  Near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy have been obtained of the
gravitationally lensed galaxy at z=4.92 discovered in HST images by Franx et
al. (1997). Images at 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 microns show the same arc morphology as
the HST images. The spectrum with resolution \lambda / \Delta\lambda ~ 70 shows
no emission lines with equivalent width stronger than 100 A in the rest frame
wavelength range 0.34 to 0.40 microns. In particular, [OII]3727 A and
[NeIII]3869 A are not seen. The energy distribution is quite blue, as expected
for a young stellar population with the observed Ly alpha flux. The spectral
energy distribution can be fit satisfactorily for such a young stellar
population when absorption by dust is included. The models imply a reddening
0.1 mag < E(B-V) < 0.4 mag. The stellar mass of the lensed galaxy lies in the
range of 2 to 16 x 10^9 Msun. This is significantly higher than estimates based
on the HST data alone. Our data imply that absorption by dust is important to
redshifts of ~5.
