Revised Literal Translation

Exodus 23

1Thou shalt not raiseתִשָּׂ֖אti.Sa'H5375a falseשָׁ֑וְאShav'H7723reportשֵׁ֣מַעShe.ma'H8088:putתָּ֤שֶׁתTa.shetH7896not thine handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027with the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563to be an unrighteousחָמָֽס׃ סcha.MasH2555witnessעֵ֥ד'edH5707.

2Thou shalt not followאַחֲרֵֽי־'a.cha.rei-H310a multitudeרַבִּ֖יםra.BimH7227to doevilלְרָעֹ֑תle.ra.'OtH7451;neither shalt thou speakתַעֲנֶ֣הta.'a.NehH6030in a causeרִ֗בRivH7379to declineלִנְטֹ֛תlin.TotH5186afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310manyרַבִּ֖יםra.BimH7227to wrestלְהַטֹּֽת׃le.ha.TotH5186judgment:

3Neither shalt thou countenanceתֶהְדַּ֖רteh.DarH1921a poorוְדָ֕לve.DalH1800man in his causeבְּרִיבֽוֹ׃ סbe.ri.VoH7379.

4If thou meetתִפְגַּ֞עtif.Ga'H6293thine enemy’sאֹֽיִבְךָ֛'o.yiv.KhaH341oxשׁ֧וֹרShorH7794or his donkeyחֲמֹר֖וֹcha.mo.RoH2543going astrayתֹּעֶ֑הto.'EhH8582,thou shalt surelyH7725bring it backH7725to him againH7725.

5If thou seeתִרְאֶ֞הtir.'EhH7200the donkeyחֲמ֣וֹרcha.MorH2543of him that hatethשֹׂנַאֲךָ֗so.na.'a.KhaH8130thee lyingרֹבֵץ֙ro.VetzH7257under his burdenמַשָּׂא֔וֹma.sa.'OH4853,and wouldest forbearוְחָדַלְתָּ֖ve.cha.dal.TaH2308to helpמֵעֲזֹ֣בme.'a.ZoH5800him, thou shalt surelyעָזֹ֥בa.ZoH5800helpתַּעֲזֹ֖בta.'a.ZoH5800with him.

6Thou shalt not wrestתַטֶּ֛הta.TehH5186the judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֥טmish.PatH4941of thy poorאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖'ev.yo.ne.KhaH34in his causeבְּרִיבֽוֹ׃be.ri.VoH7379.

7Keep thee farתִּרְחָ֑קtir.ChakH7368from a falseשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerH8267matterמִדְּבַר־mi.de.var-H1697;and the innocentוְנָקִ֤יve.na.KiH5355and righteousוְצַדִּיק֙ve.tza.DikH6662slayתַּהֲרֹ֔גta.ha.RogH2026thou not: for I will not justifyאַצְדִּ֖יק'atz.DikH6663the wickedרָשָֽׁע׃ra.Sha'H7563.

8And thou shalt takeתִקָּ֑חti.KachH3947no giftוְשֹׁ֖חַדve.Sho.chadH7810:for the giftהַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ha.Sho.chadH7810blindethיְעַוֵּ֣רye.'a.VerH5786the wiseפִּקְחִ֔יםpik.ChimH6493,and pervertethוִֽיסַלֵּ֖ףvi.sa.LefH5557the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of the righteousצַדִּיקִֽים׃tza.di.KimH6662.

9Also thou shalt not oppressתִלְחָ֑ץtil.ChatzH3905a strangerוְגֵ֖רve.GerH1616:for ye knowיְדַעְתֶּם֙ye.da'.TemH3045the heartנֶ֣פֶשׁNe.feshH5315of a strangerהַגֵּ֔רha.GerH1616,seeingכִּֽי־ki-H3588ye were strangersגֵרִ֥יםge.RimH1616in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

10And sixוְשֵׁ֥שׁve.SheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141thou shalt sowתִּזְרַ֣עtiz.Ra'H2232thy landאַרְצֶ֑ךָ'ar.Tze.khaH776,and shalt gatherוְאָסַפְתָּ֖ve.'a.saf.TaH622in the fruitsתְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃te.vu.'a.TahH8393thereof:

11But the seventhוְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞תve.ha.she.vi.'ItH7637yearthou shalt let it restתִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּהtish.me.Te.nahH8058and lieוּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּu.ne.tash.TahH5203still; that the poorאֶבְיֹנֵ֣י'ev.yo.NeiH34of thy peopleעַמֶּ֔ךָ'a.Me.khaH5971may eatוְאָֽכְלוּ֙ve.'a.khe.LuH398:and what they leaveוְיִתְרָ֕םve.yit.RamH3499the beastsחַיַּ֣תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704shall eatתֹּאכַ֖לto.KhalH398.In like manner thou shalt dealתַּעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213with thy vineyardלְכַרְמְךָ֖le.khar.me.KhaH3754, andwith thy oliveyardלְזֵיתֶֽךָ׃le.zei.Te.khaH2132.

12Sixשֵׁ֤שֶׁתShe.shetH8337daysיָמִים֙ya.MimH3117thou shalt doתַּעֲשֶׂ֣הta.'a.SehH6213thy workמַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָma.'a.Sei.khaH4639,and on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayוּבַיּ֥וֹםu.vai.YomH3117thou shalt restתִּשְׁבֹּ֑תtish.BotH7673:that thine oxשֽׁוֹרְךָ֙shor.KhaH7794and thine donkeyוַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָva.cha.mo.Re.khaH2543may restיָנ֗וּחַya.Nu.achH5117,and the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of thy handmaidאֲמָתְךָ֖'a.ma.te.KhaH519,and the strangerוְהַגֵּֽר׃ve.ha.GerH1616,may be refreshedוְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁve.yi.na.FeshH5314.

13And in all thingsthat I have saidאָמַ֥רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559unto you be circumspectתִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּti.sha.Me.ruH8104:and make no mentionתַזְכִּ֔ירוּtaz.Ki.ruH2142of the nameוְשֵׁ֨םve.ShemH8034of otherאֲחֵרִים֙'a.che.RimH312godsאֱלֹהִ֤ים'E.lo.HimH430,neither let it be heardיִשָּׁמַ֖עyi.sha.Ma'H8085outעַל־'al-H5921of thy mouthפִּֽיךָ׃Pi.khaH6310.

14Threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshH7969timesרְגָלִ֔יםre.ga.LimH7272thou shalt keep a feastתָּחֹ֥גta.ChogH2287unto me in the yearבַּשָּׁנָֽה׃ba.sha.NahH8141.

15Thou shalt keepתִּשְׁמֹר֒tish.MorH8104the feastחַ֣גchagH2282of unleavened breadהַמַּצּוֹת֮ha.ma.tzOtH4682: (thou shalt eatתֹּאכַ֨לto.KhalH398unleavened breadמַצּ֜וֹתma.TzotH4682sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysיָמִים֩ya.MimH3117,as I commandedצִוִּיתִ֗ךָtzi.vi.Ti.khaH6680thee, in the time appointedלְמוֹעֵד֙le.mo.'EdH4150of the monthחֹ֣דֶשׁCho.deshH2320Abibהָֽאָבִ֔יבha.'a.VivH24;for in it thou camest outיָצָ֣אתָya.Tza.taH3318from Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714:and none shall appearיֵרָא֥וּye.ra.'UH7200beforeפָנַ֖יfa.NaiH6440me emptyרֵיקָֽם׃rei.KamH7387:)

16And the feastוְחַ֤גve.ChagH2282of harvestהַקָּצִיר֙ha.ka.TzirH7105,the firstfruitsבִּכּוּרֵ֣יbi.ku.ReiH1061of thy laboursמַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָma.'a.Sei.khaH4639,which thou hast sownתִּזְרַ֖עtiz.Ra'H2232in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704:and the feastוְחַ֤גve.ChagH2282of ingatheringהָֽאָסִף֙ha.'a.SifH614, which isin the endבְּצֵ֣אתbe.TzetH3318of the yearהַשָּׁנָ֔הha.sha.NahH8141,when thou hast gatheredבְּאָסְפְּךָ֥be.'a.se.pe.KhaH622in thy laboursמַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָma.'a.Sei.khaH4639out of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ha.sa.DehH7704.

17Threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969timesפְּעָמִ֖יםpe.'a.MimH6471in the yearבַּשָּׁנָ֑הba.sha.NahH8141all thy malesזְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ze.Khu.re.khaH2138shall appearיֵרָאֶה֙ye.ra.'EhH7200beforeפְּנֵ֖יpe.NeiH6440the Lordהָאָדֹ֥ן׀ha.'a.DonH113Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

18Thou shalt not offerתִזְבַּ֥חtiz.BachH2076the bloodדַּם־dam-H1818of my sacrificeזִבְחִ֑יziv.ChiH2077with leavened breadחָמֵ֖ץcha.MetzH2557;neither shall the fatחֵֽלֶב־che.lev-H2459of my sacrificeחַגִּ֖יcha.GiH2282remainיָלִ֥יןya.LinH3885until the morningבֹּֽקֶר׃Bo.kerH1242.

19The firstרֵאשִׁ֗יתre.ShitH7225of the firstfruitsבִּכּוּרֵי֙bi.ku.ReiH1061of thy landאַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔'ad.Ma.te.khaH127thou shalt bringתָּבִ֕יאta.Vi'H935into the houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1004of Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430.Thou shalt not seetheתְבַשֵּׁ֥לte.va.ShelH1310a kidגְּדִ֖יge.DiH1423in his mother’sאִמּֽוֹ׃ ס'i.MoH517milkבַּחֲלֵ֥בba.cha.LevH2461.

20Behold, I sendשֹׁלֵ֤חַsho.Le.achH7971an Angelמַלְאָךְ֙mal.'oKhH4397beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, to keepלִשְׁמָרְךָ֖lish.ma.re.KhaH8104thee in the wayבַּדָּ֑רֶךְba.Da.rekhH1870,and to bringוְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔ve.la.ha.Vi.'a.khaH935thee into the placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725which I have preparedהֲכִנֹֽתִי׃ha.khi.No.tiH3559.

21Bewareהִשָּׁ֧מֶרhi.Sha.merH8104ofמִפָּנָ֛יוmi.pa.NavH6440him, and obeyוּשְׁמַ֥עu.she.Ma'H8085his voiceבְּקֹל֖וֹbe.ko.LoH6963,provokeתַּמֵּ֣רta.MerH4843him not; for he will not pardonיִשָּׂא֙yi.Sa'H5375your transgressionsלְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔םle.fish.'a.KhemH6588:for my nameשְׁמִ֖יshe.MiH8034isin himבְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃be.kir.BoH7130.

22But if thou shalt indeedשָׁמֹ֤עַsha.Mo.a'H8085obeyתִּשְׁמַע֙tish.Ma'H8085his voiceבְּקֹל֔וֹbe.ko.LoH6963,and doוְעָשִׂ֕יתָve.'a.Si.taH6213all that I speakאֲדַבֵּ֑ר'a.da.BerH1696;then I will be an enemyוְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ve.'a.yav.TiH340unto thine enemiesאֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341,and an adversaryצֹרְרֶֽיךָ׃tzo.re.Rei.khaH6887unto thine adversariesוְצַרְתִּ֖יve.tzar.TiH6696.

23For mine Angelמַלְאָכִי֮mal.'a.KhiH4397shall goH3212beforeלְפָנֶיךָ֒le.fa.nei.KhaH6440thee, and bringוֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗ve.he.vi.'a.KhaH935thee in unto the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ha.'e.mo.RiH567,and the Hittitesוְהַ֣חִתִּ֔יve.Ha.chi.TiH2850,and the Perizzitesוְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ve.hap.pe.ri.ZiH6522,and the Canaanitesוְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יve.ha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,the Hivitesהַחִוִּ֖יha.chi.ViH2340,and the Jebusitesוְהַיְבוּסִ֑יve.hay.vu.SiH2983:and I will cut them offוְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו׃ve.hikh.chad.TivH3582.

24Thou shalt not bow downתִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤הtish.ta.cha.VehH7812to their godsלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙le.lo.hei.HemH430,nor serveתָֽעָבְדֵ֔םta.'a.ve.DemH5647them, nor doתַעֲשֶׂ֖הta.'a.SehH6213after their worksכְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑םke.ma.'a.sei.HemH4639:but thou shalt utterlyהָרֵס֙ha.ResH2040overthrowתְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔םte.Ha.re.SemH2040them, and quiteוְשַׁבֵּ֥רve.sha.BerH7665break downתְּשַׁבֵּ֖רte.sha.BerH7665their imagesמַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ma.tze.vo.tei.HemH4676.

25And ye shall serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֗םva.'a.vad.TemH5647Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430,and he shall blessוּבֵרַ֥ךְu.ve.RakhH1288thy breadלַחְמְךָ֖lach.me.KhaH3899,and thy waterמֵימֶ֑יךָmei.Mei.khaH4325;and I will takeH5493sicknessמַחֲלָ֖הma.cha.LahH4245awayH5493from the midstמִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃mi.kir.Be.chaH7130of thee.

26There shall nothing cast their youngמְשַׁכֵּלָ֥הme.sha.ke.LahH7921,nor be barrenוַעֲקָרָ֖הva.'a.ka.RahH6135,in thy landבְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָbe.'ar.Tze.khaH776:the numberמִסְפַּ֥רmis.ParH4557of thy daysיָמֶ֖יךָya.Mei.khaH3117I will fulfilאֲמַלֵּֽא׃'a.ma.Le'H4390.

27I will sendאֲשַׁלַּ֣ח'a.sha.LachH7971my fearאֵֽימָתִי֙'ei.ma.TiH367beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, and will destroyוְהַמֹּתִי֙ve.ha.mo.TiH2000all the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971to whom thou shalt comeתָּבֹ֖אta.Vo'H935,and I will makeוְנָתַתִּ֧יve.na.ta.TiH5414all thine enemiesאֹיְבֶ֛יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341turn their backsעֹֽרֶף׃'O.refH6203unto thee.

28And I will sendוְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥יve.sha.lach.TiH7971hornetsהַצִּרְעָ֖הha.tzir.'AhH6880beforeלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, which shall drive outוְגֵרְשָׁ֗הve.ge.re.ShahH1644the Hiviteהַחִוִּ֧יha.chi.ViH2340,the Canaaniteהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,and the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֖יha.chi.TiH2850,from beforeמִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃mi.le.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee.

29I will not drive them outאֲגָרְשֶׁ֛נּוּ'a.ga.re.She.nuH1644from beforeמִפָּנֶ֖יךָmi.pa.Nei.khaH6440thee in oneאֶחָ֑ת'e.ChatH259yearבְּשָׁנָ֣הbe.sha.NahH8141;lest the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776become desolateשְׁמָמָ֔הshe.ma.MahH8077,and the beastחַיַּ֥תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ha.sa.DehH7704multiplyH7227against thee.

30By littleמְעַ֥טme.'AtH4592and littleמְעַ֛טme.'AtH4592I will drive them outאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ'a.ga.re.She.nuH1644from beforeמִפָּנֶ֑יךָmi.pa.Nei.khaH6440thee, until thou be increasedתִּפְרֶ֔הtif.RehH6509,and inheritוְנָחַלְתָּ֖ve.na.chal.TaH5157the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

31And I will setוְשַׁתִּ֣יve.sha.TiH7896thy boundsגְּבֻלְךָ֗ge.vul.KhaH1366from the Redסוּף֙sufH5488seaמִיַּם־mi.yam-H3220even unto the seaיָ֣םyamH3220of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430,and from the desertוּמִמִּדְבָּ֖רu.mi.mid.BarH4057unto the riverהַנָּהָ֑רha.na.HarH5104:for I will deliverאֶתֵּ֣ן'e.TenH5414the inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.VeiH3427of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776into your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֗םbe.yed.KhemH3027;and thou shalt drive them outוְגֵרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹve.ge.rash.Ta.movH1644beforeמִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃mi.pa.Nei.khaH6440thee.

32Thou shalt makeתִכְרֹ֥תtikh.RotH3772no covenantבְּרִֽית׃be.RitH1285with them, nor with their godsוְלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖םve.le.lo.hei.HemH430.

33They shall not dwellיֵשְׁבוּ֙ye.she.VuH3427in thy landבְּאַרְצְךָ֔be.'ar.tze.KhaH776,lest they make thee sinיַחֲטִ֥יאוּya.cha.Ti.'uH2398against me: for if thou serveתַעֲבֹד֙ta.'a.VodH5647their godsאֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם'e.Lo.hei.HemH430,it will surely be a snareלְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃ פle.mo.KeshH4170unto thee.

Commentaries on Exodus 23