Shoftim (שֹׁפְטִים)
Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9
First Aliyah
16:18
Appoint yourselves judges and police for your tribes in all your settlements that God your Lord is giving you, and make sure that they administer honest judgment for the people.
Appoint yourselves judges and police for your tribes in all your settlements that God your Lord is giving you, and make sure that they administer honest judgment for the people.
Shoftim veshotrim titen-lecha bechol-she’areycha asher Adonay Eloheycha noten lecha lishvateycha veshafetu et-ha’am mishpat tsedek.
שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, תִּתֶּן-לְךָ בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ, לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ; וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם, מִשְׁפַּט-צֶדֶק.
16:19
Do not bend justice and do not give special consideration [to anyone]. Do not take bribes, since bribery makes the wise blind and perverts the words of the righteous.
Do not bend justice and do not give special consideration [to anyone]. Do not take bribes, since bribery makes the wise blind and perverts the words of the righteous.
Lo-tateh mishpat lo takir panim velo-tikach shochad ki hashochad ye’aver eyney chachamim visalef divrey tsadikim.
לֹא-תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט, לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים; וְלֹא-תִקַּח שֹׁחַד–כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר עֵינֵי חֲכָמִים, וִיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִם.
16:20
Pursue perfect honesty, so that you will live and occupy the land that God your Lord is giving you.
Pursue perfect honesty, so that you will live and occupy the land that God your Lord is giving you.
Tsedek tsedek tirdof lema’an tichyeh veyarashta et-ha’arets asher-Adonay Eloheycha noten lach.
צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף–לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ.
16:21
Do not plant for yourself an Asherah [or any other] tree near the altar that you will make yourselves for God your Lord.
Do not plant for yourself an Asherah [or any other] tree near the altar that you will make yourselves for God your Lord.
Lo-tita lecha asherah kol-ets etsel mizbach Adonay Eloheycha asher ta’aseh-lach.
לֹא-תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה, כָּל-עֵץ: אֵצֶל, מִזְבַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ–אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה-לָּךְ.
16:22
Do not erect a sacred pillar, since this is something that God your Lord hates.
Do not erect a sacred pillar, since this is something that God your Lord hates.
Velo-takim lecha matsevah asher sane Adonay Eloheycha.
וְלֹא-תָקִים לְךָ, מַצֵּבָה, אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
17:1
Do not sacrifice to God your Lord any ox, sheep or goat that has a serious blemish, since to do so before God your Lord is considered revolting.
Do not sacrifice to God your Lord any ox, sheep or goat that has a serious blemish, since to do so before God your Lord is considered revolting.
Lo-tizbach l’Adonay Eloheycha shor vaseh asher yihyeh vo mum kol davar ra ki toavat Adonay Eloheycha hu.
לֹא-תִזְבַּח לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ שׁוֹר וָשֶׂה, אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בוֹ מוּם–כֹּל, דָּבָר רָע: כִּי תוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הוּא.
17:2
[This is what you must do] when you discover a man or woman doing evil in the eyes of God your Lord in one of the settlements that God your Lord is giving you. [That person] will have violated [God’s] covenant
[This is what you must do] when you discover a man or woman doing evil in the eyes of God your Lord in one of the settlements that God your Lord is giving you. [That person] will have violated [God’s] covenant
Ki-yimatse vekirbecha be’achad she’areycha asher-Adonay Eloheycha noten lach ish o-ishah asher ya’aseh et-hara be’eyney Adonay Eloheycha la’avor berito.
כִּי-יִמָּצֵא בְקִרְבְּךָ בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ: אִישׁ אוֹ-אִשָּׁה, אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת-הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה-אֱלֹהֶיךָ–לַעֲבֹר בְּרִיתוֹ.
17:3
by going and worshiping or bowing down to the sun, moon or other heavenly bodies, whose [worship] I prohibited.
by going and worshiping or bowing down to the sun, moon or other heavenly bodies, whose [worship] I prohibited.
Vayelech vaya’avod elohim acherim vayishtachu lahem velashemesh o layare’ach o lechol-tseva hashamayim asher lo-tsiviti.
וַיֵּלֶךְ, וַיַּעֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, לָהֶם; וְלַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אוֹ לַיָּרֵחַ, אוֹ לְכָל-צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם–אֲשֶׁר לֹא-צִוִּיתִי.
17:4
When it is told to you, you must listen and carefully interrogate [the witnesses]. If the accusation is established to be true, and this revolting practice has been done in Israel,
When it is told to you, you must listen and carefully interrogate [the witnesses]. If the accusation is established to be true, and this revolting practice has been done in Israel,
Vehugad-lecha veshamata vedarashta heytev vehineh emet nachon hadavar ne’estah hato’evah hazot beYisra’el.
וְהֻגַּד-לְךָ, וְשָׁמָעְתָּ; וְדָרַשְׁתָּ הֵיטֵב–וְהִנֵּה אֱמֶת נָכוֹן הַדָּבָר, נֶעֶשְׂתָה הַתּוֹעֵבָה הַזֹּאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
17:5
you shall take that man or woman who did the wicked act out to your gates. You shall then pelt the man or woman to death with stones.
you shall take that man or woman who did the wicked act out to your gates. You shall then pelt the man or woman to death with stones.
Vehotseta et-ha’ish hahu o et-ha’ishah hahi asher asu et-hadavar hara hazeh el-she’areycha et-ha’ish o et-ha’ishah uskaltam ba’avanim vametu.
וְהוֹצֵאתָ אֶת-הָאִישׁ הַהוּא אוֹ אֶת-הָאִשָּׁה הַהִוא אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶת-הַדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה, אֶל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ–אֶת-הָאִישׁ, אוֹ אֶת-הָאִשָּׁה; וּסְקַלְתָּם בָּאֲבָנִים, וָמֵתוּ.
17:6
The accused shall be put to death only through the testimony of two or three witnesses. He shall not be put to death through the testimony of one witness.
The accused shall be put to death only through the testimony of two or three witnesses. He shall not be put to death through the testimony of one witness.
Al-pi shnayim edim o shloshah edim yumat hamet lo yumat al-pi ed echad.
עַל-פִּי שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים, אוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה עֵדִים–יוּמַת הַמֵּת: לֹא יוּמַת, עַל-פִּי עֵד אֶחָד.
17:7
The hand of the witness shall be against him first to put him to death, and only then shall the hand of all the other people [be set against him]. You shall thus rid yourselves of evil.
The hand of the witness shall be against him first to put him to death, and only then shall the hand of all the other people [be set against him]. You shall thus rid yourselves of evil.
Yad ha’edim tihyeh-bo varishonah lahamito veyad kol-ha’am ba’acharonah uvi’arta hara mikirbecha.
יַד הָעֵדִים תִּהְיֶה-בּוֹ בָרִאשֹׁנָה, לַהֲמִיתוֹ, וְיַד כָּל-הָעָם, בָּאַחֲרֹנָה; וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע, מִקִּרְבֶּךָ.
17:8
If you are unable to reach a decision in a case involving capital punishment, litigation, leprous marks, [or any other case] where there is a dispute in your territorial courts, then you must set out and go up to the place that God your Lord shall choose.
If you are unable to reach a decision in a case involving capital punishment, litigation, leprous marks, [or any other case] where there is a dispute in your territorial courts, then you must set out and go up to the place that God your Lord shall choose.
Ki yipale mimecha davar lamishpat beyn-dam ledam beyn-din ledin uveyn nega lanega divrey rivot bish’areycha vekamta ve’alita el-hamakom asher yivchar Adonay Eloheycha bo.
כִּי יִפָּלֵא מִמְּךָ דָבָר לַמִּשְׁפָּט, בֵּין-דָּם לְדָם בֵּין-דִּין לְדִין וּבֵין נֶגַע לָנֶגַע–דִּבְרֵי רִיבֹת, בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ: וְקַמְתָּ וְעָלִיתָ–אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ.
17:9
You must approach the Levitical priests [and other members of] the supreme court that exists at the time. When you make inquiry, they will declare to you a legal decision.
You must approach the Levitical priests [and other members of] the supreme court that exists at the time. When you make inquiry, they will declare to you a legal decision.
Uvata el-hakohanim haLevi’im ve’el-hashofet asher yihyeh bayamim hahem vedarashta vehigidu lecha et devar hamishpat.
וּבָאתָ, אֶל-הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם, וְאֶל-הַשֹּׁפֵט, אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם; וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ, אֵת דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט.
17:10
Since this decision comes from the place that God shall choose, you must do as they tell you, carefully following their every decision.
Since this decision comes from the place that God shall choose, you must do as they tell you, carefully following their every decision.
Ve’asita al-pi hadavar asher yagidu lecha min-hamakom hahu asher yivchar Adonay veshamarta la’asot kechol asher yorucha.
וְעָשִׂיתָ, עַל-פִּי הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידוּ לְךָ, מִן-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה; וְשָׁמַרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ.
17:11
[Besides this, in general,] you must keep the Torah as they interpret it for you, and follow the laws that they legislate for you. Do not stray to the right or left from the word that they declare to you.
[Besides this, in general,] you must keep the Torah as they interpret it for you, and follow the laws that they legislate for you. Do not stray to the right or left from the word that they declare to you.
Al-pi hatorah asher yorucha ve’al-hamishpat asher-yomru lecha ta’aseh lo tasur min-hadavar asher yagidu lecha yamin usmol.
עַל-פִּי הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ, וְעַל-הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר-יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ–תַּעֲשֶׂה: לֹא תָסוּר, מִן-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-יַגִּידוּ לְךָ–יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל.
17:12
If there is any man who rebels and refuses to listen to the priest or other judge who is in charge of serving God your Lord there [as leader of the supreme court], then that man must be put to death, thus ridding yourselves of evil in Israel.
If there is any man who rebels and refuses to listen to the priest or other judge who is in charge of serving God your Lord there [as leader of the supreme court], then that man must be put to death, thus ridding yourselves of evil in Israel.
Veha’ish asher-ya’aseh vezadon levilti shmoa el-hakohen ha’omed lesharet sham et-Adonay Eloheycha o el-hashofet umet ha’ish hahu uvi’arta hara miYisra’el.
וְהָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה בְזָדוֹן, לְבִלְתִּי שְׁמֹעַ אֶל-הַכֹּהֵן הָעֹמֵד לְשָׁרֶת שָׁם אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אוֹ, אֶל-הַשֹּׁפֵט–וּמֵת הָאִישׁ הַהוּא, וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל.
17:13
When all the people hear about it, they will fear and will not rebel again.
When all the people hear about it, they will fear and will not rebel again.
Vechol-ha’am yishme’u veyira’u velo yezidun od.
וְכָל-הָעָם, יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ; וְלֹא יְזִידוּן, עוֹד.