Tanach
Michah 6 מיכה ו׳
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
שִׁמְעוּ־נָא אֵת אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֹמֵר קוּם רִיב אֶת־הֶהָרִים וְתִשְׁמַעְנָה הַגְּבָעוֹת קוֹלֶֽךָ׃
Hear now what the Lord says; Arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
Hear now what the Lord says; Arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
Rashi
הַגְּבָעוֹת. הָאִמָּהוֹת.
the hills—the Matriarchs.
שִׁמְעוּ הָרִים אֶת־רִיב יְהֹוָה וְהָאֵתָנִים מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ כִּי רִיב לַֽיהֹוָה עִם־עַמּוֹ וְעִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל יִתְוַכָּֽח׃
Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Yisra᾽el.
Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Yisra᾽el.
עַמִּי מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ וּמָה הֶלְאֵתִיךָ עֲנֵה בִֽי׃
O my people, what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
O my people, what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
Rashi
מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ. תֵּן לִבְּךָ לְהַכִּיר מַה טּוֹב עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ.
what have I done for you—Put your heart to recognizing what benefit I have done for you.
וּמָה הֶלְאֵתִיךָ. בַּעֲבוֹדָתִי.
and how have I wearied you—with My worship?
עֲנֵה בִי. הָעֵד בִּי.
Testify against Me Heb. עֲנֵה בִּי
כִּי הֶעֱלִתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּמִבֵּית עֲבָדִים פְּדִיתִיךָ וָאֶשְׁלַח לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָֽם׃
For I brought thee up out of the land of Miżrayim, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage; and I sent before thee Moshe, Aharon, and Miryam.
For I brought thee up out of the land of Miżrayim, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage; and I sent before thee Moshe, Aharon, and Miryam.
Rashi
כִּי הֶעֱלִיתִיךָ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי לְךָ כָּל הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת, לֹא הֶלְאֵתִיךָ בַּעֲבוֹדָה גְדוֹלָה וּבְקָרְבָּנוֹת גְּדוֹלִים.
For I brought you up—Although I bestowed all this benefit upon you, I did not weary you with much worship or with large sacrifices.
אֶת מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: ״מֹשֶׁה לְאַלְפָא מְסוֹרַת דִּינִין וְאַהֲרֹן לְכַפָּרָא עַל עַמָּא וּמִרְיָם לְאוֹרָאָה לְנָשִׁיָא״.
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam—Jonathan paraphrases: Moses to teach the transmission of the laws, Aaron to atone for the people, and Miriam to instruct the women.
עַמִּי זְכׇר־נָא מַה־יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וּמֶה־עָנָה אֹתוֹ בִּלְעָם בֶּן־בְּעוֹר מִן־הַשִּׁטִּים עַד־הַגִּלְגָּל לְמַעַן דַּעַת צִדְקוֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃
O my people, remember now what Balaq king of Mo᾽av devised, and what Bil῾am, the son of Be῾or answered him: from Shittim to Gilgal; that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.
O my people, remember now what Balaq king of Mo᾽av devised, and what Bil῾am, the son of Be῾or answered him: from Shittim to Gilgal; that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.
Rashi
וּמֶה עָנָה אֹתוֹ בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר. ״מָה אֶזְעֹם לֹא זָעַם ה׳״ (במדבר כ״ג:ח), שֶׁלֹּא כָּעַסְתִּי כָּל אוֹתָן הַיָּמִים.
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him—(Num. 23:8) “How shall I be angry if God is not angry?” for I did not become angry all those days. [from Berachot 4a]
מִן הַשִּׁטִּים. שֶׁחֲטָאתֶם לִי שָׁם, דְּעוּ צִדְקוֹתַי שֶׁלֹּא מָנַעְתִּי טוֹבָתִי וְעֶזְרָתִי מִכֶּם עַד הֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם לַגִּלְגָּל וְכָבַשְׁתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶם שָׁם אֶת הָאָרֶץ.
from Shittim—where you sinned before Me. You should recognize My righteous deeds, for I did not withhold My kindness and My assistance from you until I brought you to Gilgal, and I conquered the land before you.
בַּמָּה אֲקַדֵּם יְהֹוָה אִכַּף לֵאלֹהֵי מָרוֹם הַאֲקַדְּמֶנּוּ בְעוֹלוֹת בַּעֲגָלִים בְּנֵי שָׁנָֽה׃
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Rashi
אִכַּף. אֶהְיֶה כָּפוּף.
bow I will be humbled.
הֲיִרְצֶה יְהֹוָה בְּאַלְפֵי אֵילִים בְּרִֽבְבוֹת נַחֲלֵי־שָׁמֶן הַאֶתֵּן בְּכוֹרִי פִּשְׁעִי פְּרִי בִטְנִי חַטַּאת נַפְשִֽׁי׃
will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Rashi
נַחֲלֵי שָׁמֶן. לִמְנָחוֹת.
streams of oil—for meal offerings.
הַאֶתֵּן בְּכוֹרִי. קָרְבָּן לְפִשְׁעִי.
Shall I give my firstborn?—as a sacrifice for my transgression.
הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם מַה־טּוֹב וּמָֽה־יְהֹוָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ כִּי אִם־עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם־אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ {ס}
He has told thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love true loyalty, and to walk humbly with thy God?
He has told thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love true loyalty, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Rashi
הִגִּיד. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְךָ אָדָם מַה טּוֹב לְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת.
He has told—The Holy One, blessed be He, has told you what is good for you to do.
וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: ״הֱוֵי צָנוּעַ לְמֵיהַךְ בְּדַחֲלָא דְאֱלָהָךְ״. דָּבָר אַחֵר: וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, לֹא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם אָדָם מְבַיֵּשׁ אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וּבָא לְפַיְּסוֹ וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ אֵינִי מִתְרַצֶּה לְךָ עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא פְּלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי שֶׁבִּזִיתָנִי לִפְנֵיהֶם, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵין חָפֵץ אֶלָּא שֶׁיָּשׁוּב אֵלָיו בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ.
and to walk discreetly—Jonathan renders: Walk discreetly in the fear of your God. Another explanation: And walk discreetly. The standard of flesh and blood is not like the standard of the Holy One, blessed be He. The standard of flesh and blood is: If one man embarrasses his fellow and comes to placate him, the fellow says to him, “I will not accept your apology until so and so and so and so, before whom you disgraced me, come.” But the Holy One, blessed be He, desires only that the man’s return to Him be between the two of them. [from Pesikta d’Rav Kahana 163b]
קוֹל יְהֹוָה לָעִיר יִקְרָא וְתוּשִׁיָּה יִרְאֶה שְׁמֶךָ שִׁמְעוּ מַטֶּה וּמִי יְעָדָֽהּ׃
The Lord’s voice cries to the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear the rod, and who has appointed it.
The Lord’s voice cries to the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear the rod, and who has appointed it.
Rashi
קוֹל ה׳ לָעִיר יִקְרָא. ״קָל נְבִיָּא דַה׳ עַל קַרְתָּא״ מַכְרִיזִין לָהֶם תְּשׁוּבָה.
The voice of the Lord calls out in the city—The voice of the prophets of the Lord calling out, calling them [the people] to repentance. [from Jonathan]
וְתוּשִׁיָּה יִרְאֶה שְׁמֶךָ. וְתוּשִׁיָּה קוֹרֵא לָהֶם הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר רוֹאֶה אֶת שְׁמֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר נוֹתֵן לֵב לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן וְלִרְאוֹת דְּרָכֶיךָ. וְתוּשִׁיָּה מוּסָב עַל מִקְרָא שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ.
and the wisdom of the Torah, the one who sees Your name—The prophet who sees Your name calls out the wisdom of the Torah; i.e., the one who puts his heart to contemplate and to see your ways. The word וְתוּשִׁיּה refers to the verse above it.
שִׁמְעוּ מַטֶּה וּמִי יְעָדָהּ. הַטּוּ אֹזֶן וְשִׁמְעוּ מַטֵּה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת אֲשֶׁר תִּרְדֶּה אֶתְכֶם שֶׁהַנְּבִיאִים מַתְרִים בָּכֶם, וְשִׁמְעוּ מִי הוּא אֲשֶׁר יִיעֵד אוֹתוֹ הַפֻּרְעָנוּת אִם יְכֹלֶת בְּיָדוֹ לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁגּוֹזֵר. וְיוֹנָתָן לֹא כֵן תִּרְגֵּם.
hearken to the staff and Who appointed it—Bend your ears, and hearken to the staff of retribution that will punish you, concerning which the prophets warn you; and hearken to who it is Who appointed that retribution, whether He has the ability to fulfill what He decreed. But Jonathan did not render in this manner.
(וְתוּשִׁיָּה יִרְאֶה שְׁמֶךָ. מִכָּאן שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר בְּכָל יוֹם מִקְרָא הַמִּתְחִיל וּמְסַיֵּם כְּמוֹ שֶׁמִּתְחִיל וּמְסַיֵּם שְׁמוֹ הַתּוֹרָה מַצִּילוֹ מִגֵּיהִנֹּם).
and the wisdom of Torah, the one who sees Your name From here we deduce that whoever recites daily a verse beginning [with the letter] and ending [with the letter] as his name begins and ends, the Torah saves him from Gehinnom.
עוֹד הַאִשׁ בֵּית רָשָׁע אֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע וְאֵיפַת רָזוֹן זְעוּמָֽה׃
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
Rashi
עוֹד הַאִשׁ בֵּית רָשָׁע אוֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע. הֵ״א הָאֵשׁ נְקוּדָה פַּתָּח לְפִי שֶׁהִיא תֵּמַהּ, וְכֵן פֵּרוּשׁוֹ עוֹד לְשׁוֹן אֹרֶךְ יָמִים הוּא, הָאֵשׁ כְּמוֹ הֲיֵשׁ (וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים א׳ ב׳) מָצִינוּ אִישַׁי אֲבִי דָוִד בִּמְקוֹם יִשַׁי אַף כָּאן אֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹם יֵשׁ וְכֵן (בִּשְׁמוּאֵל ב׳ י״ד:י״ט) ״אִם אֵשׁ לְהֵמִין וּלְהַשְׂמִאיל״ אִם יֵשׁ לְהַאֲמִין וּלְהַשְׂמִאיל, וְיוֹנָתָן תִּרְגֵּם כֵּן ״הַאִית״ שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה בִּלְבַבְכֶם שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם בֵּית רָשָׁע לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים וְאוֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע.
Does the house of the wicked last long, [or do] the treasures of wickedness?—The “hey” of הַאִשׁ is vowelized with a “pattach” [not a kamatz] because it denotes a question. And this is its meaning: עוֹד is an expression of longevity. הַאִשׁ is like הֲיֵשׁ, is there. In I Chronicles (2:13) we find: “Ishai the father of David,” instead of “Yishai.” Here, too, is אִשׁ instead of יֵשׁ. And so in II Samuel (14:19): “If anyone can (אִשׁ) turn to the right or to the left.” [This is identical to] “If anyone can (יֵשׁ) turn to the right or to the left.” So did Jonathan render it: Is there. Will it enter your mind that the house of the wicked will last long, and the treasures of wickedness?
וְאֵיפַת רָזוֹן זְעוּמָה. מִדָּה קְטַנָּה שֶׁעֲשִׁירֵיכֶם מְרַמִּים בָּהּ הָעֲנִיִּים וּמְבִיאִין אוֹתָן לִידֵי רָזוֹן, וְהוּא זְעוּמָה בְּאַפּוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
And an ephah of leanness is condemned—A small measure with which your wealthy deceive the poor and bring them to leanness - that is condemned by the wrath of the Holy One, blessed be He.
הַאֶזְכֶּה בְּמֹאזְנֵי רֶשַׁע וּבְכִיס אַבְנֵי מִרְמָֽה׃
shall I count myself pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
shall I count myself pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׁירֶיהָ מָלְאוּ חָמָס וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ דִּבְּרוּ־שָׁקֶר וּלְשׁוֹנָם רְמִיָּה בְּפִיהֶֽם׃
For its rich men are full of violence, and its inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
For its rich men are full of violence, and its inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
וְגַם־אֲנִי הֶחֱלֵיתִי הַכּוֹתֶךָ הַשְׁמֵם עַל־חַטֹּאתֶֽךָ׃
Therefore will I smite thee with sore wounds, and blight thee because of thy sins.
Therefore will I smite thee with sore wounds, and blight thee because of thy sins.
Rashi
הֶחֱלֵיתִי הַכּוֹתֶךָ. הֶאֱנַשְׁתִּי מַכּוֹתֶיךָ חֲזָקוֹת וְחוֹלוֹת וַאֲנוּשׁוֹת.
I will smite you with sore wounds—I have made your wounds sore - strong and ill and incurable.
הַשְׁמֵם. לְהַשְׁמִימְךָ עַל חַטֹּאתֶיךָ.
and make [you] desolate Heb. הַשְׁמֵם, to make you desolate because of your sins.
אַתָּה תֹאכַל וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּע וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ בְּקִרְבֶּךָ וְתַסֵּג וְלֹא תַפְלִיט וַאֲשֶׁר תְּפַלֵּט לַחֶרֶב אֶתֵּֽן׃
Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy sickness shall be in thy inward parts; and thou shalt conceive, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou bringest forth I will give up to the sword.
Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy sickness shall be in thy inward parts; and thou shalt conceive, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou bringest forth I will give up to the sword.
Rashi
וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ בְּקִרְבֶּךָ. הַמַּאֲכָל שֶׁתֹּאכַל אַכְנִיס בּוֹ מְאֵרָה בְּתוֹךְ הַמֵּעַיִם וְיִגְרוֹם לְךָ חֹלִי שֶׁתְּהֵא חוֹלֶה וְהוֹלֵךְ שָׁחוֹחַ, וְכֵן מְפָרֵשׁ אוֹתוֹ בְּסִפְרֵי מִנַּיִן אַף בְּתוֹךְ הַמֵּעַיִם תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ בְּקִרְבֶּךָ בְּפָרָשַׁת וְהָיָה עֵקֶב בְּמִדְרַשׁ תָּמִיד עֵינֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּהּ. וְאַף יוֹנָתָן תִּרְגֵּם כֵּן ״וִיהֵי לָךְ לְמַרְעָא מְתָא בִּמְעֵיךְ״.
and it shall bend you over in your innards Heb. וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ. The food that you eat - I will bring a curse into it within your intestines, and it will cause you illness, that you will be ill and walk bent over. So it is explained in Sifre: How do we know that, even within the intestines? Scripture states: “And it shall bend you over in your innards.” In the parashah of Ekev, in expounding (Deut. 11:12) “The eyes of the Lord your God are upon it,” Jonathan, too, renders [our verse] in this manner: And it shall be to you for illness and a wound in your intestines.
וְתַסֵּג. אֶת אוֹיְבֶיךָ הַמּוֹלִיכִים בָּנֶיךָ וּבְנוֹתֶיךָ בַּשְּׁבִי וְלֹא תְפַלְּטֵם, וְאִם תְּפַלְּטֵם סוֹפָם לַחֶרֶב. וּמִשְּׁמוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מְנַחֵם שָׁמַעְתִּי וְתַסֵּג לְתַאֲוַת תַּשְׁמִישׁ וְלֹא תַפְלִיט, לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ כֹּחַ לִפְלֹט שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע וְאִם תְּפַלְּטֵם סוֹפָהּ לַחֶרֶב אֶתֵּן אֶתְכֶם. וְיוֹנָתָן תִּרְגֵּם לָשׁוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן.
and you shall overtake—your enemies who lead your sons and daughters away, into captivity; but you shall not rescue them, and if you rescue them, their end will be to the sword. In the name of Rabbi Menahem I heard: You shall gain your desire for sexual intercourse, but you shall not ejaculate. You shall not have the strength to ejaculate semen; and, if you do ejaculate them [and beget children], their end will be that I will deliver them to the sword [of the enemy].
אַתָּה תִזְרַע וְלֹא תִקְצוֹר אַתָּה תִדְרֹֽךְ־זַיִת וְלֹא־תָסוּךְ שֶׁמֶן וְתִירוֹשׁ וְלֹא תִשְׁתֶּה־יָּֽיִן׃
Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר חֻקּוֹת עׇמְרִי וְכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה בֵית־אַחְאָב וַתֵּלְכוּ בְּמֹעֲצוֹתָם לְמַעַן תִּתִּי אֹתְךָ לְשַׁמָּה וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ לִשְׁרֵקָה וְחֶרְפַּת עַמִּי תִּשָּֽׂאוּ׃ {פ}
For the statutes of ῾Omri are kept, and all the deeds of the house of Aĥ᾽av, and you walked in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing: therefore you shall bear the reproach of my people.
For the statutes of ῾Omri are kept, and all the deeds of the house of Aĥ᾽av, and you walked in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing: therefore you shall bear the reproach of my people.
Rashi
וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר חֻקּוֹת עָמְרִי. וְיָדַעְתִּי כִּי לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ אֵלַי כִּי יִשְׁתַּמֵּר עַל יְדֵיכֶם וּבֵינֵיכֶם כָּל חֻקּוֹת עָמְרִי וְאַחְאָב.
And the statutes of Omri shall be observed—I know that you will not obey Me, but through you and your children will all the statutes of Omri and Ahab [the evil kings of Israel] be observed.
וְחֶרְפַּת עַמִּי תִּשָּׂאוּ. אַתֶּם תְּקַבְּלוּן עֲוֹן הַחֶרְפָּה שֶׁהָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת מְחָרְפִין אֶת עַמִּי שֶׁהֵעִידָה בָּהֶם תּוֹרָה עַל כָּךְ (דברים כ״ה:י״ד) ״לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה״ וְהֵם אֵינָם שׁוֹמְרִים.
and the disgrace of My people you shall bear—You shall bear the iniquity for the disgrace that the peoples of the world deride My people, for the Torah admonished them concerning (Deut. 25:14): “You shall not have in your house two kinds of ephah,” but they do not keep it.
אֶת הֶהָרִים. אֶת הָאָבוֹת.
with the mountains—with the Patriarchs.