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3:1

הוֹי מֹרְאָה וְנִגְאָלָה הָעִיר הַיּוֹנָֽה׃

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Rashi

הוֹי מֹרְאָה וְנִגְאָלָה. עַד עַכְשָׁיו דִּבֵּר בְּנִינְוֵה, וְעַכְשָׁיו חוֹזֵר עַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם: הוֹי, שֶׁתְּהֵא לְבַז וּלְסְחִי כְּרֹאִי, וּתְהֵא מְגֹאֶלֶת בִּצְחַן עֲוֹנָהּ. מֹרְאָה – כְּמוֹ ״מֻרְאָתוֹ״ (ויקרא א:טז), ״וְשַׂמְתִּיךְ כְּרֹאִי״ (נחום ג:ו).

Woe to her who is filthy and polluted Until now, Zephaniah was speaking of Ninveh, but now he refers to Jerusalem: Woe to her who is destined to be plundered and sullied like dung. It will be polluted with the filth of its iniquity. filthy as in (Lev. 1:16) “its crop”; and (Nahum 3:6) “And I will make you like dung.”

הָעִיר הַיּוֹנָה. כְּיוֹנָה פּוֹתָה אֵין לֵב.

the dove like city Like a silly dove, without a heart.

3:2

לֹא שָֽׁמְעָה בְּקוֹל לֹא לָקְחָה מוּסָר בַּֽיהֹוָה לֹא בָטָחָה אֶל־אֱלֹהֶיהָ לֹא קָרֵֽבָה׃

She did not obey the voice; she did not accept correction; she did not trust in the Lord; she did not draw near to her God.

She did not obey the voice; she did not accept correction; she did not trust in the Lord; she did not draw near to her God.

3:3

שָׂרֶיהָ בְקִרְבָּהּ אֲרָיוֹת שֹׁאֲגִים שֹׁפְטֶיהָ זְאֵבֵי עֶרֶב לֹא גָרְמוּ לַבֹּֽקֶר׃

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves at evening; they gnaw no bones in the morning.

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves at evening; they gnaw no bones in the morning.

Rashi

זְאֵבֵי עֶרֶב. הַמְּמַהֲרִים לֶאֱכֹל טַרְפָּם בַּלַּיְלָה.

wolves of the evening who hasten to devour their prey at night.

לֹא גָרְמוּ לַבֹּקֶר. לֹא הִשְׁאִירוּ אַף הָעֲצָמוֹת לִגְרֹם לַבֹּקֶר.

They did not leave over the bones for morning They did not leave over even the bones to gnaw in the morning.

3:4

נְבִיאֶיהָ פֹּֽחֲזִים אַנְשֵׁי בֹּֽגְדוֹת כֹּהֲנֶיהָ חִלְּלוּ־קֹדֶשׁ חָמְסוּ תּוֹרָֽה׃

Her prophets are worthless, treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have violently perverted Tora.

Her prophets are worthless, treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have violently perverted Tora.

Rashi

חָמְסוּ תּוֹרָה. לֹא הוֹרוּ אוֹתָהּ לְשׁוֹאֲלֵיהֶם.

they removed the Torah They did not teach it to those who inquired of them.

3:5

יְהֹוָה צַדִּיק בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה עַוְלָה בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּטוֹ יִתֵּן לָאוֹר לֹא נֶעְדָּר וְלֹא־יוֹדֵעַ עַוָּל בֹּֽשֶׁת׃

The Lord is just; he is in her midst; he will not do iniquity: every morning he brings his judgment to light; it does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

The Lord is just; he is in her midst; he will not do iniquity: every morning he brings his judgment to light; it does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

Rashi

ה׳ צַדִּיק. הִשְׁרָה שְׁכִינָתוֹ בְּקִרְבָּם, וּלְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִרְאוֹת בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים, כִּי צַדִּיק הוּא וְאֵין עַוְלָה לְפָנָיו.

The Lord is just He caused His Shechinah to rest in their midst; therefore, He cannot look upon their evil deeds. He is just, and there is no injustice before Him.

מִשְׁפָּטוֹ יִתֵּן לָאוֹר. נוֹתֵן לָאוֹר, דָּן דִּין אֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ.

He brings His judgment to light He judges a true judgment to its absolute truth.

וְלֹא יוֹדֵעַ עַוָּל בֹּשֶׁת. וְכָל זֶה לֹא נָתְנוּ שׁוֹפְטֵי עָוֶל שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ אֶל לִבָּם לְהִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִן הַצַּדִּיק הַשּׁוֹכֵן בֵּינֵיהֶם.

But the one who commits injustice knows no shame But the unjust judges do not take it to heart, to be ashamed because of the Righteous One Who dwells among them.

3:6

הִכְרַתִּי גוֹיִם נָשַׁמּוּ פִּנּוֹתָם הֶחֱרַבְתִּי חוּצוֹתָם מִבְּלִי עוֹבֵר נִצְדּוּ עָרֵיהֶם מִבְּלִי־אִישׁ מֵאֵין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

I have cut off nations: their pinnacles are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passes by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.

I have cut off nations: their pinnacles are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passes by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.

Rashi

הִכְרַתִּי גוֹיִם. הֵבֵאתִי פֻּרְעָנוּת עַל הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּרְאוּ וְתִירָאוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא מְסַיֵּם וְהוֹלֵךְ: ״אָמַרְתִּי אַךְ תִּירְאִי אוֹתִי״.

I have cut off nations I brought retribution upon the nations so that you should see and fear as He concludes, “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me.’”

3:7

אָמַרְתִּי אַךְ־תִּֽירְאִי אוֹתִי תִּקְחִי מוּסָר וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵת מְעוֹנָהּ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־פָּקַדְתִּי עָלֶיהָ אָכֵן הִשְׁכִּימוּ הִשְׁחִיתוּ כֹּל עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt accept correction; then her dwelling would not have been cut off, according to all that I had threatened to bring upon her. However, they were up early and corrupted all their doings.

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt accept correction; then her dwelling would not have been cut off, according to all that I had threatened to bring upon her. However, they were up early and corrupted all their doings.

Rashi

וְלֹא יִכָּרֵת מְעוֹנָהּ. וְלֹא יֶחֶרְבוּן מְדוֹרֶיהָ.

I said, “Surely you will fear Me... and her dwelling shall not be cut off” Her dwellings shall not be destroyed.

כָּל אֲשֶׁר פָּקַדְתִּי עָלֶיהָ. וְלֹא יִכָּרֵת מִמֶּנּוּ כָּל הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי לְהָבִיא עָלֶיהָ.

all that I ordained upon her And all the good that I ordained to bring upon her shall not be cut off from her.

3:8

לָכֵן חַכּוּ־לִי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה לְיוֹם קוּמִי לְעַד כִּי מִשְׁפָּטִי לֶאֱסֹף גּוֹיִם לְקׇבְצִי מַמְלָכוֹת לִשְׁפֹּךְ עֲלֵיהֶם זַעְמִי כֹּל חֲרוֹן אַפִּי כִּי בְּאֵשׁ קִנְאָתִי תֵּאָכֵל כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Therefore wait for me, says the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Therefore wait for me, says the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Rashi

קוּמִי לְעַד. שֶׁאָקוּם לְהִתְוַעֵד עֲלֵיכֶם.

That I will rise up to meet When I will rise to meet with you.

3:9

כִּי־אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל־עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה לְעׇבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָֽד׃

For then I will convert the peoples to a purer language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

For then I will convert the peoples to a purer language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

3:10

מֵעֵבֶר לְנַהֲרֵי־כוּשׁ עֲתָרַי בַּת־פּוּצַי יוֹבִלוּן מִנְחָתִֽי׃

From beyond the rivers of Kush come my suppliants, the daughters of Pużay, who bring my offering.

From beyond the rivers of Kush come my suppliants, the daughters of Pużay, who bring my offering.

Rashi

מֵעֵבֶר לְנַהֲרֵי כוּשׁ. יוֹבִילוּן לִי מִנְחָה.

From the other side of the rivers of Cush They will bring Me an offering.

עֲתָרַי. אֶת הַמִּתְפַּלְּלִין אֵלַי.

My supplicants those who pray to me.

בַּת פּוּצַי. כְּנֵסִיּוֹת נְפוּצוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר הֲפִיצוֹתִי.

the community of My scattered ones The gatherings of My scattered ones, whom I scattered.

3:11

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֹא תֵבוֹשִׁי מִכֹּל עֲלִילֹתַיִךְ אֲשֶׁר פָּשַׁעַתְּ בִּי כִּי־אָז ׀ אָסִיר מִקִּרְבֵּךְ עַלִּיזֵי גַּאֲוָתֵךְ וְלֹא־תוֹסִפִי לְגׇבְהָה עוֹד בְּהַר קׇדְשִֽׁי׃

On that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, in which thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee those who rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty in My holy mountain.

On that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, in which thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee those who rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty in My holy mountain.

Rashi

לֹא תֵבוֹשִׁי מִכָּל עֲלִילוֹתַיִךְ. כִּי כְּבָר לָקִית וְנִרְצָה עֲוֹנֵךְ.

you shall not be ashamed of all your deeds Because you have already suffered, and your iniquity has been expiated.

3:12

וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּי בְקִרְבֵּךְ עַם עָנִי וָדָל וְחָסוּ בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָֽה׃

And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and lowly people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and lowly people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

Rashi

עַם עָנִי וָדָל. עַם עַנְוְתָן וּמְקַבֵּל עֻלְבָּן.

a humble and poor people A humble people that submits to humiliation.

3:13

שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹֽא־יַעֲשׂוּ עַוְלָה וְלֹֽא־יְדַבְּרוּ כָזָב וְלֹֽא־יִמָּצֵא בְּפִיהֶם לְשׁוֹן תַּרְמִית כִּי־הֵמָּה יִרְעוּ וְרָבְצוּ וְאֵין מַחֲרִֽיד׃ {פ}

The remnant of Yisra᾽el shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

The remnant of Yisra᾽el shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

3:14

רׇנִּי בַּת־צִיּוֹן הָרִיעוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׂמְחִי וְעׇלְזִי בְּכׇל־לֵב בַּת יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

Sing, O daughter of Żiyyon; shout, O Yisra᾽el; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Yerushalayim.

Sing, O daughter of Żiyyon; shout, O Yisra᾽el; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Yerushalayim.

3:15

הֵסִיר יְהֹוָה מִשְׁפָּטַיִךְ פִּנָּה אֹֽיְבֵךְ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל ׀ יְהֹוָה בְּקִרְבֵּךְ לֹא־תִֽירְאִי רָע עֽוֹד׃ {פ}

The Lord has taken away thy judgments, he has cast out thy enemy: the king of Yisra᾽el, the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

The Lord has taken away thy judgments, he has cast out thy enemy: the king of Yisra᾽el, the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

Rashi

מִשְׁפָּטַיִךְ. יִסּוּרֶיךְ, יושטיצ״א בְּלַעַ״ז.

your afflictions justice in French.

3:16

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יֵאָמֵר לִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם אַל־תִּירָאִי צִיּוֹן אַל־יִרְפּוּ יָדָֽיִךְ׃

In that day it shall be said to Yerushalayim, Fear thou not: and to Żiyyon, Let not thy hands be slack.

In that day it shall be said to Yerushalayim, Fear thou not: and to Żiyyon, Let not thy hands be slack.

3:17

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַיִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּךְ גִּבּוֹר יוֹשִׁיעַ יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ בְּשִׂמְחָה יַֽחֲרִישׁ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ יָגִיל עָלַיִךְ בְּרִנָּֽה׃

The Lord thy God is in the midst of thee; a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will be silent in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

The Lord thy God is in the midst of thee; a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will be silent in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Rashi

גִּבּוֹר יוֹשִׁיעַ. גִּבּוֹר הוּא אֲשֶׁר יוֹשִׁיעַ מִן הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת.

A Mighty One will save He is a Mighty One, Who will save [Israel] from the enemy.

יַחֲרִישׁ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ. יְכַסֶּה עַל פְּשָׁעֶיךָ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ, וְכֵן תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: ״יִכְבּוֹשׁ עַל חוֹבֵךְ בְּרַחֲמָתֵיהּ״.

He will be silent in His love He will conceal your transgressions with His love. So did Jonathan render: He will cover your sins with His love.

3:18

נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד אָסַפְתִּי מִמֵּךְ הָיוּ מַשְׂאֵת עָלֶיהָ חֶרְפָּֽה׃

Those that mourn far away from the festive assembly, do I gather; they were thine, who had borne for thee the burden of insult.

Those that mourn far away from the festive assembly, do I gather; they were thine, who had borne for thee the burden of insult.

Rashi

נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד. אָסַפְתִּי אֶת הַמּוּצָאִים מִמּוֹעֲדֵי, שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִים שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים.

Those who are removed from the appointed season I destroyed those removed from My appointed seasons, those who did not keep the Sabbaths and the festivals.

אָסַפְתִּי. כִּלִּיתִי.

I have destroyed lit., I gathered in.

מִמֵּךְ הָיוּ. מֵעַמֵּךְ הָיוּ.

they were of you They were of your people.

מַשְׂאֵת עָלֶיהָ חֶרְפָּה. עַל אוֹתָהּ אַשְׁמָה הָיָה לָךְ מַשְׂאֵת חֶרְפָּה.

it was a burden of shame upon her That guilt was a burden of shame to you.

נוּגֵי. לְשׁוֹן ׳הוֹצָאָה׳, כְּמוֹ ״הָגוֹ סִיגִים״ (משלי כה:ד), ״כַּאֲשֶׁר הוּגָה מִן הַמְּסִלָּה״ (שמואל ב כ:יג). וְאֵין שֹׁרֶשׁ בַּתֵּבָה אֶלָּא הַגִּימֶ״ל לְבַדָּהּ.

Those who are removed an expression of taking out, as in (Prov. 25:4) “Take away the dross from the silver”; and (II Sam. 20:13) “When he was removed from the highway.” The only radical letter is the “gimel.”

3:19

הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה אֶת־כׇּל־מְעַנַּיִךְ בָּעֵת הַהִיא וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּי אֶת־הַצֹּלֵעָה וְהַנִּדָּחָה אֲקַבֵּץ וְשַׂמְתִּים לִתְהִלָּה וּלְשֵׁם בְּכׇל־הָאָרֶץ בׇּשְׁתָּֽם׃

Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her who limps, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame, who had been put to shame in all the earth.

Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her who limps, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame, who had been put to shame in all the earth.

Rashi

הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: ״הָא אֲנָא עָבֵיד גְּמִירָא״. וְיֵשׁ לְפוֹתְרוֹ לְשׁוֹן ׳עִ׳שּׂוּי׳, כְּמוֹ ״וְעַסּוֹתֶם רְשָׁעִים״ (מלאכי ג:כא).

Behold, I wreak destruction Jonathan rendered: Behold I wreak destruction. It may also be interpreted as an expression of crushing, as in (Mal. 3:21): “And you shall crush the wicked.”

בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ בָּשְׁתָּם. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ שָׁם לְבָשְׁתָּם, שָׁם אֶתְּנֵם לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה.

throughout all the land where they suffered shame Every place where they were for their shame, there I will make them to be a praise and a name.

3:20

בָּעֵת הַהִיא אָבִיא אֶתְכֶם וּבָעֵת קַבְּצִי אֶתְכֶם כִּֽי־אֶתֵּן אֶתְכֶם לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה בְּכֹל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ בְּשׁוּבִי אֶת־שְׁבוּתֵיכֶם לְעֵינֵיכֶם אָמַר יְהֹוָֽה׃

At that time will I bring you in, and at that time I will gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth, when I restore your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord.

At that time will I bring you in, and at that time I will gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth, when I restore your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord.

Texts

  • Hebrew: Miqra according to the Masorah · License: CC-BY-SA
  • English: The Koren Jerusalem Bible · License: CC-BY-NC
  • Hebrew: Sefaria vocalized edition · License: PD
  • English: The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg · License: CC-BY

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