diff --git a/layouts/shortcodes/ltr.html b/layouts/shortcodes/ltr.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ad7682b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/layouts/shortcodes/ltr.html
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" false }}
+
+{{ if .IsNamedParams }}
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" (.Get "md") }}
+{{ else }}
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" (.Get 0) }}
+{{ end }}
+
+<div dir="ltr">
+  {{ if eq ($.Scratch.Get "md") false }}
+    {{ .Inner }}
+  {{ else }}
+    {{ .Inner | markdownify }}
+  {{ end }}
+</div>
diff --git a/layouts/shortcodes/rtl.html b/layouts/shortcodes/rtl.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a69b8ce8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/layouts/shortcodes/rtl.html
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" false }}
+
+{{ if .IsNamedParams }}
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" (.Get "md") }}
+{{ else }}
+{{ $.Scratch.Set "md" (.Get 0) }}
+{{ end }}
+
+<div dir="rtl">
+  {{ if eq ($.Scratch.Get "md") false }}
+    {{ .Inner }}
+  {{ else }}
+    {{ .Inner | markdownify }}
+  {{ end }}
+</div>