TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 13
Translation and Transliteration of
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1At that time they read to the people from the Book of Moshe, and it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite might ever enter the congregation of Hashem,
ba-YOM ha-HU nik-RA b'-SE-fer mo-SHE b'-o-Z'-nay ha-AM, v'-nim-TZA ka-TOV BO a-SHER lo ya-VO a-MO-nee u-mo-a-VEE bikh-HAL ha-e-lo-HEEM ad-o-LAM.
אבַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נִקְרָ֛א בְּסֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְנִמְצָא֙ כָּת֣וּב בּ֔וֹ אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹא־יָב֨וֹא עַמֹּנִ֧י וּמוֹאָבִ֛י בִּקְהַ֥ל הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
2since they did not meet Yisrael with bread and water, and hired Balaam against them to curse them; but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
ki LO kid-MU et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ba-LE-khem u-va-MA-yim va-yis-KOR a-LAV et bil-AHM l'-kal-LO va-ya-ha-FOKH e-lo-HAY-nu ha-ke-la-LAH l'-v'-ra-KHA
בכִּ֣י לֹ֧א קִדְּמ֛וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר עָלָ֤יו אֶת־בִּלְעָם֙ לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָֽה׃
3When they heard the Teaching, they separated all the alien admixture from Yisrael.
vai-HI k'-sh'-MO-am et ha-TO-rah va-YAV-di-lu kol-e-REV mi-yis-ra-AYL
גוַיְהִ֖י כְּשׇׁמְעָ֣ם אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ כׇל־עֵ֖רֶב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4Earlier, the Kohen Elyashiv, a relative of Tobiah, who had been appointed over the rooms in the House of our God,
v'-li-f'-NAY mi-ZEH el-ya-SHEEV ha-ko-HAYN na-TUN b'-lish-KAT bayt e-lo-HAY-nu ka-ROV l'-to-vi-YAH
דוְלִפְנֵ֣י מִזֶּ֔ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נָת֖וּן בְּלִשְׁכַּ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ קָר֖וֹב לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃
5had assigned to him a large room where they used to store the meal offering, the frankincense, the equipment, the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, the dues of the Leviim, singers and gatekeepers, and the gifts for the Kohanim.
vai-YA-as LO lish-KAH g'-do-LAH v'-SHAM ha-YU l'-fa-NIM no-t'-NEEM et ha-min-KHA ha-le-VO-nah v'-ha-ke-LEEM u-ma-SAR ha-da-GAN ha-tee-ROSH v'-ha-yitz-HAR mitz-VAT ha-le-vee-YEEM v'-ha-m'-sho-r'-REEM v'-ha-sho-a-REEM u-t'-ru-MAT ha-ko-ha-NEEM
הוַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֜וֹ לִשְׁכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה וְשָׁ֣ם הָי֪וּ לְפָנִ֟ים נֹ֠תְנִ֠ים אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֨ה הַלְּבוֹנָ֜ה וְהַכֵּלִ֗ים וּמַעְשַׂ֤ר הַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר מִצְוַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֑ים וּתְרוּמַ֖ת הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃
6During all this time, I was not in Yerushalayim, for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I went to the king, and only after a while did I ask leave of the king [to return].
u-v'-KOL-ZEH lo ha-YEE-tee bi-y'-ru-sha-LA-im, KEE bi-sh'-NAT sh'-LO-sheem u-sh'-TA-yim l'-ar-takh-shas-ta m'-lekh-ba-VEL, ba-TEE el ha-ME-lekh u-l'-KAYTZ ya-MEEM nish-aL-TEE min ha-ME-lekh
ווּבְכׇל־זֶ֕ה לֹ֥א הָיִ֖יתִי בִּֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּ֡י בִּשְׁנַת֩ שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁתַּ֜יִם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ בָּ֣אתִי אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְקֵ֥ץ יָמִ֖ים נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי מִן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
7When I arrived in Yerushalayim, I learned of the outrage perpetrated by Elyashiv on behalf of Tobiah in assigning him a room in the courts of the House of Hashem.
va-a-VO li-ru-sha-LA-im va-a-VEE-nah va-ra-AH a-SHER a-SA el-ya-SHEEV l'-to-vee-YAH la-a-SOT LO nish-KAH b'-chatz-RAY bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM
זוָאָב֖וֹא לִֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וָאָבִ֣ינָה בָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לוֹ֙ נִשְׁכָּ֔ה בְּחַצְרֵ֖י בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
8I was greatly displeased, and had all the household gear of Tobiah thrown out of the room;
vai-YAY-ra LEE me-OD va-a-sh'li-KHA et-KOL-k'-LAY vayt-to-VI-yah ha-KHUTZ min ha-li-sh'-KAH
חוַיֵּ֥רַֽע לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד וָֽאַשְׁלִ֜יכָה אֶֽת־כׇּל־כְּלֵ֧י בֵית־טוֹבִיָּ֛ה הַח֖וּץ מִן־הַלִּשְׁכָּֽה׃
9I gave orders to purify the rooms, and had the equipment of the House of Hashem and the meal offering and the frankincense put back.
v'-o-M'-RAH va-y'-ta-ha-ru ha-l'-sha-KHOT va-a-SHI-vah SHAM k'-LAY bAYT ha-e-lo-HEEM et ha-mi-N'-kha v'-ha-l'-vo-NAH.
טוָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה וַֽיְטַהֲר֖וּ הַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹת וָאָשִׁ֣יבָה שָּׁ֗ם כְּלֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְהַלְּבוֹנָֽה׃
10I then discovered that the portions of the Leviim had not been contributed, and that the Leviim and the singers who performed the [temple] service had made off, each to his fields.
va-ei-DE-a ki-m'-NA-yot ha-le-vee-YIM lo ni-TA-na, va-yiv-RE-khu eesh-la-sa-DE-hu ha-le-vee-YIM v'-ha-m'-sho-r'-REEM o-SAY ha-m'-la-KHAH
יוָאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה כִּֽי־מְנָי֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לֹ֣א נִתָּ֑נָה וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ אִישׁ־לְשָׂדֵ֛הוּ הַלְוִיִּ֥ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים עֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃
11I censured the prefects, saying, “How is it that the House of Hashem has been neglected?” Then I recalled [the Leviim] and installed them again in their posts;
va-a-REE-vah et ha-s'-ga-NEEM va-o-M'-RAH: ma-DO-a ne-e-ZAV bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM, va-e-k'-B'-TZEM va-a-a-mi-DEM al o-m'-DAM
יאוָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת־הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה מַדּ֖וּעַ נֶעֱזַ֣ב בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וָֽאֶקְבְּצֵ֔ם וָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖ם עַל־עׇמְדָֽם׃
12and all Yehuda brought the tithes of grain, wine, and oil into the treasuries.
v'-KOL y'-hu-DAH hay-VEE-u ma-SAR ha-da-GAN v'-ha-TEE-rosh v'-ha-yitz-HAR la-o-tza-ROT
יבוְכׇל־יְהוּדָ֗ה הֵבִ֜יאוּ מַעְשַׂ֧ר הַדָּגָ֛ן וְהַתִּיר֥וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֖ר לָאוֹצָרֽוֹת׃
13I put the treasuries in the charge of the Kohen Shelemiah, the scribe Tzadok, and Pedaiah of the Leviim; and assisting them was Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah—for they were regarded as trustworthy persons, and it was their duty to distribute the portions to their brothers.
va-o-tz'-RAH al o-tza-ROT sh'-le-MY-a ha-ko-HAYN v'-tza-DOK ha-so-FAYR u-f'-da-YA min ha-l'-vee-YEEM v'-al ya-DAM cha-NAN ben za-KUR ben mat-ta-NYA, kee ne-e-ma-NEEM nekh-sha-VU va-a-LAY-hem la-cha-LOK la-a-cha-Y-hem.
יגוָאוֹצְרָ֣ה עַל־א֠וֹצָר֠וֹת שֶׁלֶמְיָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְצָד֣וֹק הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וּפְדָיָה֙ מִן־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְעַ֨ל־יָדָ֔ם חָנָ֥ן בֶּן־זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָ֑ה כִּ֤י נֶאֱמָנִים֙ נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וַעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לַחֲלֹ֥ק לַאֲחֵיהֶֽם׃
14O my God, remember me favorably for this, and do not blot out the devotion I showed toward the House of my God and its attendants.
Zo-KH'-ra-lee e-lo-HAI al-ZOT, v'-al-TE-makh cha-sa-DAI a-SHER a-see-TEE b'-VEYT e-lo-HAI u-v'-mish-ma-RAV
ידזׇכְרָה־לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י עַל־זֹ֑את וְאַל־תֶּ֣מַח חֲסָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֛יתִי בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהַ֖י וּבְמִשְׁמָרָֽיו׃
15At that time I saw men in Yehuda treading winepresses on the Shabbat, and others bringing heaps of grain and loading them onto asses, also wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of goods, and bringing them into Yerushalayim on the Shabbat. I admonished them there and then for selling provisions.
ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM ra-EE-tee vi-Y'-hu-DAH dor-kheeM gi-TOT ba-sha-BAT u-m'-vee-EEM ha-a-RE-mot v'-o-m'-SEEM al ha-cha-mo-REEM v'-af ya-YEEN a-na-VEEM u-t'-E-nim v'-kol ma-SA u-m'-vee-EEM ye-ru-sha-LA-im b'-YOM ha-sha-BAT va-a-EED b'-YOM mikh-RAM tza-YEED
טובַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֡מָּה רָאִ֣יתִי בִֽיהוּדָ֣ה ׀ דֹּֽרְכִֽים־גִּתּ֣וֹת ׀ בַּשַּׁבָּ֡ת וּמְבִיאִ֣ים הָעֲרֵמ֣וֹת וְֽעֹמְסִ֪ים עַל־הַחֲמֹרִ֟ים וְאַף־יַ֜יִן עֲנָבִ֤ים וּתְאֵנִים֙ וְכׇל־מַשָּׂ֔א וּמְבִיאִ֥ים יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וָאָעִ֕יד בְּי֖וֹם מִכְרָ֥ם צָֽיִד׃
16Tyrians who lived there brought fish and all sorts of wares and sold them on the Shabbat to the Judahites in Yerushalayim.
v'-ha-tzo-REEM ya-SHE-vu bah, m'-vee-EEM da-AG v'-kol ME-kher, u-mo-k'-REEM ba-sha-BAT liv-NAY y'-hu-DAH u-vi-ru-sha-LA-im.
טזוְהַצֹּרִים֙ יָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ מְבִיאִ֥ים דָּ֖אג וְכׇל־מֶ֑כֶר וּמוֹכְרִ֧ים בַּשַּׁבָּ֛ת לִבְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
17I censured the nobles of Yehuda, saying to them, “What evil thing is this that you are doing, profaning the Shabbat day!
va-a-RI-vah et kho-RAY y'-hu-DA va-o-M'-RA la-HEM, ma ha-DA-var ha-RA ha-ZEH a-SHER a-TEM o-SEEM u-m'-kha-l'-LEEM et yom ha-sha-BAT
יזוָאָרִ֕יבָה אֵ֖ת חֹרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֨ר הָרָ֤ע הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃
18This is just what your ancestors did, and for it Hashem brought all this misfortune on this city; and now you give cause for further wrath against Yisrael by profaning the Shabbat!”
ha-LO koh a-SU a-vo-TAY-khem va-YA-VE e-lo-HAY-nu a-LE-nu AYT kol ha-RA-a ha-ZOT v'-al ha-IYR ha-ZOT v'-a-TEM mo-SEE-feem kha-RON al yis-ra-AYL l'-kha-LEL et ha-SHA-bat.
יחהֲל֨וֹא כֹ֤ה עָשׂוּ֙ אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַיָּבֵ֨א אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ עָלֵ֗ינוּ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְעַ֖ל הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְאַתֶּ֞ם מוֹסִיפִ֤ים חָרוֹן֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְחַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃
19When shadows filled the gateways of Yerushalayim at the approach of the Shabbat, I gave orders that the doors be closed, and ordered them not to be opened until after the Shabbat. I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that no goods should enter on the Shabbat.
vai-HEE ka-a-SHER tza-l'-LU sha-a-RAY y'-ru-sha-LA-im lif-NAY ha-sha-BAT va-o-m'-RAH va-yi-sa-g'-RU ha-d'-la-TOT va-o-m'-RAH a-SHER LO yif-ta-KHUM AD a-KHAR ha-sha-BAT u-mi-n'-a-RAI he-e-MAD-tee al ha-sh'-a-REEM lo ya-VO ma-SA b'-YOM ha-sha-BAT
יטוַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צָֽלְלוּ֩ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לִפְנֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת וָאֹֽמְרָה֙ וַיִּסָּגְר֣וּ הַדְּלָת֔וֹת וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִפְתָּח֔וּם עַ֖ד אַחַ֣ר הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וּמִנְּעָרַ֗י הֶֽעֱמַ֙דְתִּי֙ עַל־הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לֹא־יָב֥וֹא מַשָּׂ֖א בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃
13:19 I gave orders that the doors be closed

Gate of Mercy
Jerusalem’s Old City constituted the entire city of Yerushalyim until the 1860’s. There had always been a protective wall surrounding it, with gates allowing passage in and out. In Nechemya’s time, the wall was reconstructed and the gates, with their strong doors, were closed to bar passage from evildoers. When the Crusaders ruled over Yerushalayim, the walls surrounding the city had only four gates, but when Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Turkish Empire renovated the walls of Yerushalayim from 1538-42, he ensured that there were six functional gates. In 1887, the New Gate was added and the Tanners’ Gate was discovered, and opened during excavations in the 1990s. Like Nechemya’s gates, until 1887 the current Old City gates were closed each day before sunset and opened again at sunrise. Today, however, seven of the gates remain open all the time and have no doors. Only the Gate of Mercy on the eastern side of the Temple Mount wall remains sealed and, according to tradition, will be reopened in the days of the Mashiach. According to Yechezkel, in the future there will be twelve gates leading to the city of Yerushalyim, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48:31-34). No matter how many gates there are, “Hashem loves the gates of Tzion, more than all the dwellings of Yaakov” (Psalms 87:2), for they lead to his most precious city, Yerushalayim.
20Once or twice the merchants and the vendors of all sorts of wares spent the night outside Yerushalayim,
vai-YA-le-NU ha-ro-K'-LEEM u-mo-K'-REI kol-mim-KAR mi-KHUtz li-ru-sha-LA-im pa-AM u-sh'-TA-yim
כוַיָּלִ֨ינוּ הָרֹכְלִ֜ים וּמֹכְרֵ֧י כׇל־מִמְכָּ֛ר מִח֥וּץ לִירוּשָׁלָ֖͏ִם פַּ֥עַם וּשְׁתָּֽיִם׃
21but I warned them, saying, “What do you mean by spending the night alongside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands upon you!” From then on they did not come on the Shabbat.
va-a-OI-da va-HEM va-o-M'-RA a-LE-hem, ma-DO-a a-TEM le-NEEM NE-ged ha-KHO-ma, im tish-NU yad esh-LAKH BA-khem, min ha-EYT ha-HEE lo-BA-u ba-SHA-bat.
כאוָאָעִ֣ידָה בָהֶ֗ם וָאֹמְרָ֤ה אֲלֵיהֶם֙ מַדּ֜וּעַ אַתֶּ֤ם לֵנִים֙ נֶ֣גֶד הַחוֹמָ֔ה אִם־תִּשְׁנ֕וּ יָ֖ד אֶשְׁלַ֣ח בָּכֶ֑ם מִן־הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא לֹא־בָ֖אוּ בַּשַּׁבָּֽת׃
22I gave orders to the Leviim to purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to preserve the sanctity of the Shabbat. This too, O my God, remember to my credit, and spare me in accord with your abundant faithfulness.
va-o-m'-RAH la-l'-vee-YEEM a-SHER yi-h'-YU mi-ta-ha-REEM u-va-EEM shom-REEM ha-sh'-a-REEM l'-ka-DAYSH et yom ha-sha-BAT, gam-zot zokh-RAH-lee e-lo-HAI v'-khoo-SA al-AI k'-rov khas-DE-kha. (P)
כבוָאֹמְרָ֣ה לַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְי֤וּ מִֽטַּהֲרִים֙ וּבָאִים֙ שֹׁמְרִ֣ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת גַּם־זֹאת֙ זׇכְרָה־לִּ֣י אֱלֹהַ֔י וְח֥וּסָה עָלַ֖י כְּרֹ֥ב חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃
23Also at that time, I saw that Yehudim had married Ashdodite, Ammonite, and Moabite women;
gam ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM ra-EE-tee et ha-y'-hu-DEEM ho-SHEE-vu na-SHEEM (ash-do-DEE-yot) [ash-do-DI-yot] (a-mo-NEE-yot) [a-mo-NEE-yot] mo-a-vee-YOT
כגגַּ֣ם ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִים֙ הֹשִׁ֗יבוּ נָשִׁים֙ (אשדודיות) [אַשְׁדֳּדִיּ֔וֹת] (עמוניות) [עַמֳּנִיּ֖וֹת] מוֹאֲבִיּֽוֹת׃
24a good number of their children spoke the language of Ashdod and the language of those various peoples, and did not know how to speak Judean.
uv-nay-HEM kha-TZEE m'-da-BAYR ash-do-DEET v'-ay-NAM ma-kee-REEM l'-da-BAYR y'-hu-DEET v'-khil-SHON am va-AM
כדוּבְנֵיהֶ֗ם חֲצִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית וְאֵינָ֥ם מַכִּירִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוּדִ֑ית וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן עַ֥ם וָעָֽם׃
13:24 did not know how to speak Judean

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922)
Nechemya bemoans the fact that in seventy years of exile the Jews of his generation forgot how to speak Hebrew. The situation was even worse in the modern era after 2,500 years of exile, when Hebrew was nearly extinct, reserved exclusively as the Jewish holy language for prayer and study. This all changed with the advent of the Zionist revival, thanks in large part to the efforts of one man, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922), who decided that “in order to have our own land and political life it is also necessary that we have a language to hold us together.” Many scoffed at Ben-Yehuda’s vision, but today Hebrew has been revived from the dustbin of history and is the official language of the State of Israel. Millions of Israeli Jews today converse in Hebrew, conduct their daily affairs in Hebrew, and can read the Tanakh in their original mother tongue as well. In the words of his biographer, “Before Ben-Yehuda people could speak Hebrew; after him, they did.”
25I censured them, cursed them, flogged them, tore out their hair, and adjured them by Hashem, saying, “You shall not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, or take any of their daughters for your sons or yourselves.
va-a-RIV i-MAM va-a-kal-LEM va-a-KHEH me-HEM a-na-SHEEM va-e-m'-TEM va-a-sh'-BEEM b'-e-lo-HEEM, im ti-t'-NU v'-no-TE-khem li-v'-NE-hem, v'-im ti-s'-U mi-b'-no-TE-hem li-v'-NE-khem v'-la-KHEM.
כהוָאָרִ֤יב עִמָּם֙ וָאֲקַֽלְלֵ֔ם וָאַכֶּ֥ה מֵהֶ֛ם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וָֽאֶמְרְטֵ֑ם וָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣ם בֵּֽאלֹהִ֗ים אִם־תִּתְּנ֤וּ בְנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְאִם־תִּשְׂאוּ֙ מִבְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם׃
26It was just in such things that King Shlomo of Yisrael sinned! Among the many nations there was not a king like him, and so well loved was he by his God that Hashem made him king of all Yisrael, yet foreign wives caused even him to sin.
ha-LO-a al-E-leh cha-TA-sh'-LO-mo me-lekh yis-ra-AYL u-va-go-YIM ha-ra-BEEM lo-ha-YA me-lekh ka-MO-hu v'-a-HU-v le-E-lo-HAV ha-YA va-yi-t'-NE-hu e-lo-HEEM me-lekh al-KOL yis-ra-AYL gam-o-TO he-che-TEE-u ha-na-shi-YOT
כוהֲל֣וֹא עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה חָטָֽא־שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וּבַגּוֹיִ֣ם הָרַבִּים֩ לֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה מֶ֜לֶךְ כָּמֹ֗הוּ וְאָה֤וּב לֵֽאלֹהָיו֙ הָיָ֔ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֣הוּ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם־אוֹת֣וֹ הֶחֱטִ֔יאוּ הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנׇּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃
27How, then, can we acquiesce in your doing this great wrong, breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women?”
v'-la-KHEM ha-nish-MA la-a-SOT et kol-ha-ra-AH ha-g'-DO-la ha-ZOT l'-me-OL b'-e-lo-HE-nu l'-ho-SHEEV na-SHEEM nokh-ree-YOT
כזוְלָכֶ֣ם הֲנִשְׁמַ֗ע לַעֲשֹׂת֙ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את לִמְעֹ֖ל בֵּֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְהֹשִׁ֖יב נָשִׁ֥ים נׇכְרִיּֽוֹת׃
28One of the sons of Joiada son of the Kohen Gadol Elyashiv was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; I drove him away from me.
u-mi-b'-NAY yo-ya-DAH ben el-ya-SHEEV ha-ko-HAYN ha-ga-DOL kha-TAN l'-san-BAL-at ha-ko-ro-NEE va-a-v'-ree-KHE-hu me-a-LAI
כחוּמִבְּנֵ֨י יוֹיָדָ֤ע בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל חָתָ֖ן לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֑י וָאַבְרִיחֵ֖הוּ מֵעָלָֽי׃
29Remember to their discredit, O my God, how they polluted the priesthood, the covenant of the Kohanim and Leviim.
Zo-KH'-rah la-HEM e-lo-HAI al go-a-LEI ha-ke-HU-na, u-ve-REET ha-ke-HU-na v'-hal-vi-YIM
כטזׇכְרָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם אֱלֹהָ֑י עַ֚ל גׇּאֳלֵ֣י הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה וּבְרִ֥ית הַכְּהֻנָּ֖ה וְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃
30I purged them of every foreign element, and arranged for the Kohanim and the Leviim to work each at his task by shifts,
v'-ti-HAR-tim mi-KOL-ne-KHAR (p) va-a-a-MI-da mish-ma-ROT la-ko-ha-NEEM v'-lal-vi-YIM ish bi-m'-la-kh'-TO
לוְטִֽהַרְתִּ֖ים מִכׇּל־נֵכָ֑ר וָאַעֲמִ֧ידָה מִשְׁמָר֛וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ בִּמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃
31and for the wood offering [to be brought] at fixed times and for the first fruits. O my God, remember it to my credit!
u-l'-ku-r'-BAN ha-e-TZIM b'-i-TIM m'-zu-MA-n'-OT v'-la-bi-KU-rim zokh-RAH-li e-lo-HAI l'-to-VAH
לאוּלְקֻרְבַּ֧ן הָעֵצִ֛ים בְּעִתִּ֥ים מְזֻמָּנ֖וֹת וְלַבִּכּוּרִ֑ים זׇכְרָה־לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י לְטוֹבָֽה׃