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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Zechariah - Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of 

1In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, this word of Hashem came to the Navi Zecharya son of Berechya son of Ido:

ba-CHO-desh ha-sh'-mi-NEE bi-sh'-NAT sh'-ta-YIM l'-dar-YA-vaysh, ha-YAH d'-var a-do-NAI el z'-khar-YAH ben b'-r'-kha-YAH ben i-DO ha-na-VEE lay-MOR

אבַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔ה בֶּן־עִדּ֥וֹ הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃

2Hashem was very angry with your fathers.

KA-tzaf a-do-NAI al a-vo-TAY-khem KA-tzef

בקָצַ֧ף יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם קָֽצֶף׃

3Say to them further: Thus said the lord of Hosts: Turn back to me—says the lord of Hosts—and I will turn back to you—said the lord of Hosts.

v'-a-MAR-ta a-LE-hem KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, shu-VU e-LAI, ne-UM a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, v'-a-SHU-v a-LE-khem, a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT.

גוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת שׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְאָשׁ֣וּב אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

4Do not be like your fathers! For when the earlier Neviim called to them, “Thus said the lord of Hosts: Come, turn back from your evil ways and your evil deeds, they did not obey or give heed to Me—declares Hashem.

al-ti-HI-vu kha-a-vo-TAY-khem a-SHER ko-ru-u a-lay-HEM ha-ne-vee-EEM ha-ri-sho-NEEM lay-MOR: ko a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, shu-VU NA mi-dar-KAY-khem ha-ra-EEM (u-ma-a-LEE-lay-KHEM) [u-ma-a-LE-lee-KHEM] ha-ra-EEM, v'-LO sha-MU v'-LO-hik-shi-VOO e-LAI ne-um a-do-NAI.

דאַל־תִּהְי֣וּ כַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרְאֽוּ־אֲלֵיהֶם֩ הַנְּבִיאִ֨ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת שׁ֤וּבוּ נָא֙ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֣ם הָרָעִ֔ים (ומעליליכם) [וּמַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם] הָֽרָעִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֛וּ וְלֹֽא־הִקְשִׁ֥יבוּ אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

5Where are your fathers now? And did the Neviim live forever

a-vo-TAY-khem a-YEH-hem v'-ha-ne-vee-EEM hal-o-LAM yi-KHEE-vu

האֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם אַיֵּה־הֵ֑ם וְהַ֨נְּבִאִ֔ים הַלְעוֹלָ֖ם יִֽחְיֽוּ׃

6But the warnings and the decrees with which I charged My servants the Neviim overtook your fathers—did they not?—and in the end they had to admit, ‘Hashem has dealt with us according to our ways and our deeds, just as He purposed.'”

aKH d'-va-RAI v'-khoo-KAI a-SHER tzi-VEE-tee et a-va-DAI ha-ne-vee-EEM ha-LO hi-see-GU a-vo-TAY-khem va-YA-shu-VU va-YO-mer-U ka-a-SHER za-MAM a-do-NAI t'-va-OT la-a-SOT LA-nu ki-d'-ra-KAY-nu u-kh'-ma-a-la-LAY-nu KEN a-SA i-ta-NU

ואַ֣ךְ ׀ דְּבָרַ֣י וְחֻקַּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר צִוִּ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים הֲל֥וֹא הִשִּׂ֖יגוּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר זָמַ֜ם יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֔נוּ כִּדְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ כֵּ֖ן עָשָׂ֥ה אִתָּֽנוּ׃

7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month of the second year of Darius—the month of Shevat—this word of Hashem came to the Navi Zecharya son of Berechya son of Ido:

b'-YOm e-SREEM v'-ar-BAH l'-a-s'-TEI a-SAR kho-DESH, hu-kho-DESH sh'-VAT, bish-NAT sh'-TA-yim l'-dar-YA-vesh, ha-YAH d'-var a-do-NAI el z'-khar-YAH ben b'-rekh-YA-hu, ben i-DO-a ha-na-VEE lay-MOR.

זבְּיוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לְעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ר חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ שְׁבָ֔ט בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔הוּ בֶּן־עִדּ֥וֹא הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃

8In the night, I had a vision. I saw a man, mounted on a bay horse, standing among the myrtles in the Deep, and behind him were bay, sorrel, and white horses.

ra-EE-tee ha-la-YI-la v'-hi-NEH eesh ro-KHAYV al-SUS a-DOM v'-HU o-MED BAYN ha-ha-da-SEEM a-SHER ba-m'-Tzu-LAH v'-a-kha-RAV SU-seem a-DU-meem se-ru-KEEM u-l'-va-NEEM

חרָאִ֣יתִי ׀ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ֙ רֹכֵב֙ עַל־ס֣וּס אָדֹ֔ם וְה֣וּא עֹמֵ֔ד בֵּ֥ין הַהֲדַסִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמְּצֻלָ֑ה וְאַחֲרָיו֙ סוּסִ֣ים אֲדֻמִּ֔ים שְׂרֻקִּ֖ים וּלְבָנִֽים׃

9I asked, “What are those, my lord?” And the angel who talked with me answered, “I will let you know what they are.”

vai-o-MAR ma-EH a-do-NEE, va-YO-mer e-LAI ha-mal-ACH ha-do-VAYR bi, a-NEE ar-EH-KHA ma-EH-h'-MAH e-LEH

טוָאֹמַ֖ר מָה־אֵ֣לֶּה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֔י אֲנִ֥י אַרְאֶ֖ךָּ מָה־הֵ֥מָּה אֵֽלֶּה׃

10Then the man who was standing among the myrtles spoke up and said, “These were sent out by Hashem to roam the earth.”

vai-YA-an ha-ISH ha-o-MED bein ha-ha-DAS-eem va-YO-mer: E-leh a-SHER sha-LAKH a-do-NAI l'-hit-ha-LEKH ba-A-retz

יוַיַּ֗עַן הָאִ֛ישׁ הָעֹמֵ֥ד בֵּין־הַהֲדַסִּ֖ים וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵ֚לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁלַ֣ח יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהִתְהַלֵּ֖ךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

11And in fact, they reported to the angel of Hashem who was standing among the myrtles, “We have roamed the earth, and have found all the earth dwelling in tranquility.”

vai-ya-a-NU et mal-akh a-do-NAI ha-o-MED bein ha-ha-DAS-eem va-YO-mer-U hit-ha-LAkh-NU va-A-retz, v'-hi-NEH kol ha-A-retz yo-SHE-vet v'-sho-KA-tet

יאוַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ אֶת־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה הָֽעֹמֵד֙ בֵּ֣ין הַהֲדַסִּ֔ים וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ בָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה כׇל־הָאָ֖רֶץ יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃

12Thereupon the angel of Hashem exclaimed, “O lord of Hosts! How long will You withhold pardon from Yerushalayim and the towns of Yehuda, which You placed under a curse seventy years ago?”

vai-YA-an mal-ach a-do-NAI va-yo-MAR: a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, ad ma-TAI a-TAH lo t'-ra-KHEM et y'-ru-sha-LA-im v'-ET a-REI y'-hu-DAH a-SHER za-aM-ta, z'-shee-v'-IM sha-NAH

יבוַיַּ֣עַן מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עַד־מָתַ֗י אַתָּה֙ לֹֽא־תְרַחֵ֣ם אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְאֵ֖ת עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר זָעַ֔מְתָּה זֶ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃

13Hashem replied with kind, comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

va-YA-an a-do-NAI et ha-mal-AKH ha-do-VAYR bi d'-va-REEM to-VEEM, d'-va-REEM ni-KHU-meem.

יגוַיַּ֣עַן יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ הַדֹּבֵ֥ר בִּ֖י דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים דְּבָרִ֖ים נִחֻמִֽים׃

14Then the angel who talked with me said to me: “Proclaim! Thus said the lord of Hosts: I am very jealous for Yerushalayim—for Tzion

vai-YO-mer e-LAI ha-mal-AKH ha-do-VAYR bi K'-RA lay-MOR: KO a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT, ki-NAY-tee li-ru-sha-LA-im u-l'-tzi-YON ki-N'-a g'-do-LAH

ידוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר בִּ֔י קְרָ֣א לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת קִנֵּ֧אתִי לִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם וּלְצִיּ֖וֹן קִנְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

15and I am very angry with those nations that are at ease; for I was only angry a little, but they overdid the punishment.

v'-KE-tsef ga-DOL a-NEE ko-TSEF al ha-go-YIM ha-sha-a-NA-neem a-SHER a-NEE ka-TZAF-tee me-AT v'-HE-ma o-Z'-RU le-ra-AH

טווְקֶ֤צֶף גָּדוֹל֙ אֲנִ֣י קֹצֵ֔ף עַל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ קָצַ֣פְתִּי מְּעָ֔ט וְהֵ֖מָּה עָזְר֥וּ לְרָעָֽה׃

16Assuredly, thus said Hashem: I graciously return to Yerushalayim. My House shall be built in her—declares the lord of Hosts—the measuring line is being applied to Yerushalayim.

la-KHEN ko-AM a-MAR a-do-NAI sha-V'-tee li-ru-sha-LA-im b'-ra-cha-MEEM b'-ti YI-ba-NEH bah, n'-UM a-do-NAI tz'-va-OT (v'-ko-AH) [v'-KAV] yi-NA-teh al-y'-ru-sha-LA-im.

טזלָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה שַׁ֤בְתִּי לִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בֵּיתִי֙ יִבָּ֣נֶה בָּ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת (וקוה) [וְקָ֥ו] יִנָּטֶ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

17Proclaim further: Thus said the lord of Hosts: My towns shall yet overflow with bounty. For Hashem will again comfort Tzion; He will choose Yerushalayim again.”

OD k'-RA lay-MOR KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI tz'-va-OT OD t'-fu-TZE-nah a-RAI mi-TOV v'-ni-KHAM a-do-NAI OD et tzi-YON u-va-KHAR OD bee-ru-sha-LA-im

יזע֣וֹד ׀ קְרָ֣א לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת ע֛וֹד תְּפוּצֶ֥נָה עָרַ֖י מִטּ֑וֹב וְנִחַ֨ם יְהֹוָ֥ה עוֹד֙ אֶת־צִיּ֔וֹן וּבָחַ֥ר ע֖וֹד בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

 1:17  My towns shall yet overflow with bounty

The prophet Zecharya lives at a very exciting time in Jewish history, when the Persian King Darius allows his Jewish subjects to return to Yerushalayim and rebuild the Beit Hamikdash. While there are some who heed the call, many do not respond with the proper enthusiasm. Zecharya tries to encourage the Children of Israel to return by reiterating God’s promises and blessings regarding the Land of Israel. In this verse, Hashem promises, “My towns shall yet overflow with bounty. For Hashem will again comfort Tzion, He will choose Yerushalayim again.” According to many commentators, such as Malbim and Metzudat David, these prophecies apply not only to the time of Zecharya, but also to the days of the future redemption. Recent years have begun to see the fulfillment of these prophecies, as many cities in Israel flourish again, and God has chosen Yerushalayim by returning His children to the holy city.