Hatzur Tamim Pa'olo

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ! The whole parsha is one song — so let's sing it!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 1

On his very last day he stood up to speak —

and he didn't give a speech, he sang!

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let it come down like rain! (like rain! like rain!)

הָבוּ גֹדֶל לֵאלֹקֵינוּ —

give greatness to our God! (give greatness!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 2

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, His work is whole! (it's whole! it's whole!)

כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט —

and every road He walks is just!

הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ —

He is your Father, He made you His own! (your Father!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 3

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old! (remember!)

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ —

go ask your father, he will tell you! (ask him! ask him!)

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the מִדְבָּר,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and guarded us like the pupil of His eye!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 4

כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ —

like an eagle over its nest! (like an eagle!)

יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ —

He carried us up on His wing!

דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע —

honey out of the bedrock,

וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר —

and oil out of the hardest stone!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 5

And then they forgot Him. The song says it straight —

צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי —

you forgot the Rock who bore you.

But listen how it ends! רְאוּ עַתָּה —

see now! (see now!)

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I wound, and I am the One who heals! (He heals! He heals!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Outro

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people! (sing out! sing out!)

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ! The whole parsha is one song — so let's sing it!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 1

On his very last day he stood up to speak —

and he didn't give a speech, he sang!

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let it come down like rain! (like rain! like rain!)

הָבוּ גֹדֶל לֵאלֹקֵינוּ —

give greatness to our God! (give greatness!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 2

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, His work is whole! (it's whole! it's whole!)

כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט —

and every road He walks is just!

הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ —

He is your Father, He made you His own! (your Father!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 3

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old! (remember!)

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ —

go ask your father, he will tell you! (ask him! ask him!)

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the מִדְבָּר,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and guarded us like the pupil of His eye!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 4

כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ —

like an eagle over its nest! (like an eagle!)

יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ —

He carried us up on His wing!

דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע —

honey out of the bedrock,

וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר —

and oil out of the hardest stone!

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Verse 5

And then they forgot Him. The song says it straight —

צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי —

you forgot the Rock who bore you.

But listen how it ends! רְאוּ עַתָּה —

see now! (see now!)

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I wound, and I am the One who heals! (He heals! He heals!)

Chorus

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

Outro

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people! (sing out! sing out!)

Spoken Word

This week — פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ. Almost the whole parsha is one song, and מֹשֶׁה taught it out loud on the last day of his life. Listen to what he sings.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Spoken Word

He starts by calling two witnesses who will outlast everyone standing in front of him. הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם — listen, heavens. וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ — and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי — let my teaching come down like rain. And then the line the whole song stands on — הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, His work is flawless; כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט — all His ways are justice. And then he turns on the people with a question: הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ — is He not your Father, who made you His own?

Spoken Word

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ — ask your father and he will tell you; ask your elders, and they will say it over. כִּי חֵלֶק הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — His people are His portion. יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר — He found them in a desert land, in an empty howling waste, and He circled them and taught them, יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ — and guarded them like the pupil of His eye. כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ — like an eagle rousing its nest. יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָיו יִקָּחֵהוּ — it spreads its wings and takes them, יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ — and carries them on its wing. הַשֵּׁם בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ — Hashem alone led them, with no strange god along for the road.

Spoken Word

Carried over the high places of the land, eating the produce of the fields — דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע, honey out of bedrock, וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר, oil out of the hardest stone, cream and milk and the best of the flocks and of the wheat. וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט — Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי — the Rock who bore you, you forgot. Hashem says אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי מֵהֶם — I will hide My face from them — and the song names fire and famine and the sword, young and old together, and it does not soften any of it. And then it stops itself for one reason only: פֶּן־יֹאמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ רָמָה — so that the enemy will never be able to stand there and say, our own hand did this, and not Hashem.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Spoken Word

לוּ חָכְמוּ יַשְׂכִּילוּ זֹאת — if only they were wise, they would understand this, יָבִינוּ לְאַחֲרִיתָם — they would think about how it ends. כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם — their rock is nothing like our Rock. כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — Hashem will judge on behalf of His people, וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם — and He will turn back to His servants when He sees their strength is gone. And then the biggest line in the song: רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא — see now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me. אֲנִי אָמִית וַאֲחַיֶּה — I put to death and I bring to life. מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא — I have wounded, and I am the One who heals. כִּי־אֶשָּׂא אֶל־שָׁמַיִם יָדִי — I lift My hand to heaven — חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם — I live forever. And the song that opened with heaven and earth as witnesses closes with singing: הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ — sing out, nations, for His people.

Spoken Word

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה — and מֹשֶׁה came and spoke every word of this song in the hearing of the people, הוּא וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן־נוּן — he and Hoshea the son of Nun. And when he finished he said: שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם — set your hearts on all of this, and command your children to guard it and do it. כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם — this is not an empty thing for you — כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. כִּי מִנֶּגֶד תִּרְאֶה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ — from a distance you will see the land. But you will not come into it.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Outro

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. That is how the song ends.

Spoken Word

This week — פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ. Almost the whole parsha is one song, and מֹשֶׁה taught it out loud on the last day of his life. Listen to what he sings.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Spoken Word

He starts by calling two witnesses who will outlast everyone standing in front of him. הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם — listen, heavens. וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ — and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי — let my teaching come down like rain. And then the line the whole song stands on — הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, His work is flawless; כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט — all His ways are justice. And then he turns on the people with a question: הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ — is He not your Father, who made you His own?

Spoken Word

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ — ask your father and he will tell you; ask your elders, and they will say it over. כִּי חֵלֶק הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — His people are His portion. יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר — He found them in a desert land, in an empty howling waste, and He circled them and taught them, יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ — and guarded them like the pupil of His eye. כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ — like an eagle rousing its nest. יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָיו יִקָּחֵהוּ — it spreads its wings and takes them, יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ — and carries them on its wing. הַשֵּׁם בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ — Hashem alone led them, with no strange god along for the road.

Spoken Word

Carried over the high places of the land, eating the produce of the fields — דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע, honey out of bedrock, וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר, oil out of the hardest stone, cream and milk and the best of the flocks and of the wheat. וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט — Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי — the Rock who bore you, you forgot. Hashem says אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי מֵהֶם — I will hide My face from them — and the song names fire and famine and the sword, young and old together, and it does not soften any of it. And then it stops itself for one reason only: פֶּן־יֹאמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ רָמָה — so that the enemy will never be able to stand there and say, our own hand did this, and not Hashem.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Spoken Word

לוּ חָכְמוּ יַשְׂכִּילוּ זֹאת — if only they were wise, they would understand this, יָבִינוּ לְאַחֲרִיתָם — they would think about how it ends. כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם — their rock is nothing like our Rock. כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — Hashem will judge on behalf of His people, וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם — and He will turn back to His servants when He sees their strength is gone. And then the biggest line in the song: רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא — see now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me. אֲנִי אָמִית וַאֲחַיֶּה — I put to death and I bring to life. מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא — I have wounded, and I am the One who heals. כִּי־אֶשָּׂא אֶל־שָׁמַיִם יָדִי — I lift My hand to heaven — חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם — I live forever. And the song that opened with heaven and earth as witnesses closes with singing: הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ — sing out, nations, for His people.

Spoken Word

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה — and מֹשֶׁה came and spoke every word of this song in the hearing of the people, הוּא וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן־נוּן — he and Hoshea the son of Nun. And when he finished he said: שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם — set your hearts on all of this, and command your children to guard it and do it. כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם — this is not an empty thing for you — כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. כִּי מִנֶּגֶד תִּרְאֶה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ — from a distance you will see the land. But you will not come into it.

Chorus

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

Outro

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. That is how the song ends.

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last song. And this is how it ends.

Verse 1

He found us in an empty place,

nothing out there but wind and stone.

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the desert, all alone,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and He guarded us like the pupil of His eye.

Pre-Chorus

And we forgot the Rock who bore us.

The song says it, and it does not look away.

But stay for the last word —

stay and hear what He says.

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Verse 2

Every nation had a rock it trusted.

Where is it standing now?

כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם —

their rock is nothing like our Rock,

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

and everything He does is whole.

And Sforno says He is so righteous

He will not abandon you, not even in גָּלוּת.

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Bridge

כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ —

Hashem will judge on behalf of His people,

וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם —

and He will turn back to His servants.

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

this is not an empty thing for you —

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life! It is your life!

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Outro

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

He lives forever.

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last song. And this is how it ends.

Verse 1

He found us in an empty place,

nothing out there but wind and stone.

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the desert, all alone,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and He guarded us like the pupil of His eye.

Pre-Chorus

And we forgot the Rock who bore us.

The song says it, and it does not look away.

But stay for the last word —

stay and hear what He says.

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Verse 2

Every nation had a rock it trusted.

Where is it standing now?

כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם —

their rock is nothing like our Rock,

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

and everything He does is whole.

And Sforno says He is so righteous

He will not abandon you, not even in גָּלוּת.

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Bridge

כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ —

Hashem will judge on behalf of His people,

וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם —

and He will turn back to His servants.

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

this is not an empty thing for you —

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life! It is your life!

Chorus

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

Outro

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

He lives forever.

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last day, and the last song.

Verse 1

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה —

and מֹשֶׁה came before the people,

he spoke every word of the song,

right there, in their hearing,

הוּא וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן־נוּן —

the two of them, side by side.

וַיְכַל מֹשֶׁה לְדַבֵּר —

and when מֹשֶׁה finished speaking,

he said to them, quietly:

Pre-Chorus

שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם —

set your hearts on all of it,

and command your children

to guard it, and to do it.

Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Verse 2

בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה —

on that very same day,

הַשֵּׁם spoke to מֹשֶׁה:

עֲלֵה — go up, He said,

up the mountain, הַר־נְבוֹ,

וּרְאֵה אֶת־אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן —

and see the land I am giving them.

There on the mountain, he would die,

gathered to his people,

like אַהֲרֹן his brother was,

because of the waters of argument.

Pre-Chorus

שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם —

set your hearts on all of it,

and command your children

to guard it, and to do it.

Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Bridge

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let my teaching fall like rain,

and Rashi says the תּוֹרָה is

חַיִּים לָעוֹלָם —

life to the world, the way the rain is life.

כִּי מִנֶּגֶד תִּרְאֶה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ —

from far away you'll see the land,

וְשָׁמָּה לֹא תָבוֹא —

but there, you will not go in.

Final Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Outro

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Intro

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last day, and the last song.

Verse 1

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה —

and מֹשֶׁה came before the people,

he spoke every word of the song,

right there, in their hearing,

הוּא וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן־נוּן —

the two of them, side by side.

וַיְכַל מֹשֶׁה לְדַבֵּר —

and when מֹשֶׁה finished speaking,

he said to them, quietly:

Pre-Chorus

שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם —

set your hearts on all of it,

and command your children

to guard it, and to do it.

Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Verse 2

בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה —

on that very same day,

הַשֵּׁם spoke to מֹשֶׁה:

עֲלֵה — go up, He said,

up the mountain, הַר־נְבוֹ,

וּרְאֵה אֶת־אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן —

and see the land I am giving them.

There on the mountain, he would die,

gathered to his people,

like אַהֲרֹן his brother was,

because of the waters of argument.

Pre-Chorus

שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם —

set your hearts on all of it,

and command your children

to guard it, and to do it.

Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Bridge

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let my teaching fall like rain,

and Rashi says the תּוֹרָה is

חַיִּים לָעוֹלָם —

life to the world, the way the rain is life.

כִּי מִנֶּגֶד תִּרְאֶה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ —

from far away you'll see the land,

וְשָׁמָּה לֹא תָבוֹא —

but there, you will not go in.

Final Chorus

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

it is not an empty thing for you,

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life, it is your life.

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.

Outro

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life.