Revised Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 19

1When Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath cut offיַכְרִ֞יתyakh.RitH3772the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471,whose landאַרְצָ֑ם'ar.TzamH776Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee, and thou succeedestוִֽירִשְׁתָּ֕םvi.rish.TamH3423them, and dwellestוְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ve.ya.shav.TaH3427in their citiesבְעָרֵיהֶ֖םve.'a.rei.HemH5892,and in their housesוּבְבָתֵּיהֶֽם׃u.ve.va.tei.HemH1004;

2Thou shalt separateתַּבְדִּ֣ילtav.DilH914threeשָׁל֥וֹשׁsha.Lo.oshH7969citiesעָרִ֖ים'a.RimH5892for thee in the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of thy landאַרְצְךָ֔'ar.tze.KhaH776,which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee to possessלְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃le.rish.TahH3423it.

3Thou shalt prepareתָּכִ֣יןta.KhinH3559thee a wayהַדֶּרֶךְ֒ha.de.reKhH1870,and divide the coastsגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366of thy landאַרְצְךָ֔'ar.tze.KhaH776,which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430giveth thee to inheritיַנְחִֽילְךָ֖yan.chi.le.KhaH5157,into three partsוְשִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ve.shi.lash.TaH8027,that every slayerרֹצֵֽחַ׃ro.Tze.achH7523may fleeלָנ֥וּסla.NusH5127thither.

4And this isthe caseדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of the slayerהָרֹצֵ֔חַha.ro.Tze.achH7523,which shall fleeיָנ֥וּסya.NusH5127thither, that he may liveH2425:Whoso killethיַכֶּ֤הya.KehH5221his neighbourרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙re.'E.huH7453ignorantlyבִּבְלִי־ דַ֔עַתbiv.li- Da.'atH1847 H1097,whom he hatedשֹׂנֵ֥אso.Ne'H8130not in timeמִתְּמֹ֥לmi.te.MolH8543pastשִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃shil.ShomH8032;

5As when a man goethיָבֹ֨אya.Vo'H935into the woodבַיַּעַר֮vai.ya.'ArH3293with his neighbourרֵעֵ֥הוּre.'E.huH7453to hewלַחְטֹ֣בlach.ToH2404woodעֵצִים֒'e.TzimH6086,and his handיָד֤וֹya.DoH3027fetcheth a strokeוְנִדְּחָ֨הve.ni.de.ChahH5080with the axeבַגַּרְזֶן֙va.gar.ZenH1631to cut downלִכְרֹ֣תlikh.RotH3772the treeהָעֵ֔ץha.'EtzH6086,and the headהַבַּרְזֶל֙ha.bar.ZelH1270slippethוְנָשַׁ֤לve.na.ShalH5394from the helveהָעֵ֔ץha.'EtzH6086,and lightethוּמָצָ֥אu.ma.Tza'H4672upon his neighbourרֵעֵ֖הוּre.'E.huH7453,that he dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191;he shall fleeיָנ֛וּסya.NusH5127unto oneאַחַ֥ת'a.ChatH259of those citiesהֶעָרִים־he.'a.rim-H5892,and liveH2425:

6Lest the avengerגֹּאֵ֨לgo.'ElH1350of the bloodהַדָּ֜םha.DamH1818pursueיִרְדֹּף֩yir.DofH7291the slayerאַחֲרֵ֣י הָרֹצֵ֗חַ'a.cha.Rei ha.ro.Tze.achH7523 H310,whileH3588his heartלְבָבוֹ֒le.va.VoH3824is hotH3179,and overtakeוְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹve.hi.si.GoH5381him, because the wayהַדֶּ֖רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870is longיִרְבֶּ֥הyir.BehH7235,and slayוְהִכָּ֣הוּve.hi.Ka.huH5221himנָ֑פֶשׁNa.feshH5315; whereas he wasnot worthyמִשְׁפַּט־mish.pat-H4941of deathמָ֔וֶתMa.vetH4194,inasmuch asH3588he hatedשֹׂנֵ֥אso.Ne'H8130him not in timeמִתְּמ֥וֹלmi.te.MolH8543pastשִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃shil.ShomH8032.

7Wherefore I commandמְצַוְּךָ֖me.tza.ve.KhaH6680thee, sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Thou shalt separateתַּבְדִּ֥ילtav.DilH914threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969citiesעָרִ֖ים'a.RimH5892for thee.

8And if Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430enlargeיַרְחִ֞יבyar.ChivH7337thy coastגְּבֻ֣לְךָ֔ge.Vul.khaH1366,as he hath swornנִשְׁבַּ֖עnish.Ba'H7650unto thy fathersלַאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָla.'a.vo.Tei.khaH1,and giveוְנָ֤תַןve.Na.tanH5414thee all the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776which he promisedדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696to giveלָתֵ֥תla.TetH5414unto thy fathersלַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃la.'a.vo.Tei.khaH1;

9If thou shalt keepתִשְׁמֹר֩tish.MorH8104all these commandmentsהַמִּצְוָ֨הha.mitz.VahH4687to doלַעֲשֹׂתָ֗הּla.'a.so.TahH6213them, which I commandמְצַוְּךָ֮me.tza.ve.KhaH6680thee this dayהַיּוֹם֒hai.yOmH3117,to loveלְאַהֲבָ֞הle.'a.ha.VahH157Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,and to walkH3212everהַיָּמִ֑יםhai.ya.MimH3117in his waysבִּדְרָכָ֖יוbid.ra.KhavH1870;then shalt thou addוְיָסַפְתָּ֨ve.ya.saf.TaH3254threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshH7969citiesעָרִ֔ים'a.RimH5892more for thee, beside these threeהַשָּׁלֹ֥שׁha.sha.LoshH7969:

10That innocentנָקִ֔יna.KiH5355bloodדָּ֣םdamH1818be not shedיִשָּׁפֵךְ֙yi.sha.feKhH8210inבְּקֶ֣רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130thy landאַרְצְךָ֔'ar.tze.KhaH776,which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee foran inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159, and sobloodדָּמִֽים׃ סda.MimH1818be upon thee.

11But if any manאִישׁ֙'ishH376hateשֹׂנֵ֣אso.Ne'H8130his neighbourלְרֵעֵ֔הוּle.re.'E.huH7453,and lie in waitוְאָ֤רַבve.'A.ravH693for him, and rise upוְקָ֣םve.KamH6965against him, and smiteוְהִכָּ֥הוּve.hi.Ka.huH5221him mortallyנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315that he dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,and fleethוְנָ֕סve.NasH5127into oneאַחַ֖ת'a.ChatH259of theseהָאֵֽל׃ha.'ElH411citiesהֶעָרִ֥יםhe.'a.RimH5892:

12Then the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֔וֹi.RoH5892shall sendוְשָֽׁלְחוּ֙ve.sha.le.ChuH7971and fetchוְלָקְח֥וּve.la.ke.ChuH3947him thence, and deliverוְנָתְנ֣וּve.na.te.NuH5414him into the handבְּיַ֛דbe.YadH3027of the avengerגֹּאֵ֥לgo.'ElH1350of bloodהַדָּ֖םha.DamH1818,that he may dieוָמֵֽת׃va.MetH4191.

13Thine eyeעֵֽינְךָ֖'ei.ne.KhaH5869shall not pityתָח֥וֹסta.ChosH2347him, but thou shalt put awayוּבִֽעַרְתָּ֧u.vi.'ar.TaH1197the guilt ofinnocentהַנָּקִ֛יha.na.KiH5355bloodדַֽם־dam-H1818from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,that it may go wellוְט֥וֹבve.TovH2895with thee.

14Thou shalt not removeתַסִּיג֙ta.SigH5253thy neighbour’sרֵֽעֲךָ֔re.'a.KhaH7453landmarkגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366,which they of old timeרִאשֹׁנִ֑יםri.sho.NimH7223have setגָּבְל֖וּga.ve.LuH1379in thine inheritanceבְּנַחֲלָֽתְךָ֙be.na.cha.la.te.KhaH5159,which thou shalt inheritתִּנְחַ֔לtin.ChalH5157in the landבָּאָ֕רֶץba.'A.retzH776that Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414thee to possessלְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ סle.rish.TahH3423it.

15Oneאֶחָ֜ד'e.ChadH259witnessעֵ֨ד'edH5707shall not rise upיָקוּם֩ya.KumH6965against a manבְּאִ֗ישׁbe.'IshH376for any iniquityעָוֹן֙'a.VonH5771,or for any sinחַטָּ֔אתcha.TatH2403,in any sinחֵ֖טְאchet'H2399that he sinnethיֶֽחֱטָ֑אye.che.Ta'H2398:at the mouthפִּ֣י׀piH6310of twoשְׁנֵ֣יshe.NeiH8147witnessesעֵדִ֗ים'e.DimH5707,or at the mouthפִּ֥יpiH6310of threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה־she.lo.shah-H7969witnessesעֵדִ֖ים'e.DimH5707,shall the matterדָּבָֽר׃da.VarH1697be establishedיָק֥וּםya.KumH6965.

16If a falseחָמָ֖סcha.MasH2555witnessעֵד־'ed-H5707rise upיָק֥וּםya.KumH6965against any manבְּאִ֑ישׁbe.'IshH376to testifyלַעֲנ֥וֹתla.'a.NotH6030against him that which iswrongסָרָֽה׃sa.RahH5627;

17Then bothשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֛יםha.'a.na.ShimH582,between whom the controversyהָרִ֖יבha.RivH7379is,shall standוְעָמְד֧וּve.'a.me.DuH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlif.NeiH6440the priestsהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ha.ko.ha.NimH3548and the judgesוְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔יםve.ha.Sho.fe.TimH8199,which shall be in those daysבַּיָּמִ֥יםbai.ya.MimH3117;

18And the judgesהַשֹּׁפְטִ֖יםha.sho.fe.TimH8199shall make diligentהֵיטֵ֑בhei.TevH3190inquisitionוְדָרְשׁ֥וּve.da.re.ShuH1875: and, behold, ifthe witnessעֵֽד־'ed-H5707bea falseשֶׁ֙קֶר֙she.kerH8267witnessהָעֵ֔דha.'EdH5707, andhath testifiedעָנָ֥ה'a.NahH6030falselyשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerH8267against his brotherבְאָחִֽיו׃ve.'a.ChivH251;

19Then shall ye doוַעֲשִׂ֣יתֶםva.'a.Si.temH6213unto him, as he had thoughtזָמַ֖םza.MamH2161to have doneלַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla.'a.SotH6213unto his brotherלְאָחִ֑יוle.'a.ChivH251:so shalt thou putH1197the evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451awayH1197from amongמִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃mi.kir.Be.chaH7130you.

20And those which remainוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖יםve.ha.nish.'a.RimH7604shall hearיִשְׁמְע֣וּyish.me.'UH8085,and fearוְיִרָ֑אוּve.yi.Ra.'uH3372,and shall henceforthיֹסִ֨פוּyo.Si.fuH3254commitלַעֲשׂ֜וֹתla.'a.SotH6213no more anyכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697such evilהָרָ֛עha.Ra'H7451amongבְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃be.kir.Be.chaH7130you.

21And thine eyeעֵינֶ֑ךָ'ei.Ne.khaH5869shall not pityתָח֖וֹסta.ChosH2347; butlifeנֶ֣פֶשׁNe.feshH5315shall gofor lifeבְּנֶ֗פֶשׁbe.Ne.feshH5315,eyeעַ֤יִן'A.yinH5869for eyeבְּעַ֙יִן֙be.'A.yinH5869,toothשֵׁ֣ןshenH8127for toothבְּשֵׁ֔ןbe.ShenH8127,handיָ֥דyadH3027for handבְּיָ֖דbe.YadH3027,footרֶ֥גֶלRe.gelH7272for footבְּרָֽגֶל׃ סbe.Ra.gelH7272.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 19