Chapter 33

1Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:   אוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
2"Son of man, speak to the members of your people and say to them: When I bring armed attackers upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among themselves and appoint him for them as a lookout,   בבֶּן־אָדָ֗ם דַּבֵּ֚ר אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־עַמְּךָ֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֶ֕רֶץ כִּֽי־אָבִ֥יא עָלֶ֖יהָ חָ֑רֶב וְלָֽקְח֨וּ עַם־הָאָ֜רֶץ אִ֚ישׁ אֶחָד֙ מִקְצֵיהֶ֔ם וְנָֽתְנ֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ לָהֶ֖ם לְצֹפֶֽה:
as a lookout. [Heb. לְצֹפֶה,] badete in O. F., sentry, watchman.   לצופה.  באדי"טא בלע"ז:
3And he sees the army coming upon the land, and he sounds the shofar and warns the people,   גוְרָאָ֥ה אֶת־הַחֶ֖רֶב בָּאָ֣ה עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְתָקַ֥ע בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר וְהִזְהִ֥יר אֶת־הָעָֽם:
And he sees the army. [lit. the sword.] They are the armies.   וראה את החרב.  המה הגייסות:
4And whoever hears the sound of the shofar and does not take heed, and the army comes and takes him, his blood will be upon his own head.   דוְשָׁמַ֨ע הַשֹּׁמֵ֜עַ אֶת־ק֚וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר֙ וְלֹ֣א נִזְהָ֔ר וַתָּ֥בוֹא חֶ֖רֶב וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ דָּמ֖וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֥וֹ יִֽהְיֶֽה:
his blood will be on his own head. The iniquity of causing his death will be required of himself, because he has neglected his life.   דמו בראשו יהיה.  עון מיתתו ידרש מיד עצמו שפשע בנפשו:
5He heard the sound of the shofar and did not take heed; his blood will be upon him, for had he taken heed, he would have saved his life.   האֵת֩ ק֨וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֚ר שָׁמַע֙ וְלֹ֣א נִזְהָ֔ר דָּמ֖וֹ בּ֣וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְה֥וּא נִזְהָ֖ר נַפְשׁ֥וֹ מִלֵּֽט:
for had he taken heed, he would have saved his life. Had he taken heed, he would have escaped.   והוא נזהר נפשו מלט.  אם נזהר היה נמלט:
6But the lookout-should he see the army coming and not sound the shofar, and the people did not take heed, and an army came and took a soul from them-he was taken for his iniquity, but I shall require his blood from the hand of the lookout.   ווְ֠הַצֹּפֶה כִּֽי־יִרְאֶ֨ה אֶת־הַחֶ֜רֶב בָּאָ֗ה וְלֹֽא־תָקַ֚ע בַּשּׁוֹפָר֙ וְהָעָ֣ם לֹֽא־נִזְהָ֔ר וַתָּב֣וֹא חֶ֔רֶב וַתִּקַּ֥ח מֵהֶ֖ם נָ֑פֶשׁ הוּא בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנ֣וֹ נִלְקָ֔ח וְדָמ֖וֹ מִיַּד־הַצֹּפֶ֥ה אֶדְרֹֽשׁ:
7Now you, son of man, I have made you a lookout for the house of Israel, and you will hear a word from My mouth, and you shall warn them from Me.   זוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם צֹפֶ֥ה נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ֚ מִפִּי֙ דָּבָ֔ר וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם מִמֶּֽנִּי:
I have made you a lookout. Like that lookout, who is appointed to give warning so that no soul be lost, so have I appointed you to warn Israel.   צופה נתתיך.  כאותו הצופה הניתן להזהיר שלא תאבד נפש כן נתתיך להזהיר את ישראל:
8When I say of a wicked man, Wicked one, you shall surely die! And you did not speak to warn the wicked man from his way-he is wicked and for his iniquity he will die, but his blood I shall require of your hand.   חבְּאָמְרִ֣י לָרָשָׁ֗ע רָשָׁע֙ מ֣וֹת תָּמ֔וּת וְלֹ֣א דִבַּ֔רְתָּ לְהַזְהִ֥יר רָשָׁ֖ע מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ ה֚וּא רָשָׁע֙ בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנ֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְדָמ֖וֹ מִיָּדְךָ֥ אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ:
9But you-if you warned a wicked man from his way, to repent thereof, and he did not repent of his way-he will die for his iniquity, and you have saved your soul.   טוְ֠אַתָּה כִּֽי־הִזְהַ֨רְתָּ רָשָׁ֚ע מִדַּרְכּוֹ֙ לָשׁ֣וּב מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְלֹא־שָׁ֖ב מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ הוּא בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנ֣וֹ יָמ֔וּת וְאַתָּ֖ה נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הִצַּֽלְתָּ:
10Now you, son of man, say to the house of Israel; So have you spoken, saying: For our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and because of them we are melting away, so how can we live?   יוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם אֱמֹר֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֵּ֚ן אֲמַרְתֶּם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּֽי־פְשָׁעֵ֥ינוּ וְחַטֹּאתֵ֖ינוּ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּבָ֛ם אֲנַ֥חְנוּ נְמַקִּ֖ים וְאֵ֥יךְ נִֽחְיֶֽה:
So have you spoken. Therefore, you do not wish to repent, because you believe that repentance will not avail you.   כן אמרתם.  לפיכך אין אתם חפצים לשוב כסבורין אתם שלא תועיל לכם תשובה:
11Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I do not wish for the death of the wicked, but for the wicked to repent of his way so that he may live. Repent, repent of your evil ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel!   יאאֱמֹ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם חַי־אָ֣נִי | נְאֻ֣ם | אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אִם־אֶחְפֹּץ֙ בְּמ֣וֹת הָרָשָׁ֔ע כִּ֣י אִם־בְּשׁ֥וּב רָשָׁ֛ע מִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ וְחָיָ֑ה שׁ֣וּבוּ שׁ֜וּבוּ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם הָֽרָעִ֛ים וְלָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּתוּ בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
12And you, son of man, say to the members of your people: The righteousness of the righteous will not save him on the day of his transgression, and the wickedness of the wicked-he will not stumble upon it on the day of his repentance of his wickedness, and a righteous man cannot live with it on the day of his sinning.   יבוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם אֱמֹ֚ר אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־עַמְּךָ֙ צִדְקַ֣ת הַצַּדִּ֗יק לֹ֚א תַצִּילֶ֙נּוּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם פִּשְׁע֔וֹ וְרִשְׁעַ֚ת הָֽרָשָׁע֙ לֹֽא־יִכָּ֣שֶׁל בָּ֔הּ בְּי֖וֹם שׁוּב֣וֹ מֵֽרִשְׁע֑וֹ וְצַדִּ֗יק לֹ֥א יוּכַ֛ל לִֽחְי֥וֹת בָּ֖הּ בְּי֥וֹם חֲטֹאתֽוֹ:
live with it. with his righteousness.   לחיות בה.  בצדקתו:
13When I say of the righteous that he will surely live, and he relied on his righteousness and committed injustice, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered, and for the injustices which he committed he shall die.   יגבְּאָמְרִ֚י לַצַּדִּיק֙ חָיֹ֣ה יִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְהֽוּא־בָטַ֥ח עַל־צִדְקָת֖וֹ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֑וֶל כָּל־צִדְקֹתָיו֙ (כתיב צִדְקֹתָו֙) לֹ֣א תִזָּכַ֔רְנָה וּבְעַוְל֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה בּ֥וֹ יָמֽוּת:
none… will be remembered. to save him from being punished for his sin.   לא תזכרנה.  להצילו מליענש על עבירה זו:
14And when I say of the wicked man, "You shall surely die," and he repents of his sin and performs justice and righteousness,   ידוּבְאָמְרִ֥י לָֽרָשָׁ֖ע מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת וְשָׁב֙ מֵֽחַטָּאת֔וֹ וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה:
15The wicked man will return the pledge, he will repay the theft; in the statutes of life he walked, not to commit injustice-he will surely live, he will not die.   טוחֲבֹ֨ל יָשִׁ֚יב רָשָׁע֙ גְּזֵלָ֣ה יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם בְּחֻקּ֚וֹת הַֽחַיִּים֙ הָלַ֔ךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י עֲשׂ֣וֹת עָ֑וֶל חָי֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת:
the pledge. the pledge that I commanded [one] to return at sunset.   חבול.  עבוט שצויתי להשיבו כבא השמש:
16All his sins that he sinned will not be remembered for him: he performed justice and righteousness; he will surely live.   טזכָּל־חַטֹּאתָיו֙ (כתיב חַטֹּאתָו֙) אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֔א לֹ֥א תִזָּכַ֖רְנָה ל֑וֹ מִשְׁפָּ֧ט וּצְדָקָ֛ה עָשָׂ֖ה חָי֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶֽה:
17Now, should the members of your people say, 'The Lord's way is not right,' but they-their way is not right.   יזוְאָמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י וְהֵ֖מָּה דַּרְכָּ֥ם לֹֽא־יִתָּכֵֽן:
18When a righteous man repents of his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die because of them.   יחבְּשׁוּב־צַדִּ֥יק מִצִּדְקָת֖וֹ וְעָ֣שָׂה עָ֑וֶל וּמֵ֖ת בָּהֶֽם:
he will die because of them. He will be punished for them.   ומת בהם.  בשבילם יענש:
19And when a wicked man repents of his wickedness and performs justice and righteousness, he shall live because of them.   יטוּבְשׁ֚וּב רָשָׁע֙ מֵֽרִשְׁעָת֔וֹ וְעָשָׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָ֑ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם ה֥וּא יִֽחְיֶֽה:
20But you say, 'The Lord's way is not right.' Each one according to his ways I will judge you, O house of Israel."   כוַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם לֹ֥א יִתָּכֵ֖ן דֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י אִ֧ישׁ כִּדְרָכָ֛יו אֶשְׁפּ֥וֹט אֶתְכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
21Now it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the tenth [month], on the fifth [day] of the month of our exile, that the fugitive from Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city was struck."   כאוַיְהִ֞י בִּשְׁתֵּ֧י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֗ה בָּֽעֲשִׂרִ֛י בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ לְגָלוּתֵ֑נוּ בָּא־אֵלַ֨י הַפָּלִ֧יט מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר הֻכְּתָ֥ה הָעִֽיר:
22Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening before the coming of the fugitive and He opened my mouth before [his] coming to me in the morning, and my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.   כבוְיַד־יְהֹוָה֩ הָיְתָ֨ה אֵלַ֜י בָּעֶ֗רֶב לִפְנֵי֙ בּ֣וֹא הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח אֶת־פִּ֔י עַד־בּ֥וֹא אֵלַ֖י בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיִּפָּ֣תַח פִּ֔י וְלֹ֥א נֶֽאֱלַ֖מְתִּי עֽוֹד:
and He opened my mouth. as He says in the beginning of the Book (3:26): “and you shall become mute, and you shall not be a reprover to them.” Afterward, He said to him (24:25ff.): “on the day I take from them their strength, etc., the fugitive will come to you, etc., on that day, your mouth will be opened with the fugitive, and you will speak and no longer be mute.”   ויפתח את פי.  כמו שאמר בראש הספר (לעיל ג) ונאלמת ולא תהיה לאיש מוכיח ואח"כ אמר לו (לעיל כד) ביום קחתי מהם את מעוז' יבא הפליט אליך ביום ההוא יפתח פיך את הפליט ולא תאלם עוד:
before [his] coming to me in the morning. [Heb. עַד בּוֹא אֵלִי בַּבֹּקֶר,] i.e., when he had not yet (בְּעוֹד) come to me in the morning, like: before he came to me in the morning.   עד בוא אלי בבקר.  כלומר בעוד בואו אלי בבקר כמו לפני בואו אלי בבקר:
23Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying:   כגוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
24"Son of man, the dwellers of these ruins on the soil of Israel speak, saying: Abraham was one, and he inherited the land, and we are many-the land has [surely] been given to us for an inheritance.   כדבֶּן־אָדָ֗ם יֹֽ֠שְׁבֵי הֶֽחֳרָב֨וֹת הָאֵ֜לֶּה עַל־אַדְמַ֚ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֹֽמְרִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶחָד֙ הָיָ֣ה אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיִּירַ֖שׁ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽאֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֔ים לָ֛נוּ נִתְּנָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ לְמֽוֹרָשָֽׁה:
Abraham was one. This is one of four things that Rabbi Akiva interpreted [in one way] and which his disciple, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, did not interpret as he did. Rabbi Shimon interpreted it in this manner: Abraham, who was commanded with only one commandment [namely circumcision], inherited the land. We, then, who have been commanded with many commandments, should surely have the land given to us for an inheritance (Tosefta Sotah 6: 7). This is what the prophet answers them.   אחד היה אברהם.  זה אחד מד' דברים שהיה רבי עקיבא דורש ואין רבי שמעון בן יוחאי תלמידו דורש כמותו וכך היה רבי שמעון דורשו אברהם שלא נצטווה אלא על מצווה אחת ירש את הארץ אנו שנצטוינו על מצות הרבה כל שכן שלנו נתנה הארץ למורשה הוא שהנביא משיבם:
25Therefore, say to them: So said the Lord God, You eat on the blood and you raise your eyes to your pagan deities, and you shed blood-and you should inherit the land?   כהלָכֵן֩ אֱמֹ֨ר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר | אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה עַל־הַדָּ֧ם | תֹּאכֵ֛לוּ וְעֵֽינֵכֶ֛ם תִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶל־גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶ֖ם וְדָ֣ם תִּשְׁפֹּ֑כוּ וְהָאָ֖רֶץ תִּירָֽשׁוּ:
You eat on the blood, etc., and you should inherit the land. This is a rhetorical question. If you were commanded [many commandments], you do not keep [them]. You eat on the blood: you eat delicacies through murder, for you slay those who have money and take away their money.   על הדם תאכלו וגו'.  והארץ תירשו בתמיה אם נצטויתם אין אתם שומרים על הדם תאכלו את מאכלי תפנוקים אתם אוכלים על ידי רציחה שהורגין את בעלי ממון ונוטלין את ממונם:
26You stood on your sword, you committed abominations, and you contaminated each man his neighbor's wife, and you should inherit the land?   כועֲמַדְתֶּ֚ם עַל־חַרְבְּכֶם֙ עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ן תּֽוֹעֵבָ֔ה וְאִ֛ישׁ אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת רֵעֵ֖הוּ טִמֵּאתֶ֑ם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ תִּירָֽשׁוּ:
You stood on your sword. i.e., all your trust. You strengthened yourself on your sword.   עמדתם על חרבכם.  כלומר כל בטחונכם נתחזקתם על חרבכם:
you committed abominations. homosexual acts.   עשיתן תועבה.  משכב זכור:
27So shall you say to them: So said the Lord God, As I live, I swear that those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, and those who are on the face of the field I have delivered to the beasts to devour them, and those who are in the strongholds and in the caves shall die from pestilence.   כזכֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֨ר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֘ חַי־אָנִי֒ אִם־לֹ֞א אֲשֶׁ֚ר בֶּֽחֳרָבוֹת֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לַֽחַיָּ֥ה נְתַתִּ֖יו לְאָכְל֑וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר בַּמְּצָד֥וֹת וּבַמְּעָר֖וֹת בַּדֶּ֥בֶר יָמֽוּתוּ:
those who are in the ruins. in the fortified cities that will ultimately become ruins.   אשר בחרבות.  בערים הבצורות שסופן להיות חריבים:
and those who are in the strongholds. in a hideout, to hide from the sword - I shall send the pestilence upon them.   ואשר במצדות.  במחבא להטמן מן החרב אשלח בם את הדבר:
28And I shall make the land desolate and waste, and the pride of its strength will be cut off, and the mountains of Israel will be desolate without a passerby.   כחוְנָתַתִּ֚י אֶת־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שְׁמָמָ֣ה וּמְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְנִשְׁבַּ֖ת גְּא֣וֹן עֻזָּ֑הּ וְשָֽׁמְמ֛וּ הָרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֵ֥ין עוֹבֵֽר:
29And they will know that I am the Lord when I make the land desolate and waste because of all their abominations, which they have committed.   כטוְיָֽדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּתִתִּ֚י אֶת־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שְׁמָמָ֣ה וּמְשַׁמָּ֔ה עַ֥ל כָּל־תּֽוֹעֲבֹתָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשֽׂוּ:
30And you, son of man, the members of your people who talk about you beside the walls and in the entrances of the houses, and one talks to the other, one to his brother, saying, "Come now and listen to what the word is that is coming forth from before the Lord."   לוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם בְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֗ הַנִּדְבָּרִ֚ים בְּךָ֙ אֵ֣צֶל הַקִּיר֔וֹת וּבְפִתְחֵ֖י הַבָּתִּ֑ים וְדִבֶּר־חַ֣ד אֶת־אַחַ֗ד אִ֚ישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֹּֽאוּ־נָ֣א וְשִׁמְע֔וּ מָ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר הַיּוֹצֵ֖א מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה:
who talk about you. who mock you.   הנדברים בך.  מתלוצצים בך:
31And they will come to you as a public gathering, and they will sit before you as My people, and they will hear your words but not fulfill them; instead they make them into jokes with their mouth; their heart goes after their gain.   לאוְיָב֣וֹאוּ אֵ֠לֶיךָ כִּמְבוֹא־עָ֞ם וְיֵֽשְׁב֚וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ עַמִּ֔י וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ וְאוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א יַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ כִּֽי־עֲגָבִ֚ים בְּפִיהֶם֙ הֵ֣מָּה עֹשִׂ֔ים אַֽחֲרֵ֥י בִצְעָ֖ם לִבָּ֥ם הֹלֵֽךְ:
and they will sit before you as My people. as if they were My people.   וישבו לפניך.  כאילו הם עמי:
jokes. [Heb. עֲגָבִים,] laughter, related to עוּגָב, a flute.   עגבים.  שחוק כמו עוגב:
their gain. their stolen goods.   בצעם.  גזילתם:
32And you are to them as a song on the flute, which has a beautiful voice and plays well; they will hear your words, but will not fulfill them.   לבוְהִנְּךָ֚ לָהֶם֙ כְּשִׁ֣יר עֲגָבִ֔ים יְפֵ֥ה ק֖וֹל וּמֵטִ֣ב נַגֵּ֑ן וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ וְעֹשִׂ֥ים אֵינָ֖ם אוֹתָֽם:
And you are to them as a song on the flute. And you are to them as a song on the flute.   והנך להם כשיר עגבים.  והא את להון כזמר אבובין:
33And when it comes-behold it is coming, and they will know that a prophet was in their midst."   לגוּבְבֹאָ֑הּ הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֔ה וְיָ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֥י נָבִ֖יא הָיָ֥ה בְתוֹכָֽם:
And when it comes. the evil to them.   ובבאה.  הרעה אליהם:
behold it is coming. for, indeed, it is ready to come; then they will know that your words were not a jest, but that a true prophet was in their midst.   הנה באה.  כי אמת מוכנת היא לבא אז ידעו כי לא שחוק היו דבריך כי נביא אמת היה בתוכם: