Lettera agli Efesini - מכתב לאפסים 1

STUTTGARTENSIA-DELITZSCH	NEW JERUSALEM
1 אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים הוֹאִילוּ לְחַבֵּר סִפּוּר הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר נֶאֶמְנוּ בִשְׁלֵמוּת בְּתוֹכֵנוּ	1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached theirfulfilment among us,
2 כַּאֲשֶׁר מְסָרוּם לָנוּ הָרֹאִים אֹתָם בְּעֵינֵיהֶם מִתְּחִלָּה וַאֲשֶׁר הָיוּ מְשָׁרְתֵי הַדָּבָר	2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of theword,
3 חָשַׁבְתִּי לְטוֹב גַּם־אֲנִי הַבֹּחֵן כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הֵיטֵב מֵרֵאשִׁיתָם לְכָתְבָם אֵלֶיךָ בַּסֵּדֶר תְּאוֹפִילוֹס הָאַדִּיר	3 I in my turn, after careful y going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write anordered account for you, Theophilus,
4 לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי אֱמֶת הָאֲמָרִים אֲשֶׁר חֻנַּכְתָּ בָּם	4 so that your Excel ency may learn how wel founded the teaching is that 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 King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest cal ed Zechariah who belonged to the Abijahsection of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron.
6 וּשְׁנֵיהֶם הָיוּ צַדִּיקִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְהֹלְכֵי תֹם בְּכָל־מִצְוֺת יְהוָֹה וּבְחֻקֹּתָיו	6 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out al the commandments andobservances of the Lord.
7 וְלֹא־הָיָה לָהֶם יָלֶד כִּי אֱלִישֶׁבַע עֲקָרָה וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בָּאוּ בַיָּמִים	7 But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.
8 וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיְכַהֵן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים בְּסֵדֶר מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ	8 Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly officebefore God
9 וּכְמִשְׁפַּט עֲבוֹדַת הַכֹּהֲנִים יָצָא גוֹרָלוֹ לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הֵיכַל יְהוָֹה	9 when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incensethere.
10 וְכָל־קְהַל הָעָם הָיוּ מִתְפַּלְלִים בַּחוּץ בְּעֵת הַקְּטֹרֶת	10 And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.
11 וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָֹה עֹמֵד לִימִין מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת	11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
12 וַיִּבָּהֵל זְכַרְיָה בִּרְאוֹתוֹ אֹתוֹ וְאֵימָה נָפְלָה עָלָיו	12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.
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, 'Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Your wifeElizabeth is to bear you a son and you shal name him John.
14 וְהָיָה־לְךָ לְשִׂמְחָה וָגִיל וְרַבִּים יִשְׂמְחוּ בְּהִוָּלְדוֹ	14 He will be your joy and delight 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 wil be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink; even from hismother's womb he wil be filled with the Holy Spirit,
16 וְרַבִּים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשִׁיב אֶל־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם	16 and he wil bring back many of the Israelites 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 With the spirit and power of Elijah, he wil go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and thedisobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.'
18 וַיֹּאמֶר זְכַרְיָה אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּמֶּה אֵדַע זֹאת כִּי־אֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וְאִשְׁתִּי בָּאָה בַיָּמִים	18 Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.'
19 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי גַבְרִיאֵל הָעוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְשָׁלוּחַ אָנֹכִי לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וּלְבַשֶּׂרְךָ אֶת־זֹאת	19 The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel, who stand in God's presence, and I have been sent to speak to youand bring you this good news.
20 וְהִנֵּה תֵאָלֵם וְלֹא תוּכַל לְדַבֵּר עַד־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת תַּחַת כִּי־לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתָּ בִּדְבָרַי אֲשֶׁר יִמָּלְאוּ לְמוֹעֲדָם	20 Look! Since you did not believe my words, which wil come true at their appointed time, you will besilenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.'
21 וְהָעָם הָיָה מְחַכֶּה לִזְכַרְיָה וַיִּתְמְהוּ כִּי־אֵחַר בַּהֵיכָל	21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuaryso long.
22 וַיְהִי בְצֵאתוֹ לֹא יָכֹל לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי־מַרְאֶה רָאָה בַהֵיכָל וַיִּרְמֹז לָהֶם וְעוֹדֶנּוּ נֶאֱלָם	22 When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had seen a vision in thesanctuary. But he could only make signs to them and remained dumb.
23 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר מָלְאוּ יְמֵי עֲבֹדָתוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ־לוֹ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ	23 When his time of service came to an end he returned home.
24 וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתַּהַר אֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתִּתְחַבֵּא חֲמִשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתֹּאמַר	24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying,
25 כָּכָה עָשָׂה לִי יְהוָֹה בִּימֵי פָקְדוֹ אוֹתִי לֶאֱסֹף אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם	25 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered inpublic.'
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 by God to a town in Galilee cal ed 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 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'
29 וְהִיא בִּרְאוֹתָהּ נִבְהֲלָה לִדְבָרוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר בְּלִבָּהּ מַה־הִיא הַבְּרָכָה הַזֹּאת	29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,
30 וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירְאִי מִרְיָם כִּי־מָצָאתְ חֵן לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים	30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.
31 וְהִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן וְקָרָאתְ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ	31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 וְהוּא גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה וּבֶן־עֶלְיוֹן יִקָּרֵא וַיהוָֹה אֱלֹהִים יִתֶּן־לוֹ אֶת־כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו	32 He will be great and wil be cal ed Son of the Most High. The Lord God wil give him the throne of hisancestor David;
33 וְעַל־בֵּית יַעֲקֹב יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד וּלְמַלְכוּתוֹ אֵין קֵץ	33 he wil rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign wil have no end.'
34 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵיךְ תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת וַאֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי יֹדַעַת אִישׁ	34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'
35 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ תָּבוֹא עָלַיִךְ וּגְבוּרַת עֶלְיוֹן תָּצֵל עָלָיִךְ עַל־כֵּן גַּם־לַקָּדוֹשׁ הַיִּלּוֹד יִקָּרֵא בֶּן־אֱלֹהִים	35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit wil come upon you, and the power of the Most High wil coveryou with its shadow. And so the child wil be holy and will be cal ed Son of God.
36 וְהִנֵּה אֱלִישֶׁבַע קְרוֹבָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ־לָהּ עֲקָרָה גַּם־הִיא הָרְתָה בֵן בְּזִקְנָתָהּ וְזֶה־לָּהּ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי	36 And I tel you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whompeople cal ed barren is now in her sixth month,
37 כִּי לֹא־יִפָּלֵא מֵאֱלֹהִים כָּל־דָּבָר	37 for nothing is impossible to God.'
38 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם הִנְנִי שִׁפְחַת יְהוָֹה יְהִי־לִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ וַיֵּצֵא מֵאִתָּהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ	38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angelleft her.
39 וַתָּקָם מִרְיָם בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַתְּמַהֵר לָלֶכֶת הָהָרָה אֶל־עִיר יְהוּדָה	39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hil country to a town in Judah.
40 וַתָּבֹא בֵּית זְכַרְיָה וַתְּבָרֶךְ אֶת־אֱלִישָׁבַע	40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אֱלִישֶׁבַע אֶת־בִּרְכַּת מִרְיָם וַיִּרְקַד הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעֶיהָ וַתִּמָּלֵא אֱלִישֶׁבַע רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ	41 Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb andElizabeth was fil ed with the Holy Spirit.
42 וַתִּקְרָא בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וַתֹּאמַר בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים וּבָרוּךְ פְּרִי בִטְנֵךְ	42 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of al women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb.
43 וּמֵאַיִן־לִי זֹאת אֲשֶׁר־אֵם אֲדֹנִי בָּאָה אֵלָי	43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
44 כִּי קוֹל בִּרְכָתֵךְ בָּא בְאָזְנָי וְהִנֵּה רָקַד בְּשִׂמְחָה הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעָי	44 Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
45 וְאַשְׁרֵי הַמַּאֲמִינָה כִּי הִמָּלֵא תִמָּלֵא אֲשֶׁר דֻּבַּר־לָהּ מֵאֵת יְהוָֹה	45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her 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 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
48 אֲשֶׁר רָאָה בָּעֳנִי אֲמָתוֹ כִּי הִנֵּה מֵעַתָּה כָּל־הַדֹּרוֹת יְאַשְּׁרוּנִי	48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations willcal me blessed,
49 כִּי גְדֹלוֹת עָשָׂה לִי שַׁדָּי וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ	49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
50 וְחַסְדּוֹ לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים עַל יְרֵאָיו	50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
51 גְּבוּרוֹת עָשָׂה בִּזְרֹעוֹ פִּזַּר גֵּאִים בִּמְזִמּוֹת לְבָבָם	51 He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
52 הָרַס נְדִיבִים מִכִּסְאוֹתָם וַיָּרֶם שְׁפָלִים	52 He has pul ed down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
53 רְעֵבִים מִלֵּא־טוֹב וַעֲשִׁירִים שִׁלַּח רֵיקָם	53 He has fil ed the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
54 תָּמַךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ לִזְכֹּר אֶת־רַחֲמָיו	54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
55 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֶל־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְאַבְרָהָם וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם	55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to hisdescendants for ever.
56 וַתֵּשֶׁב מִרְיָם עִמָּהּ כִּשְׁלשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתָּשָׁב לְבֵיתָהּ	56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
57 וַיִּמְלְאוּ יְמֵי אֱלִישֶׁבַע לָלֶדֶת וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן	57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son;
58 וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ שְׁכֵנֶיהָ וּקְרוֹבֶיהָ כִּי־הִגְדִּיל יְהוָֹה אֶת־חַסְדּוֹ עִמָּהּ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ אִתָּהּ	58 and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, theyshared her joy.
59 וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וַיָּבֹאוּ לָמוּל אֶת־הַיָּלֶד וַיִּקְרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ זְכַרְיָה עַל־שֵׁם אָבִיו	59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call himZechariah after his father,
60 וַתַּעַן אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמַר לֹא כִּי יוֹחָנָן יִקָּרֵא	60 but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.'
61 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ אֵין־אִישׁ בְּמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא בַּשֵּׁם הַזֶּה	61 They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name,'
62 וַיִּרְמְזוּ אֶל־אָבִיו לָדַעַת מָה הַשֵּׁם אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ לְהִקָּרֵא לוֹ	62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him cal ed.
63 וַיִּשְׁאַל לוּחַ וַיִּכְתֹּב עָלָיו לֵאמֹר יוֹחָנָן שְׁמוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ כֻּלָּם	63 The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were al astonished.
64 וַיִּפָּתַח פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ פִּתְאֹם וַיְדַבֵּר וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים	64 At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God.
65 וַתִּפֹּל אֵימָה עַל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם וַיְסֻפַּר כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּכָל־הָרֵי יְהוּדָה	65 Al their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hilcountry of Judaea.
66 וַיָּשִׂימוּ כָל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶל־לִבָּם לֵאמֹר מָה־אֵפוֹא יִהְיֶה הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְיַד־יְהוָֹה הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ	66 Al those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will this child turn out to be?' they wondered.And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 וַיִּמָּלֵא זְכַרְיָה אָבִיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּנָּבֵא לֵאמֹר	67 His father Zechariah was fil ed with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
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 his people, he has set them free,
69 וַיָּרֶם לָנוּ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה בְּבֵית דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ	69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David,
70 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִי־נְבִיאָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם	70 just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,
71 יְשׁוּעָה מֵאֹיְבֵינוּ וּמִיַּד כָּל־שׂנְאֵינוּ	71 that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of al those who hate us,
72 לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִזְכֹּר אֶת־בְּרִית קָדְשׁוֹ	72 and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant.
73 אֶת־הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ	73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
74 לְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וּלְתִתֵּנוּ לְעָבְדוֹ בְּלִי־פָחַד	74 that he would grant us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
75 בְּתָמִים וּבִצְדָקָה לְפָנָיו כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ	75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, al our days.
76 וְאַתָּה הַיֶּלֶד נְבִיא עֶלְיוֹן תִּקָּרֵא כִּי לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה תֵּלֵךְ לְפַנּוֹת אֶת־דְּרָכָיו	76 And you, little child, you shall be cal ed Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord toprepare a way for him,
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 faithful love of our God in which the rising Sun has come from on high to visit us,
79 לְהָאִיר לְישְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּלְהָכִין אֶת־רַגְלֵינוּ אֶל־דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁלוֹם	79 to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow dark as death, and to guide our feet into theway of peace.
80 וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיֶּחֱזַק בָּרוּחַ וַיְהִי בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת עַד־יוֹם הֵרָאֹתוֹ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל	80 Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day heappeared openly to Israel.