1 Nephi 1 נפי א׳ פרק א׳

Classical Biblical Hebrew translation, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Nephi 1 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אֲנִיIנֶפִיNephiיֻלַּדְתִּיhaving been bornלְאָבof a fatherחָסִידgoodlyוְאֵםand a motherחֲסִידָהgoodlyלָכֵןthereforeהוֹרוּנִיthey taught meמְעַטsomewhatבְּכׇל־מוּסַרin all the learning ofאָבִיmy fatherוּבְדַעְתּוֹand in his knowledgeרַב־עֳנִיmuch afflictionרָאוּsawעֵינַיmy eyesבִּימֵיin the days ofחַיַּיmy lifeוְאַףand yetעָזֹבin no wiseלֹא־עֲזָבַנִיforsook meחֶסֶדmercyיְהוָהthe Lordכׇּל־הַיָּמִיםall the daysוַיִּתֶּן־לִיand gave to meאֱלֹהִיםGodבִּינָהunderstandingגְדוֹלָהgreatלָדַעַתto knowסוֹדוֹHis mysteriesוְחַסְדּוֹand His mercy,עַל־כֵּןthereforeשַׂמְתִּיI makeאֶת־דִּבְרֵיthe words ofיָמַיmy daysבַּסֵּפֶר׃in the book

   I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

2. 2

   אָכֵןYeaעָשִׂיתִיI makeסֵפֶרa recordבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofאָבִיmy fatherאֲשֶׁרwhichהִיאisלֶקַחthe learning ofהַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsוּשְׂפַתand the language ofהַמִּצְרִים׃the Egyptians

   Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.

3. 3

   וְיָדַעְתִּיand I knowכִּיthatאֱמֶתtruthהוּאit isהַסֵּפֶרthe bookאֲשֶׁרwhichכָּתַבְתִּיI writeבְּמוֹwith mine ownיָדִיhandוְכָתוּבand writtenהוּאit isכְּדַעְתִּי׃according to my knowledge

   And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.

4. 4

   וַיְהִיand it wasבִּתְחִלַּתin the start ofשְׁנַתthe year ofאַחַתfirstלְמַלְכוּתof the reign ofצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahמֶלֶךְking ofיְהוּדָהJudahוְלֶחִיand Lehiאָבִיmy fatherהָיָהwasיֹשֵׁבdwellingבִּירוּשָׁלַיִםin Jerusalemכׇּל־יָמָיוall his daysוּבְעֶצֶםand in that selfsameהַשָּׁנָהthe yearהַהִיאthatבָּאוּcameנְבִיאִיםprophetsרַבִּיםmanyוַיִּנָּבְאוּand prophesiedאֶל־הָעָםto the peopleלֵאמֹרsayingשׁוּבוּRepent youפֶּן־תֶּחֱרַבlest it be destroyedיְרוּשָׁלַיִםJerusalemהָעִירthe cityהַגְּדוֹלָה׃the great

   For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

5. 5

   עַל־כֵּןwhereforeבְּצֵאתas went forthאָבִיmy fatherלֶחִיLehiהִתְפַּלֵּלprayedאֶל־יְהוָהto the Lordאַףyea, evenבְּכׇל־לִבּוֹwith all his heartבְּעַדon behalf ofעַמּוֹ׃his people

   Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.

6. 6

   וַיְהִיand it happenedבְּהִתְפַּלְלוֹas he prayedאֶל־יְהוָהto the Lordוַיָּבֹאand cameעַמּוּד־אֵשׁpillar of fireוַיִּשְׁכֹּןand dweltעַל־הַצּוּרupon the rockלְפָנָיוbefore himוַיַּרְאand he sawוַיִּשְׁמַעand heardהַרְבֵּהmuchוּמִפְּנֵיand because ofאֲשֶׁרthat whichרָאָהhe sawוְשָׁמַעand heardוַיֶּחֱרַדhe did quakeוַיִּרְעַדand trembleמְאֹד׃exceedingly

   And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.

7. 7

   וַיָּשׇׁבand he returnedאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto his houseבִּירוּשָׁלַיִםin Jerusalemוַיִּתְנַפֵּלand he cast himselfעַל־מִשְׁכָּבוֹupon his bedוַתִּגְבַּרbeing overcomeעָלָיוupon himהָרוּחַwith the Spiritוְהַדְּבָרִיםand the thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichרָאָה׃he saw

   And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.

8. 8

   וּבִגְבֹרand being overcomeעָלָיוupon himהָרוּחַwith the Spiritנִשָּׂאhe was carried awayבַּמַּחֲזֶהin the visionוַיַּרְאand sawאֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensנִפְתָּחִיםopenedוַיַּחְשֹׁבand thoughtכִּיthatרָאָהhe sawאֶת־אֱלֹהִיםGodיוֹשֵׁבsittingעַל־כִּסְאוֹupon His throneוְסָבִיבָיוand surrounding Himהֲמוֹןconcourses ofמַלְאָכִיםangelsאֵיןwithoutמִסְפָּרnumberמְזַמְּרִיםsingingוּמְהַלְּלִיםand praisingאֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם׃their God

   And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.

9. 9

   וַיַּרְאand he sawאֶחָדOneיוֹרֵדdescendingמִתּוֹךְfrom the midst ofהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensוַיַּרְאand sawכִּיthatנׇגְהוֹhis lusterרַבwas aboveמֵאוֹרthat of the light ofהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunבַּצׇּהֳרָיִם׃at noonday

   And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.

10. 10

    וַיַּרְאand he sawגַּםalsoשְׁנֵיםtwoעָשָׂרtenאֲחֵרִיםothersהֹלְכִיםfollowingאַחֲרָיוhimוְנׇגְהָםand their brightnessרַבdid exceedמִכּוֹכְבֵיthat of the stars ofהָרָקִיעַ׃the firmament

    And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

11. 11

    וַיֵּרְדוּand they descendedוַיֵּלְכוּand wentעַל־פְּנֵיupon the face ofהָאָרֶץthe earthוַיִּגַּשׁand drew nearהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstוַיַּעֲמֹדand stoodלִפְנֵיbeforeאָבִיmy fatherוַיִּתֶּן־לוֹand gave to himסֵפֶרa bookוַיְצַוֵּהוּand bade himלִקְרֹא׃to read

    And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.

12. 12

    וַיְהִיand it happenedבְּקׇרְאוֹas he readוַיִּמָּלֵאand was filledרוּחַthe Spirit ofיְהוָה׃the Lord

    And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

13. 13

    וַיִּקְרָאand he readלֵאמֹרsayingאוֹיwoאוֹיwoלִירוּשָׁלַיִםto JerusalemכִּיforרָאִיתִיI have seenתּוֹעֲבוֹתָיִךְyour abominationsרַבּוֹתmanyוְאַףyea andדְּבָרִיםthingsרַבִּיםmanyקָרָאreadאָבִיmy fatherעַל־יְרוּשָׁלַיִםupon Jerusalemכִּיthatתֶחֱרַבit shall be destroyedוְיֹשְׁבֶיהָand its inhabitantsרַבִּיםmanyיֹאבְדוּshould perishבֶּחֶרֶבby the swordוְרַבִּיםand manyיָגְלוּshould be carried away captiveבָּבֶלָה׃into Babylon

    And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.

14. 14

    וַיְהִיand it happenedכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenקָרָאreadאָבִיmy fatherוַיַּרְאand sawדְּבָרִיםthingsרַבִּיםmanyגְּדֹלִיםgreatוְנִפְלָאִיםand marvelousוַיִּקְרָאand he did exclaimדְּבָרִיםthingsרַבִּיםmanyאֶל־יְהוָהto the Lordלֵאמֹרsayingגְּדֹלִיםgreatוְנִפְלָאִיםand marvelousמַעֲשֶׂיךָare Your worksיְהוָהO LordאֵלGodשַׁדַּיAlmightyכִּסְאֲךָYour throneרָםis highבַּשָּׁמַיִםin the heavensוְכֹחֲךָand Your powerוְטוּבְךָand Your goodnessוְחַסְדְּךָand Your mercyעַל־כׇּלupon allיֹשְׁבֵי־הָאָרֶץinhabitants of the earthוּבְחַסְדְּךָand because You are mercifulלֹא־תִתֵּןYou will not allowלַבָּאִיםthose that comeאֵלֶיךָunto Youלֶאֱבֹד׃to perish

    And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

15. 15

    וְכַדְּבָרִיםand like wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseהִלֵּלpraisedאָבִיmy fatherאֶת־אֱלֹהָיוhis Godוַתָּגֶלand rejoicedנַפְשׁוֹhis soulוַיִּמָּלֵאand was filledכׇל־לִבּוֹall his heartעַל־הַדְּבָרִיםupon the thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichרָאָהhe had seenוַאֲשֶׁרyea whichהֶרְאָהוּhad shown unto himיְהוָה׃the Lord

    And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.

16. 16

    וְעַתָּהand nowלֹאnotאֶכְתֹּבI shall writeאֲנִיIנֶפִיNephiאֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִיםall the thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichכָּתַבhath writtenאָבִיmy fatherכִּיforדְבָרִיםthingsרַבִּיםmanyכָּתַבhe hath writtenאֲשֶׁרwhichרָאָהhe sawבַּמַּרְאוֹתin the visionsוּבַחֲלֹמוֹתand in dreamsוְגַם־כָתַבand also he wroteדְּבָרִיםthingsרַבִּיםmanyאֲשֶׁרwhichנִבָּאhe prophesiedוְדִבֶּרand spokeאֶל־בָּנָיוto his sonsוְאֶת־כֻּלָּםand all of themלֹאnotאֶכְתֹּב׃I shall write

    And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account.

17. 17

    אַךְbutאֶכְתֹּבI shall writeאֶת־דִּבְרֵיthe words ofיָמַיmy daysהִנֵּהbeholdאֲקַצֵּרI shall abridgeאֶת־סֵפֶרbook ofאָבִיmy fatherעַל־הַלּוּחוֹתupon the platesאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשִׂיתִיI madeבְּמוֹwith mine ownיָדָיhandsעַל־כֵּןwhereforeאַחֲרֵיafterקַצְּרִיmy abridgingאֶת־סֵפֶרbook ofאָבִיmy fatherאָזthenאֶכְתֹּבI shall writeאֶת־דִּבְרֵיthe words ofיָמַי׃my days

    But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life.

18. 18

    לָכֵןthereforeרְצוֹנִיmy desireכִּיthatתֵדְעוּyou knowאַחֲרֵיafterהֶרְאוֹתshowingיְהוָהthe Lordנִפְלָאוֹתwondersרַבּוֹתso manyלְאָבִיto my fatherלֶחִיLehiעַל־יְרוּשָׁלַיִםconcerning Jerusalemאֲשֶׁרthatתֶּחֱרַבit should be destroyedהִנֵּהbeholdיָצָאhe went forthבְּקֶרֶבamongהָעָםthe peopleוַיָּחֶלand beganלְהִנָּבֵאto prophesyוּלְהַגִּידand to declareלָהֶםto themהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichגַּם־רָאָהboth he sawוְגַםand alsoשָׁמַע׃heard

    Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.

19. 19

    וַיַּלְעִגוּand mockedלוֹat himהַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsעַל־הַדְּבָרִיםbecause of the thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichהֵעִידhe testifiedעֲלֵיהֶםagainst themכִּיforהֵעִידhe testifiedבֶּאֱמֶתin truthעַל־רִשְׁעָםof their wickednessוְתוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶםand their abominationsוְהֵעִידand he testifiedכִּיthatהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichרָאָהhe sawוְשָׁמַעand heardוְגַם־קָרָאand also readבַּסֵּפֶרin the bookגַּלֵּהplainlyגִלּוּmanifestedעַל־בּוֹאconcerning the coming ofמָשִׁיחַa Messiahוּגְאֻלַּתand the redemption ofהָעוֹלָם׃the world

    And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

20. 20

    וַיְהִיand it happenedכִּשְׁמֹעַwhen heardהַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהָאֵלֶּהtheseוַיִּקְצְפוּand were wrothעָלָיוwith himאַףyea, evenכַּאֲשֶׁרasעָשׂוּthey didלַנְּבִיאִיםto the prophetsהָרִאשֹׁנִיםthe formerאֲשֶׁרwhomגֵּרְשׁוּthey cast outוְסָקְלוּand stonedוְהָרָגוּand killedוַיְבַקְשׁוּand soughtגַּם־אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹalso his lifeלְקַחְתָּהּto take itאַךְbutהִנֵּהbeholdאֲנִיIנֶפִיNephiאַרְאֶהI will showלָכֶםunto youכִּיthatרַחֲמֵיthe tender mercies ofיְהוָהthe Lordעַל־כׇּל־בְּחִירָיוare over all His chosenעַל־אֱמוּנָתָםbecause of their faithלַעֲשׂוֹתָםto make themגִּבֹּרֵיmighty ones ofתְשׁוּעָה׃deliverance

    And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.