< Ruth 1 >

1 And it came to pass, in the days when the Judges administered justice, that there was a famine in the land, —and so a certain man went his way, out of Bethlehem-judah to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
當士師秉政的時候,國中遭遇饑荒。在猶大的伯利恆,有一個人帶着妻子和兩個兒子往摩押地去寄居。
2 And, the name of the man, was Elimelech, and, the name of his wife, Naomi, and, the name of his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites out of Bethlehem-judah, —so they came into the country of Moab, and remained there.
這人名叫以利米勒,他的妻名叫拿俄米;他兩個兒子,一個名叫瑪倫,一個名叫基連,都是猶大伯利恆的以法他人。他們到了摩押地,就住在那裏。
3 And Elimelech, husband of Naomi, died, —and she was left, she and her two sons.
後來拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒死了,剩下婦人和她兩個兒子。
4 And they took them wives, of the women of Moab, the name of the one, was Orpah, and, the name of the other, Ruth, —and they dwelt there, about ten years.
這兩個兒子娶了摩押女子為妻,一個名叫俄珥巴,一個名叫路得,在那裏住了約有十年。
5 And, they also, both, died, Mahlon and Chilion, —so the woman was bereft of her two sons, and of her husband.
瑪倫和基連二人也死了,剩下拿俄米,沒有丈夫,也沒有兒子。
6 Then she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned out of the country of Moab, —for she had heard, in the country of Moab, how that Yahweh had visited his people, in giving unto them, bread.
她就與兩個兒婦起身,要從摩押地歸回;因為她在摩押地聽見耶和華眷顧自己的百姓,賜糧食與他們。
7 So she went forth out of the dwelling-place where she had remained, and her two daughters-in-law with her, —and they went on the way, to return unto the land of Judah.
於是她和兩個兒婦起行離開所住的地方,要回猶大地去。
8 Then said Naomi to her two daughters-in-law: Go return, each one to the house of her mother, —Yahweh deal with you in lovingkindness, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
拿俄米對兩個兒婦說:「你們各人回娘家去吧。願耶和華恩待你們,像你們恩待已死的人與我一樣!
9 Yahweh grant you, that ye may find a place of rest, each one in the house of her husband, —And she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
願耶和華使你們各在新夫家中得平安!」於是拿俄米與她們親嘴。她們就放聲而哭,
10 And they said to her, —With thee, will we return, unto thy people.
說:「不然,我們必與你一同回你本國去。」
11 Then said Naomi—Go back, my daughters! wherefore should ye journey with me? Have I, yet, sons in my womb, that they should become your, husbands?
拿俄米說:「我女兒們哪,回去吧!為何要跟我去呢?我還能生子作你們的丈夫嗎?
12 Go back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband, —If I should say, I have, hope, if I should, even to-night have a husband, and should, even bear sons,
我女兒們哪,回去吧!我年紀老邁,不能再有丈夫;即或說,我還有指望,今夜有丈夫可以生子,
13 would ye, therefore, tarry until they were grown? would ye, therefore, shut yourselves up from having husbands? Nay! my daughters, for it is far more bitter for me than for you, that forth hath gone against me, the hand of Yahweh.
你們豈能等着他們長大呢?你們豈能等着他們不嫁別人呢?我女兒們哪,不要這樣。我為你們的緣故甚是愁苦,因為耶和華伸手攻擊我。」
14 And they lifted up their voice and wept, yet more. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in- law, but, Ruth, clave unto her.
兩個兒婦又放聲而哭,俄珥巴與婆婆親嘴而別,只是路得捨不得拿俄米。
15 And she said—Lo! thy sister-in-law hath gone back, unto her people, and unto her gods, —go thou back, after thy sister-in-law.
拿俄米說:「看哪,你嫂子已經回她本國和她所拜的神那裏去了,你也跟着你嫂子回去吧!」
16 And Ruth said—Do not urge me to leave thee, to go back from following thee, —for, whither thou goest, I will go, and, where thou lodgest, I will lodge, thy people, shall be my people, and, thy God, my God;
路得說:「不要催我回去不跟隨你。你往哪裏去,我也往那裏去;你在哪裏住宿,我也在那裏住宿;你的國就是我的國,你的上帝就是我的上帝。
17 where thou diest, I will die, and, there, will I be buried: So, let Yahweh do to me, and, so, let him add, if, death itself, part me and thee.
你在哪裏死,我也在那裏死,也葬在那裏。除非死能使你我相離!不然,願耶和華重重地降罰與我。」
18 And, when she saw that, bravely determined, was she to go with her, she ceased entreating her.
拿俄米見路得定意要跟隨自己去,就不再勸她了。
19 So, they two, went their way, until they entered Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they entered Bethlehem, that all the city was moved concerning them, and the women said—Is this Naomi?
於是二人同行,來到伯利恆。她們到了伯利恆,合城的人就都驚訝。婦女們說:「這是拿俄米嗎?」
20 And she said unto them, Do not call me Naomi ["Sweet"], —call me Mara ["Bitter"], for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me:
拿俄米對她們說:「不要叫我拿俄米,要叫我瑪拉,因為全能者使我受了大苦。
21 I was full when I departed, but, empty, am I brought back of Yahweh, —wherefore should ye call me Naomi, when, Yahweh, hath given answer against me, and, the Almighty, hath crushed me?
我滿滿地出去,耶和華使我空空地回來。耶和華降禍與我;全能者使我受苦。既是這樣,你們為何還叫我拿俄米呢?」
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab, —and, they, entered Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
拿俄米和她兒婦摩押女子路得,從摩押地回來到伯利恆,正是動手割大麥的時候。

< Ruth 1 >