רַ֡ק הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֩ וּשְׁמֹ֨ר נַפְשְׁךָ֜ מְאֹ֗ד פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וּפֶן־יָס֨וּרוּ֙ מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וְהֹודַעְתָּ֥ם לְבָנֶ֖יךָ וְלִבְנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיךָ׃
Only be careful and guard your soul diligently, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And make them known to your children and your children’s children.
Morphology
- רַ֡ק (raq) – Root: רק (raq); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Only”; Notes: Used for emphasis or limitation.
- הִשָּׁ֣מֶר (hishamer) – Root: שמר (shamar); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “be careful”; Notes: A reflexive command to guard oneself.
- לְךָ֩ (lekha) – Root: לך (lak); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Indicates personal responsibility.
- וּשְׁמֹ֨ר (ushmor) – Root: שמר (shamar); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and guard”; Notes: A command to keep or protect.
- נַפְשְׁךָ֜ (nafshekha) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your soul”; Notes: Refers to one’s life or inner self.
- מְאֹ֗ד (meʾod) – Root: מאד (meʾod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “diligently”; Notes: Indicates intensity or thoroughness.
- פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח (pen-tishkakh) – Root: שכח (shakhaḥ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “lest you forget”; Notes: Warns against neglect or loss of memory.
- אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֜ים (ʾet-hadvarim) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Direct object marker with noun, masculine plural; Translation: “the things”; Notes: Refers to the events or commands.
- אֲשֶׁר־רָא֣וּ (ʾasher-raʾu) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Relative pronoun with Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “that have seen”; Notes: Refers to past experiences.
- עֵינֶ֗יךָ (ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, dual with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your eyes”; Notes: Refers to personal observation.
- וּפֶן־יָס֨וּרוּ֙ (u-pen-yasuru) – Root: סור (sur); Form: Conjunction with Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and lest they depart”; Notes: Warns against drifting away.
- מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ (millevavkha) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct and 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from your heart”; Notes: Refers to the inner being or thoughts.
- כֹּ֖ל (khol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “all”; Notes: Denotes entirety.
- יְמֵ֣י (yemei) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the days of”; Notes: Refers to time or lifespan.
- חַיֶּ֑יךָ (ḥayyekha) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your life”; Notes: Refers to one’s lifetime.
- וְהֹודַעְתָּ֥ם (ve-hodaʿtam) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Hifil perfect 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and make them known”; Notes: Refers to teaching or proclaiming.
- לְבָנֶ֖יךָ (levanekha) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct and 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to your children”; Notes: Refers to the next generation.
- וְלִבְנֵ֥י (u-livne) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Conjunction with preposition and noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “and to the children of”; Notes: Refers to descendants.
- בָנֶֽיךָ (vanekha) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your children”; Notes: Refers to grandchildren.