Detestable Sacrifices

1 לֹא־ (Not) תִזְבַּח֩ (you shall sacrifice) לַיהוָ֨ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (your God) שׁ֣וֹר (a bull) וָשֶׂ֗ה (or sheep) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יִהְיֶ֥ה (has) בוֹ֙ (in it) מ֔וּם (a blemish), כֹּ֖ל (any) דָּבָ֣ר (flaw) רָ֑ע (serious); כִּ֧י (for) תוֹעֲבַ֛ת (an abomination to) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) הֽוּא׃ס (it is).

Purge the Idolater

2 כִּֽי־ (If) יִמָּצֵ֤א (there is found) בְקִרְבְּךָ֙ (among you) בְּאַחַ֣ד (in one) שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ (of your gates) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) נֹתֵ֣ן (is giving) לָ֑ךְ (to you) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) אוֹ־ (or) אִשָּׁ֗ה (a woman) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה (has been) אֶת־ (-) הָרַ֛ע (wicked) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה־ (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) לַעֲבֹ֥ר (in transgressing) בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃ (His covenant),

3 וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (and who has gone) וַֽיַּעֲבֹד֙ (and served) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other) וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (and worshiped) לָהֶ֑ם (them), וְלַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ׀ (and to the sun) א֣וֹ (or) לַיָּרֵ֗חַ (to the moon) א֛וֹ (or) לְכָל־ (to any) צְבָ֥א (of the host) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (of the heavens) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹא־ (not) צִוִּֽיתִי׃ (I have commanded),

4 וְהֻֽגַּד־ (and it is told) לְךָ֖ (to you) וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ (and you hear it), וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣ (and you shall inquire) הֵיטֵ֔ב (diligently). וְהִנֵּ֤ה (And if indeed) אֱמֶת֙ (true) נָכ֣וֹן (is established) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the thing)— נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה (has been done) הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה (the abomination) הַזֹּ֖את (this) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel)—

5 וְהֽוֹצֵאתָ֣ (then you shall bring out) אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֣ישׁ (the man) הַה֡וּא (that) אוֹ֩ (or) אֶת־ (-) הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (the woman) הַהִ֜וא (that) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) עָ֠שׂוּ (has committed) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֨ר (the thing) הָרָ֤ע (wicked) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֶל־ (to) שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ (your gates)— אֶת־ (-) הָאִ֕ישׁ (the man) א֖וֹ (or) אֶת־ (-) הָאִשָּׁ֑ה (the woman)— וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם (and you shall stone them) בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים (with stones) וָמֵֽתוּ׃ (and they shall die).

6 עַל־ (On) פִּ֣י׀ (the testimony) שְׁנַ֣יִם (of two) עֵדִ֗ים (witnesses) א֛וֹ (or) שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (three) עֵדִ֖ים (witnesses) יוּמַ֣ת (dying) הַמֵּ֑ת (he must be put to death); לֹ֣א (not) יוּמַ֔ת (he shall be put to death) עַל־ (on) פִּ֖י (the testimony) עֵ֥ד (of witness) אֶחָֽד׃ (one).

7 יַ֣ד (The hands) הָעֵדִ֞ים (of the witnesses) תִּֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) בּ֤וֹ (against him) בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙ (the first) לַהֲמִית֔וֹ (to put him to death), וְיַ֥ד (and the hands) כָּל־ (of all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֑ה (afterward). וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ (And you shall put away) הָרָ֖ע (the evil) מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃פ (from among you).

Courts of Law

8 כִּ֣י (If) יִפָּלֵא֩ (is too hard) מִמְּךָ֨ (for you) דָבָ֜ר (a matter) לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט (to judge)— בֵּֽין־ (between) דָּ֨ם׀ (guilt) לְדָ֜ם (for bloodshed), בֵּֽין־ (between) דִּ֣ין (one judgment) לְדִ֗ין (or another judgment), וּבֵ֥ין (or between) נֶ֙גַע֙ (one punishment or) לָנֶ֔גַע (another punishment), דִּבְרֵ֥י (matters) רִיבֹ֖ת (of controversies) בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ (within your gates)— וְקַמְתָּ֣ (and you shall arise) וְעָלִ֔יתָ (and go up) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּק֔וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יִבְחַ֛ר (chooses) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) בּֽוֹ׃ (in it).

9 וּבָאתָ֗ (And you shall come) אֶל־ (to) הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (the priests), הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites), וְאֶל־ (and to) הַשֹּׁפֵ֔ט (the judge) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יִהְיֶ֖ה (shall be) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in the days) הָהֵ֑ם (those), וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֙ (and you shall inquire). וְהִגִּ֣ידוּ (And they shall pronounce) לְךָ֔ (upon you) אֵ֖ת (-) דְּבַ֥ר (the word) הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ (of the judgment).

10 וְעָשִׂ֗יתָ (And you shall do) עַל־ (according to) פִּ֤י (the mouth) הַדָּבָר֙ (of the word) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יַגִּ֣ידֽוּ (they pronounce) לְךָ֔ (upon you) מִן־ (in) הַמָּק֣וֹם (the place) הַה֔וּא (that), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that) יִבְחַ֣ר (chooses) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ (and you shall be careful) לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת (to do) כְּכֹ֖ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יוֹרֽוּךָ׃ (they instruct you).

11 עַל־ (According to) פִּ֨י (the sentence) הַתּוֹרָ֜ה (of the law) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יוֹר֗וּךָ (they instruct you) וְעַל־ (and according to) הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט (the judgment) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יֹאמְר֥וּ (they tell) לְךָ֖ (to you), תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה (you shall do); לֹ֣א (not) תָס֗וּר (you shall turn aside) מִן־ (from) הַדָּבָ֛ר (the word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יַגִּ֥ידֽוּ (they pronounce) לְךָ֖ (to you), יָמִ֥ין (to the right) וּשְׂמֹֽאל׃ (or to the left).

12 וְהָאִ֞ישׁ (And the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה (acts) בְזָד֗וֹן (proudly) לְבִלְתִּ֨י (and not) שְׁמֹ֤עַ (will listen) אֶל־ (to) הַכֹּהֵן֙ (the priest) הָעֹמֵ֞ד (who stands) לְשָׁ֤רֶת (to serve) שָׁם֙ (there) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God), א֖וֹ (or) אֶל־ (to) הַשֹּׁפֵ֑ט (the judge), וּמֵת֙ (and must die) הָאִ֣ישׁ (the man) הַה֔וּא (that), וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ (and you shall put away) הָרָ֖ע (the evil) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (from Israel).

13 וְכָל־ (And all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) יִשְׁמְע֣וּ (shall hear) וְיִרָ֑אוּ (and be afraid) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יְזִיד֖וּן (act proudly) עֽוֹד׃ס (anymore).

Guidelines for a King
(1 Samuel 8:1–9)

14 כִּֽי־ (When) תָבֹ֣א (you come) אֶל־ (into) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God) נֹתֵ֣ן (is giving) לָ֔ךְ (you) וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ (and you possess it) וְיָשַׁ֣בְתָּה (and dwell) בָּ֑הּ (in it) וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ (and say), אָשִׂ֤ימָה (I will set) עָלַי֙ (over myself) מֶ֔לֶךְ (a king) כְּכָל־ (like all) הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (the nations) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that are) סְבִיבֹתָֽי׃ (around me),

15 שׂ֣וֹם (setting) תָּשִׂ֤ים (you shall set) עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (over yourself) מֶ֔לֶךְ (a king) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) יִבְחַ֛ר (chooses) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God). בּ֑וֹ (By him) מִקֶּ֣רֶב (from among) אַחֶ֗יךָ (your brothers) תָּשִׂ֤ים (you shall set) עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (over yourself) מֶ֔לֶךְ (a king). לֹ֣א (Not) תוּכַ֗ל (you may set) לָתֵ֤ת (set) עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (over yourself) אִ֣ישׁ (a man), נָכְרִ֔י (a foreigner) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) אָחִ֖יךָ (your brother) הֽוּא׃ (is).

16 רַק֮ (Only) לֹא־ (not) יַרְבֶּה־ (he shall multiply) לּ֣וֹ (for himself) סוּסִים֒ (horses) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יָשִׁ֤יב (cause to return) אֶת־ (-) הָעָם֙ (the people) מִצְרַ֔יְמָה (to Egypt) לְמַ֖עַן (so as to) הַרְבּ֣וֹת (multiply) ס֑וּס (horses), וַֽיהוָה֙ (and for YHWH) אָמַ֣ר (has said) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) לֹ֣א (Not) תֹסִפ֗וּן (you⁺ shall) לָשׁ֛וּב (return) בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ (the way) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) עֽוֹד׃ (again).

17 וְלֹ֤א (And not) יַרְבֶּה־ (shall he multiply) לּוֹ֙ (for himself) נָשִׁ֔ים (wives), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָס֖וּר (shall turn away) לְבָב֑וֹ (his heart). וְכֶ֣סֶף (And silver) וְזָהָ֔ב (and gold) לֹ֥א (not) יַרְבֶּה־ (shall he multiply) לּ֖וֹ (for himself) מְאֹֽד׃ (greatly).

18 וְהָיָ֣ה (And it shall come to pass), כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ (when he sits) עַ֖ל (on) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ (of his kingdom), וְכָ֨תַב (that he shall write) ל֜וֹ (for himself) אֶת־ (-) מִשְׁנֵ֨ה (a copy) הַתּוֹרָ֤ה (of the law) הַזֹּאת֙ (this) עַל־ (in) סֵ֔פֶר (a book) מִלִּפְנֵ֥י (from the one before the faces) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (of the priests) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites);

19 וְהָיְתָ֣ה (and it shall be) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), וְקָ֥רָא (and he shall read) ב֖וֹ (it) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֣י (the days) חַיָּ֑יו (of his life), לְמַ֣עַן (that) יִלְמַ֗ד (he may learn) לְיִרְאָה֙ (to fear) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֔יו (his God) לִ֠שְׁמֹר (by carefully observing) אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֞י (the words) הַתּוֹרָ֥ה (of the law) הַזֹּ֛את (this) וְאֶת־ (and) הַחֻקִּ֥ים (the statutes) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) לַעֲשֹׂתָֽם׃ (doing),

20 לְבִלְתִּ֤י (that not) רוּם־ (may be lifted) לְבָבוֹ֙ (his heart) מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו (above his brothers), וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י (and not) ס֥וּר (that he may turn aside) מִן־ (from) הַמִּצְוָ֖ה (the commandment) יָמִ֣ין (to the right) וּשְׂמֹ֑אול (or to the left), לְמַעַן֩ (that) יַאֲרִ֨יךְ (he may prolong) יָמִ֧ים (his days) עַל־ (in) מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ (his kingdom)— ה֥וּא (he) וּבָנָ֖יו (and his children)— בְּקֶ֥רֶב (in the midst) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (of Israel).