VaYera (וַיֵּרָא)
Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
Second Aliyah
18:15
Sarah was afraid and she denied it. ‘I did not laugh,’ she said. [Abraham] said, ‘You did laugh.’
Sarah was afraid and she denied it. ‘I did not laugh,’ she said. [Abraham] said, ‘You did laugh.’
Vatechachesh Sarah lemor lo tsachakti ki yare’ah vayomer lo ki tsachakt.
וַתְּכַחֵשׁ שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר לֹא צָחַקְתִּי, כִּי יָרֵאָה; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא, כִּי צָחָקְתְּ.
18:16
The strangers got up from their places and gazed at Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
The strangers got up from their places and gazed at Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
Vayakumu misham ha’anashim vayashkifu al-peney Sedom ve’Averaham holech imam leshalecham.
יָּקֻמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים, וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם; וְאַבְרָהָם–הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם, לְשַׁלְּחָם.
18:17
God said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am going to do?
God said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am going to do?
Va’Adonay amar hamechaseh ani me’Avraham asher ani oseh.
וַיהוָה, אָמָר: הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה.
18:18
Abraham is about to become a great and mighty nation, and through him all the nations of the world will be blessed.
Abraham is about to become a great and mighty nation, and through him all the nations of the world will be blessed.
Ve’Averaham hayoh yihyeh legoy gadol ve’atsum veniverechu-vo kol goyey ha’arets.
וְאַבְרָהָם–הָיוֹ יִהְיֶה לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, וְעָצוּם; וְנִבְרְכוּ-בוֹ–כֹּל, גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ.
18:19
I have given him special attention so that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep God’s way, doing charity and justice. God will then bring about for Abraham everything He promised.’
I have given him special attention so that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep God’s way, doing charity and justice. God will then bring about for Abraham everything He promised.’
Kiyedativ lema’an asher yetsaveh et-banav ve’et-beyto acharav veshameru derech Adonay la’asot tsedakah umishpat lema’an havi Adonay al-Averaham et asher-diber alav.
כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו, לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו, וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה, לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט–לְמַעַן, הָבִיא יְהוָה עַל-אַבְרָהָם, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר, עָלָיו.
18:20
God [then] said, ‘The outcry against Sodom is so great, and their sin is so very grave.
God [then] said, ‘The outcry against Sodom is so great, and their sin is so very grave.
Vayomer Adonay za’akat Sdom va’Amorah ki-rabah vechatatam ki chavedah me’od.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי-רָבָּה; וְחַטָּאתָם–כִּי כָבְדָה, מְאֹד.
18:21
I will descend and see. Have they done everything implied by the outcry that is coming before Me? If not, I will know.’
I will descend and see. Have they done everything implied by the outcry that is coming before Me? If not, I will know.’
Erdah-na ve’er’eh haketsa’akatah haba’ah elay asu kalah ve’im-lo eda’ah.
אֵרְדָה-נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה, הַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּ הַבָּאָה אֵלַי עָשׂוּ כָּלָה; וְאִם-לֹא, אֵדָעָה.
18:22
The men turned from where they were, and headed toward Sodom. Abraham was still standing before God.
The men turned from where they were, and headed toward Sodom. Abraham was still standing before God.
Vayifnu misham ha’anashim vayelechu Sedomah ve’Averaham odenu omed lifney Adonay.
וַיִּפְנוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים, וַיֵּלְכוּ סְדֹמָה; וְאַבְרָהָם–עוֹדֶנּוּ עֹמֵד, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה.
18:23
He came forward and said, ‘Will You actually wipe out the innocent together with the guilty?
He came forward and said, ‘Will You actually wipe out the innocent together with the guilty?
Vayigash Avraham vayomar ha’af tispeh tsadik im-rasha.
וַיִּגַּשׁ אַבְרָהָם, וַיֹּאמַר: הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה, צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע.
18:24
Suppose there are fifty innocent people in the city. Would You still destroy it, and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty good people inside it?
Suppose there are fifty innocent people in the city. Would You still destroy it, and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty good people inside it?
Ulay yesh chamishim tsadikim betoch ha’ir ha’af tispeh velo-tisa lamakom lema’an chamishim hatsadikim asher bekirbah.
אוּלַי יֵשׁ חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם, בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר; הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא-תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם, לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּהּ.
18:25
It would be sacrilege even to ascribe such an act to You – to kill the innocent with the guilty, letting the righteous and the wicked fare alike. It would be sacrilege to ascribe this to You! Shall the whole world’s Judge not act justly?’
It would be sacrilege even to ascribe such an act to You – to kill the innocent with the guilty, letting the righteous and the wicked fare alike. It would be sacrilege to ascribe this to You! Shall the whole world’s Judge not act justly?’
Chalilah lecha me’asot kadavar hazeh lehamit tsadik im-rasha vehayah hatsadik karasha chalilah lach hashofet kol-ha’arets lo ya’aseh mishpat.
חָלִלָה לְּךָ מֵעֲשֹׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה, לְהָמִית צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע, וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק, כָּרָשָׁע; חָלִלָה לָּךְ–הֲשֹׁפֵט כָּל-הָאָרֶץ, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט.
18:26
God said, ‘If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the entire area for their sake.’
God said, ‘If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the entire area for their sake.’
Vayomer Adonay im-emtsa viSdom chamishim tsadikim betoch ha’ir venasati lechol-hamakom ba’avuram.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אִם-אֶמְצָא בִסְדֹם חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר–וְנָשָׂאתִי לְכָל-הַמָּקוֹם, בַּעֲבוּרָם.
18:27
Abraham spoke up and said, ‘I have already said too much before my Lord! I am mere dust and ashes!
Abraham spoke up and said, ‘I have already said too much before my Lord! I am mere dust and ashes!
Vaya’an Avraham vayomar hineh-na ho’alti ledaber el-Adonay ve’anochi afar va’efer.
וַיַּעַן אַבְרָהָם, וַיֹּאמַר: הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי, וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר.
18:28
But suppose that there are five missing from the fifty innocent? Will You destroy the entire city because of the five?’ ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there,’ replied God.
But suppose that there are five missing from the fifty innocent? Will You destroy the entire city because of the five?’ ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there,’ replied God.
Ulay yachserun chamishim hatsadikim chamishah hatashchit bachamishah et-kol-ha’ir vayomer lo ashchit im-emtsa sham arba’im vachamishah.
אוּלַי יַחְסְרוּן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם, חֲמִשָּׁה–הֲתַשְׁחִית בַּחֲמִשָּׁה, אֶת-כָּל-הָעִיר; וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא אַשְׁחִית, אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם, אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה.
18:29
[Abraham] persisted and said, ‘Suppose there are forty there?’ ‘I will not act for the sake of the forty.’
[Abraham] persisted and said, ‘Suppose there are forty there?’ ‘I will not act for the sake of the forty.’
Vayosef od ledaber elav vayomar ulay yimatse’un sham arba’im vayomer lo e’eseh ba’avur ha’arba’im.
וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד לְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו, וַיֹּאמַר, אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם, אַרְבָּעִים; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה, בַּעֲבוּר הָאַרְבָּעִים.
18:30
‘Let not my Lord be angry, but I [must] speak up. What if there are thirty there?’ ‘I will not act if I find thirty there.’
‘Let not my Lord be angry, but I [must] speak up. What if there are thirty there?’ ‘I will not act if I find thirty there.’
Vayomer al-na yichar la’Adonay va’adaberah ulay yimats’un sham shloshim vayomer lo e’eseh im-emtsa sham shloshim.
וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה–אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם, שְׁלֹשִׁים; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה, אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים.
18:31
‘I have already spoken too much now before my Lord! But what if twenty are found there?’ ‘I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty.’
‘I have already spoken too much now before my Lord! But what if twenty are found there?’ ‘I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty.’
Vayomer hineh-na ho’alti ledaber el-Adonay ulay yimats’un sham esrim vayomer lo ashchit ba’avur ha’esrim.
וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי–אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם, עֶשְׂרִים; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית, בַּעֲבוּר הָעֶשְׂרִים.
18:32
‘Let my Lord not become angry, but I will speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there?’ ‘I will not destroy for the sake of the ten.’
‘Let my Lord not become angry, but I will speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there?’ ‘I will not destroy for the sake of the ten.’
Vayomer al-na yichar l’Adonay va’adabrah ach-hapa’am ulay yimats’un sham asarah vayomer lo ashchit ba’avur ha’asarah.
וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי, וַאֲדַבְּרָה אַךְ-הַפַּעַם–אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם, עֲשָׂרָה; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית, בַּעֲבוּר הָעֲשָׂרָה.
18:33
When He finished speaking with Abraham, God left [him]. Abraham then returned home.
When He finished speaking with Abraham, God left [him]. Abraham then returned home.
Vayelech Adonay ka’asher kilah ledaber el-Avraham ve’Avraham shav limekomo.
וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוָה–כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה, לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אַבְרָהָם; וְאַבְרָהָם, שָׁב לִמְקֹמוֹ.