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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 24

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Now Balaam, seeing that it pleased Hashem to bless Yisrael, did not, as on previous occasions, go in search of omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

vai-YAR BIL-am KEE TOV b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI l'-va-RAYKH et yis-ra-AYL v'-LO ha-LAKH k'-fa-aM b'-fa-aM lik-RAT n'-kha-SHEEM vai-YA-sheT el ha-mid-BAR pa-NAV

אוַיַּ֣רְא בִּלְעָ֗ם כִּ֣י ט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ כְּפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם לִקְרַ֣את נְחָשִׁ֑ים וַיָּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר פָּנָֽיו׃

2As Balaam looked up and saw Yisrael encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of Hashem came upon him.

vai-YI-sa bil-AM et-EY-nav vai-YAR et-yis-ra-AYL sho-KHEN lish-va-TAV va-TE-hi a-LAV ru-ACH e-lo-HIM

בוַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃

3Taking up his theme, he said: Word of Balaam son of Beor, Word of the man whose eye is true,

vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO va-YO-mer, n'-UM bil-AM b'-NO v'-OR, u-n'-UM ha-GE-ver sh'-TUM ha-a-YIN

גוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן׃

4Word of him who hears Hashem's speech, Who beholds visions from the Almighty, Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

NE-um sho-ME-a im-ray-EL a-SHER ma-cha-ZEH sha-DAI ye-che-ZEH no-FEL u-ge-LU-yi e-NA-yim.

דנְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃

5How fair are your tents, O Yaakov, Your dwellings, O Yisrael!

ma TO-vu o-ha-LE-kha ya-a-KOV mish-k'-no-TE-kha yis-ra-AYL

המַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

 24:5   How fair are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwellings, O Yisrael

Ramban points out that when referring to the homes of the Children of Israel, the verse first mentions tents of Yaakov and then dwellings of Israel. He explains that “tents” are temporary living quarters, referring to Israel’s sojourn in the desert, while “dwellings” implies a permanent living space, hinting to the established life of the Jews in the Holy Land. Just as they are taken care of and protected in the desert, the Children of Israel will ultimately be blessed with success, prosperity and security in Eretz Yisrael.

6Like palm-groves that stretch out, Like gardens beside a river, Like aloes planted by Hashem, Like cedars beside the water;

ki-n'-kha-LEEM ni-ta-YU k'-ga-NOT a-lay na-HAR ka-a-ha-LEEM na-TA a-do-NAI ka-a-ra-ZEEM a-lay-MA-yim

וכִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר כַּאֲהָלִים֙ נָטַ֣ע יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּאֲרָזִ֖ים עֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃

7Their boughs drip with moisture, Their roots have abundant water. Their king shall rise above Agag, Their kingdom shall be exalted.

YIZ-zal-MA-yim mi-dal-YAV v'-zar-O b'-MA-yim ra-BEEM v'-ya-ROM me-a-GAG mal-KO v'-ti-na-SAY mal-KU-to

זיִֽזַּל־מַ֙יִם֙ מִדָּ֣לְיָ֔ו וְזַרְע֖וֹ בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְיָרֹ֤ם מֵֽאֲגַג֙ מַלְכּ֔וֹ וְתִנַּשֵּׂ֖א מַלְכֻתֽוֹ׃

8Hashem who freed them from Egypt Is for them like the horns of the wild ox. They shall devour enemy nations, Crush their bones, And smash their arrows.

EL mo-TZI-o mi-mitz-RA-yim k'-to-a-FOT r'-EM lo yo-KHAL go-YIM tza-RA-yav v'-atz-mo-TE-hem y'-ga-REM v'-chi-TZAV yim-KHATZ

חאֵ֚ל מוֹצִיא֣וֹ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑וֹ יֹאכַ֞ל גּוֹיִ֣ם צָרָ֗יו וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛ם יְגָרֵ֖ם וְחִצָּ֥יו יִמְחָֽץ׃

9They crouch, they lie down like a lion, Like the king of beasts; who dare rouse them? Blessed are they who bless you, Accursed they who curse you!

ka-RA sh'-KHAV ka-a-REE u-k'-la-VEE, mee y'-ki-ME-nu, m'-va-re-KHE-kha va-ROKH, v'-o-r'-RE-khe-KHA a-ROOR

טכָּרַ֨ע שָׁכַ֧ב כַּאֲרִ֛י וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֣י יְקִימֶ֑נּוּ מְבָרְכֶ֣יךָ בָר֔וּךְ וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ אָרֽוּר׃

10Enraged at Balaam, Balak struck his hands together. “I called you,” Balak said to Balaam, “to damn my enemies, and instead you have blessed them these three times!

vai-YIKH-ar BALAK el BIL-am vai-YIS-pok et KA-pav vai-YO-mer BALAK el BIL-am la-KOV oy-VAI k'-ra-TI-kha v'-hi-NEH BE-rakh-TA va-REKH zeh sha-LOSH p'-a-MIM

יוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיִּסְפֹּ֖ק אֶת־כַּפָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ קְרָאתִ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּה֙ בֵּרַ֣כְתָּ בָרֵ֔ךְ זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִֽים׃

11Back with you at once to your own place! I was going to reward you richly, but Hashem has denied you the reward.”

v'-a-TAH b'-RACH l'-KHA el m'-ko-ME-kha, a-MAR-tee ka-BAYD a-ka-BED-kha, v'-hi-NEH m'-na-A-kha a-do-NAI mi-ka-VO-d.

יאוְעַתָּ֖ה בְּרַח־לְךָ֣ אֶל־מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ כַּבֵּ֣ד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔ וְהִנֵּ֛ה מְנָעֲךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִכָּבֽוֹד׃

12Balaam replied to Balak, “But I even told the messengers you sent to me,

vai-YO-mer bil-AHM el BA-lak, ha-LO gam el mal-a-KHE-kha a-SHER sha-LAKH-ta e-LAI di-BAR-tee lay-MOR

יבוַיֹּ֥אמֶר בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א גַּ֧ם אֶל־מַלְאָכֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥חְתָּ אֵלַ֖י דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי לֵאמֹֽר׃

13‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord do anything good or bad contrary to Hashem's command. What Hashem says, that I must say.'

im-yi-TEN-li va-LAK me-LO vei-TO ke-SEF ve-za-HAV, lo u-KHAL la-a-VOR et-PI a-do-NAI la-a-SOT to-VAH o ra-AH mi-LI, a-SHER y'-da-BER a-do-NAI o-TO a-da-BER

יגאִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֨י בָלָ֜ק מְלֹ֣א בֵיתוֹ֮ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָב֒ לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת טוֹבָ֛ה א֥וֹ רָעָ֖ה מִלִּבִּ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃

14And now, as I go back to my people, let me inform you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

v'-a-TAH hin-NEE ho-LEKH l'-a-MEE, l'-KHA i-a-TZ'-KHA, a-SHER ya-a-SEH ha-AHM ha-ZEH l'-a-ME-kha b'-a-cha-REET ha-ya-MEEM

ידוְעַתָּ֕ה הִנְנִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לְעַמִּ֑י לְכָה֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃

15He took up his theme, and said: Word of Balaam son of Beor, Word of the man whose eye is true,

vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO va-YO-mer, n'-UM bil-AHM b'-NO v'-OR, u-n'-UM ha-GE-ver sh'-TUM ha-A-yin

טווַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן׃

16Word of him who hears Hashem's speech, Who obtains knowledge from the Most High, And beholds visions from the Almighty, Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

NE-um sho-MAY a-m'-RAY-EL v'-yo-DAY-a da-AT el-YON ma-cha-ZAY sha-DAI ye-che-ZEH no-FAYL u-ge-LOO-yay-NA-yim

טזנְאֻ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃

17What I see for them is not yet, What I behold will not be soon: A star rises from Yaakov, A scepter comes forth from Yisrael; It smashes the brow of Moab, The foundation of all children of Shet.

er-e-Nu v'-LO a-TAH a-shu-RE-nu v'-LO ka-ROV da-RAKH ko-KHAV mi-ya-a-KOV v'-KAM shay-VET mi-yis-ra-AYL u-ma-KHATZ pa-a-TEI mo-AV v'-kar-KAR kol b'-NAY-shayt

יזאֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א עַתָּ֔ה אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗ב וְקָ֥ם שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמָחַץ֙ פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְקַרְקַ֖ר כׇּל־בְּנֵי־שֵֽׁת׃

18Edom becomes a possession, Yea, Seir a possession of its enemies; But Yisrael is triumphant.

v'-ha-YA e-DOM ye-RE-sha, v'-ha-YA ye-RE-sha SE-ir o-y'-va-VAV, v'-yis-ra-AYL o-SEH kha-YIL

יחוְהָיָ֨ה אֱד֜וֹם יְרֵשָׁ֗ה וְהָיָ֧ה יְרֵשָׁ֛ה שֵׂעִ֖יר אֹיְבָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹ֥שֶׂה חָֽיִל׃

19A victor issues from Yaakov To wipe out what is left of Ir.

v'-ye-RE-det mi-ya-a-KOV v'-he-e-VEED sa-REED me-IR

יטוְיֵ֖רְדְּ מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֑ב וְהֶֽאֱבִ֥יד שָׂרִ֖יד מֵעִֽיר׃

20He saw Amalek and, taking up his theme, he said: A leading nation is Amalek; But its fate is to perish forever.

vai-YAR et a-ma-LEK, vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO, vai-YO-mer: ray-SHEET go-YIM a-ma-LEK, v'-a-kha-REE-to a-DAY o-VED

כוַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֔ק וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר רֵאשִׁ֤ית גּוֹיִם֙ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃

21He saw the Kenites and, taking up his theme, he said: Though your abode be secure, And your nest be set among cliffs,

vai-YAR et ha-KEE-nee, vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO, vai-YO-mer: ay-TAN mo-SHA-ve-KHA, v'-SEEM ba-SE-lah ki-NE-kha

כאוַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙ מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וְשִׂ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖לַע קִנֶּֽךָ׃

22Yet shall Kain be consumed, When Assyria takes you captive.

ki im-yi-HEH l'-va-ER ka-YIN ad-MAH a-SHU-ur tish-BE-kha

כבכִּ֥י אִם־יִהְיֶ֖ה לְבָ֣עֵֽר קָ֑יִן עַד־מָ֖ה אַשּׁ֥וּר תִּשְׁבֶּֽךָּ׃

23He took up his theme and said: Alas, who can survive except Hashem has willed it!

vai-YI-sa m'-sha-LO va-YO-mer: o-YEE mi yikh-YEH mi-SHU-mo EL

כגוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי מִ֥י יִחְיֶ֖ה מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ אֵֽל׃

24Ships come from the quarter of Kittim; They subject Assyria, subject Eber. They, too, shall perish forever.

v'-TZIM mi-YAD ki-TIM v'-i-NU a-SHUR v'-i-NU-e-VER v'-GAM-HU a-DEI o-VED

כדוְצִים֙ מִיַּ֣ד כִּתִּ֔ים וְעִנּ֥וּ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְעִנּוּ־עֵ֑בֶר וְגַם־ה֖וּא עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃

25Then Balaam set out on his journey back home; and Balak also went his way.

vai-YA-kom bil-AHM va-YAY-lekh va-YA-shov lim-KO-mo, v'-GAM ba-LAK ha-LAKH l'-dar-KO. (P)

כהוַיָּ֣קׇם בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיָּ֣שׇׁב לִמְקֹמ֑וֹ וְגַם־בָּלָ֖ק הָלַ֥ךְ לְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃