ET ha-ya-BA-sha

טוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עִבְרִ֣י אָנֹ֑כִי וְאֶת־יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃

10The men were greatly terrified, and they asked him, “What have you done?” And when the men learned that he was fleeing from the service of Hashem—for so he told them—

vai-YI-ru ha-a-na-SHEEM yi-RAH g'-do-LAH va-YO-mer-U e-LAV mah-ZOT a-see-TAH, kee-ya-d'-U ha-a-na-SHEEM kee-mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI HU bo-RE-akh, kee hi-GEED la-HEM.

יוַיִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑יתָ כִּֽי־יָדְע֣וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּֽי־מִלִּפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא בֹרֵ֔חַ כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָהֶֽם׃

11they said to him, “What must we do to you to make the sea calm around us?” For the sea was growing more and more stormy.

va-yo-MRU e-LAV mah-na-a-SEH LAKH v'-yish-TOK ha-YAM me-a-LE-nu, KEE ha-YAM ho-LEKH v'-so-ER

יאוַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ מַה־נַּ֣עֲשֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ וְיִשְׁתֹּ֥ק הַיָּ֖ם מֵֽעָלֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֥י הַיָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵֽר׃

12He answered, “Heave me overboard, and the sea will calm down for you; for I know that this terrible storm came upon you on my account.”

vai-YO-mer a-LE-hem, sa-U-NEE va-ha-tee-LU-nee el ha-YAM, v'-yish-TOK ha-YAM me-a-LE-khem, KEE yo-DAY-a a-NEE, KEE ve-SHE-lee ha-sa-AR ha-GA-dol ha-ZEH a-LE-khem.

יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם שָׂא֙וּנִי֙ וַהֲטִילֻ֣נִי אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם וְיִשְׁתֹּ֥ק הַיָּ֖ם מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי כִּ֣י בְשֶׁלִּ֔י הַסַּ֧עַר הַגָּד֛וֹל הַזֶּ֖ה עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

13Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to regain the shore, but they could not, for the sea was growing more and more stormy about them.

vai-YAKH-t'-RU ha-a-na-SHEEM l'-ha-SHEEV el ha-ya-BA-sha v'-LO ya-KHO-lu, KI ha-YAM ho-LEKH v'-so-ER a-LE-hem

יגוַיַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְהָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה וְלֹ֣א יָכֹ֑לוּ כִּ֣י הַיָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵ֖ר עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

14Then they cried out to Hashem: “Oh, please, Hashem, do not let us perish on account of this man's life. Do not hold us guilty of killing an innocent person! For You, Hashem, by Your will, have brought this about.”

vai-yik-RE-u el a-do-NAI va-yo-M'-RU: a-NA a-do-NAI, al-NA no-v'-DAH b'-NE-fesh ha-ISH ha-ZEH, v'-al ti-TAYN a-LAY-nu DAM na-KEE-a, kee a-TAH a-do-NAI, ka-a-SHER kha-FA-tz-TAH a-SEE-tah.

ידוַיִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֜ה וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אָנָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אַל־נָ֣א נֹאבְדָ֗ה בְּנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ׃

15And they heaved Yona overboard, and the sea stopped raging.

vai-YIS-u et yo-NAH va-y'-ti-LU-hu el ha-YAM va-ya-a-MOD ha-YAM mi-za-A-po

טווַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־יוֹנָ֔ה וַיְטִלֻ֖הוּ אֶל־הַיָּ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַיָּ֖ם מִזַּעְפּֽוֹ׃

16The men feared Hashem greatly; they offered a sacrifice to Hashem and they made vows.

vai-YI-ru ha-a-na-SHEEM yir-AH g'-do-LAH et a-do-NAI vai-YIZ-b'-KHU-ze-VAKH la-a-do-NAI vai-YI-d'-RU ne-da-REEM

טזוַיִּֽירְא֧וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּֽזְבְּחוּ־זֶ֙בַח֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיִּדְּר֖וּ נְדָרִֽים׃