Lettera agli Efesini - מכתב לאפסים 1

STUTTGARTENSIA-DELITZSCH	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים הוֹאִילוּ לְחַבֵּר סִפּוּר הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר נֶאֶמְנוּ בִשְׁלֵמוּת בְּתוֹכֵנוּ	1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 כַּאֲשֶׁר מְסָרוּם לָנוּ הָרֹאִים אֹתָם בְּעֵינֵיהֶם מִתְּחִלָּה וַאֲשֶׁר הָיוּ מְשָׁרְתֵי הַדָּבָר	2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
3 חָשַׁבְתִּי לְטוֹב גַּם־אֲנִי הַבֹּחֵן כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הֵיטֵב מֵרֵאשִׁיתָם לְכָתְבָם אֵלֶיךָ בַּסֵּדֶר תְּאוֹפִילוֹס הָאַדִּיר	3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי אֱמֶת הָאֲמָרִים אֲשֶׁר חֻנַּכְתָּ בָּם	4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
5 כֹּהֵן הָיָה בִּימֵי הוֹרְדוֹס מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה זְכַרְיָה שְׁמוֹ מִמִּשְׁמֶרֶת אֲבִיָּה וְלוֹ אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת אַהֲרֹן וּשְׁמָהּ אֱלִישָׁבַע	5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 וּשְׁנֵיהֶם הָיוּ צַדִּיקִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְהֹלְכֵי תֹם בְּכָל־מִצְוֺת יְהוָֹה וּבְחֻקֹּתָיו	6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7 וְלֹא־הָיָה לָהֶם יָלֶד כִּי אֱלִישֶׁבַע עֲקָרָה וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בָּאוּ בַיָּמִים	7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
8 וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיְכַהֵן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים בְּסֵדֶר מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ	8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,
9 וּכְמִשְׁפַּט עֲבוֹדַת הַכֹּהֲנִים יָצָא גוֹרָלוֹ לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הֵיכַל יְהוָֹה	9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
10 וְכָל־קְהַל הָעָם הָיוּ מִתְפַּלְלִים בַּחוּץ בְּעֵת הַקְּטֹרֶת	10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,
11 וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָֹה עֹמֵד לִימִין מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת	11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 וַיִּבָּהֵל זְכַרְיָה בִּרְאוֹתוֹ אֹתוֹ וְאֵימָה נָפְלָה עָלָיו	12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
13 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירָא זְכַרְיָהוּ כִּי נִשְׁמְעָה תְּפִלָּתֶךָ וֶאֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתְּךָ תֵּלֵד לְךָ בֵּן וְקָרָאתָ שְׁמוֹ יוֹחָנָן	13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.
14 וְהָיָה־לְךָ לְשִׂמְחָה וָגִיל וְרַבִּים יִשְׂמְחוּ בְּהִוָּלְדוֹ	14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 כִּי־גָדוֹל יִהְיֶה לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה וְיַיִן וְשֵׁכָר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ יִמָּלֵא בְּעוֹדֶנּוּ בְּבֶטֶן אִמּוֹ	15 for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,
16 וְרַבִּים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשִׁיב אֶל־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם	16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 וְהוּא יֵלֶךְ לְפָנָיו בְּרוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ וּבִגְבוּרָתוֹ לְהָשִׁיב אֶת־לֵב אָבוֹת עַל־בָּנִים וְאֵת הַסּוֹרְרִים לִתְבוּנַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לְהַעֲמִיד לַיהוָֹה עַם מְתֻקָּן	17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord."
18 וַיֹּאמֶר זְכַרְיָה אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּמֶּה אֵדַע זֹאת כִּי־אֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וְאִשְׁתִּי בָּאָה בַיָּמִים	18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
19 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי גַבְרִיאֵל הָעוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְשָׁלוּחַ אָנֹכִי לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וּלְבַשֶּׂרְךָ אֶת־זֹאת	19 And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
20 וְהִנֵּה תֵאָלֵם וְלֹא תוּכַל לְדַבֵּר עַד־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת תַּחַת כִּי־לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתָּ בִּדְבָרַי אֲשֶׁר יִמָּלְאוּ לְמוֹעֲדָם	20 But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time."
21 וְהָעָם הָיָה מְחַכֶּה לִזְכַרְיָה וַיִּתְמְהוּ כִּי־אֵחַר בַּהֵיכָל	21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
22 וַיְהִי בְצֵאתוֹ לֹא יָכֹל לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי־מַרְאֶה רָאָה בַהֵיכָל וַיִּרְמֹז לָהֶם וְעוֹדֶנּוּ נֶאֱלָם	22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
23 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר מָלְאוּ יְמֵי עֲבֹדָתוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ־לוֹ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ	23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
24 וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתַּהַר אֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתִּתְחַבֵּא חֲמִשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתֹּאמַר	24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
25 כָּכָה עָשָׂה לִי יְהוָֹה בִּימֵי פָקְדוֹ אוֹתִי לֶאֱסֹף אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם	25 "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
26 וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי וַיְשֻׁלַּח הַמַּלְאָךְ גַּבְרִיאֵל מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים גָּלִילָה אֶל־עִיר אֲשֶׁר־שְׁמָהּ נְצָרֶת	26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 אֶל־בְּתוּלָה מְאֹרָשָׂה לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף מִבֵּית דָּוִד וְשֵׁם הַבְּתוּלָה מִרְיָם	27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 וַיָּבֹא הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵלֶיהָ הַחַדְרָה וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלוֹם לָךְ אֵשֶׁת־חֵן יְהוָֹה עִמָּךְ בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים	28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 וְהִיא בִּרְאוֹתָהּ נִבְהֲלָה לִדְבָרוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר בְּלִבָּהּ מַה־הִיא הַבְּרָכָה הַזֹּאת	29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירְאִי מִרְיָם כִּי־מָצָאתְ חֵן לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים	30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 וְהִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן וְקָרָאתְ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ	31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
32 וְהוּא גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה וּבֶן־עֶלְיוֹן יִקָּרֵא וַיהוָֹה אֱלֹהִים יִתֶּן־לוֹ אֶת־כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו	32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
33 וְעַל־בֵּית יַעֲקֹב יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד וּלְמַלְכוּתוֹ אֵין קֵץ	33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵיךְ תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת וַאֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי יֹדַעַת אִישׁ	34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
35 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ תָּבוֹא עָלַיִךְ וּגְבוּרַת עֶלְיוֹן תָּצֵל עָלָיִךְ עַל־כֵּן גַּם־לַקָּדוֹשׁ הַיִּלּוֹד יִקָּרֵא בֶּן־אֱלֹהִים	35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 וְהִנֵּה אֱלִישֶׁבַע קְרוֹבָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ־לָהּ עֲקָרָה גַּם־הִיא הָרְתָה בֵן בְּזִקְנָתָהּ וְזֶה־לָּהּ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי	36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 כִּי לֹא־יִפָּלֵא מֵאֱלֹהִים כָּל־דָּבָר	37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
38 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם הִנְנִי שִׁפְחַת יְהוָֹה יְהִי־לִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ וַיֵּצֵא מֵאִתָּהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ	38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
39 וַתָּקָם מִרְיָם בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַתְּמַהֵר לָלֶכֶת הָהָרָה אֶל־עִיר יְהוּדָה	39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
40 וַתָּבֹא בֵּית זְכַרְיָה וַתְּבָרֶךְ אֶת־אֱלִישָׁבַע	40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אֱלִישֶׁבַע אֶת־בִּרְכַּת מִרְיָם וַיִּרְקַד הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעֶיהָ וַתִּמָּלֵא אֱלִישֶׁבַע רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ	41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
42 וַתִּקְרָא בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וַתֹּאמַר בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים וּבָרוּךְ פְּרִי בִטְנֵךְ	42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 וּמֵאַיִן־לִי זֹאת אֲשֶׁר־אֵם אֲדֹנִי בָּאָה אֵלָי	43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 כִּי קוֹל בִּרְכָתֵךְ בָּא בְאָזְנָי וְהִנֵּה רָקַד בְּשִׂמְחָה הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעָי	44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 וְאַשְׁרֵי הַמַּאֲמִינָה כִּי הִמָּלֵא תִמָּלֵא אֲשֶׁר דֻּבַּר־לָהּ מֵאֵת יְהוָֹה	45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
46 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם רוֹמְמָה נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָֹה	46 And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 וַתָּגֶל רוּחִי בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי	47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
48 אֲשֶׁר רָאָה בָּעֳנִי אֲמָתוֹ כִּי הִנֵּה מֵעַתָּה כָּל־הַדֹּרוֹת יְאַשְּׁרוּנִי	48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49 כִּי גְדֹלוֹת עָשָׂה לִי שַׁדָּי וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ	49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 וְחַסְדּוֹ לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים עַל יְרֵאָיו	50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51 גְּבוּרוֹת עָשָׂה בִּזְרֹעוֹ פִּזַּר גֵּאִים בִּמְזִמּוֹת לְבָבָם	51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 הָרַס נְדִיבִים מִכִּסְאוֹתָם וַיָּרֶם שְׁפָלִים	52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
53 רְעֵבִים מִלֵּא־טוֹב וַעֲשִׁירִים שִׁלַּח רֵיקָם	53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
54 תָּמַךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ לִזְכֹּר אֶת־רַחֲמָיו	54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֶל־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְאַבְרָהָם וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם	55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 וַתֵּשֶׁב מִרְיָם עִמָּהּ כִּשְׁלשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתָּשָׁב לְבֵיתָהּ	56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57 וַיִּמְלְאוּ יְמֵי אֱלִישֶׁבַע לָלֶדֶת וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן	57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
58 וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ שְׁכֵנֶיהָ וּקְרוֹבֶיהָ כִּי־הִגְדִּיל יְהוָֹה אֶת־חַסְדּוֹ עִמָּהּ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ אִתָּהּ	58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וַיָּבֹאוּ לָמוּל אֶת־הַיָּלֶד וַיִּקְרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ זְכַרְיָה עַל־שֵׁם אָבִיו	59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 וַתַּעַן אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמַר לֹא כִּי יוֹחָנָן יִקָּרֵא	60 but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
61 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ אֵין־אִישׁ בְּמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא בַּשֵּׁם הַזֶּה	61 But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
62 וַיִּרְמְזוּ אֶל־אָבִיו לָדַעַת מָה הַשֵּׁם אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ לְהִקָּרֵא לוֹ	62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
63 וַיִּשְׁאַל לוּחַ וַיִּכְתֹּב עָלָיו לֵאמֹר יוֹחָנָן שְׁמוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ כֻּלָּם	63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
64 וַיִּפָּתַח פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ פִּתְאֹם וַיְדַבֵּר וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים	64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
65 וַתִּפֹּל אֵימָה עַל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם וַיְסֻפַּר כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּכָל־הָרֵי יְהוּדָה	65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
66 וַיָּשִׂימוּ כָל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶל־לִבָּם לֵאמֹר מָה־אֵפוֹא יִהְיֶה הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְיַד־יְהוָֹה הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ	66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 וַיִּמָּלֵא זְכַרְיָה אָבִיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּנָּבֵא לֵאמֹר	67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 בָּרוּךְ יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי פָקַד אֶת־עַמּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלַח לוֹ פְּדוּת	68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.
69 וַיָּרֶם לָנוּ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה בְּבֵית דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ	69 He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,
70 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִי־נְבִיאָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם	70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
71 יְשׁוּעָה מֵאֹיְבֵינוּ וּמִיַּד כָּל־שׂנְאֵינוּ	71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִזְכֹּר אֶת־בְּרִית קָדְשׁוֹ	72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant
73 אֶת־הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ	73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that,
74 לְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וּלְתִתֵּנוּ לְעָבְדוֹ בְּלִי־פָחַד	74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him
75 בְּתָמִים וּבִצְדָקָה לְפָנָיו כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ	75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 וְאַתָּה הַיֶּלֶד נְבִיא עֶלְיוֹן תִּקָּרֵא כִּי לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה תֵּלֵךְ לְפַנּוֹת אֶת־דְּרָכָיו	76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 לָתֵת דַּעַת הַיְשׁוּעָה לְעַמּוֹ בִּסְלִיחַת חַטֹּאתֵיהֶם	77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 בְּרַחֲמֵי חֶסֶד אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם פְּקָדָנוּ הַנֹּגַהּ מִמָּרוֹם	78 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us
79 לְהָאִיר לְישְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּלְהָכִין אֶת־רַגְלֵינוּ אֶל־דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁלוֹם	79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
80 וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיֶּחֱזַק בָּרוּחַ וַיְהִי בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת עַד־יוֹם הֵרָאֹתוֹ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל	80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.