< Ruth 1 >

1 And it came to pass when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a man went from Bethleem Juda to sojourn in the land of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
當民長執政時代,國內發生了饑荒。有個人帶了他的妻子和兩個兒子,從猶大白冷到摩阿布鄉間去僑居。
2 And the man's name [was] Elimelech, and his wife's name Noemin, and the names of his two sons Maalon and Chelaion, Ephrathites of Bethleem of Juda: and they came to the land of Moab, and remained there.
這人名叫厄里默肋客,他的妻子名叫納敖米,他的兩個兒子:一個名叫瑪赫隆,一個名叫基肋雍,是猶大白冷厄弗辣大人。他們到了摩阿布鄉間,就住在那裏。
3 And Elimelech the husband of Noemin died; and she was left, and her two sons.
後來納敖米的丈夫厄里默肋客死了,留下了她和她的兩個兒子。
4 And they took to themselves wives, women of Moab; the name of the one [was] Orpha, and the name of the second Ruth; and they lived there about ten years.
他們都娶了摩阿布女子為妻:一個名叫敖爾帕,一個名叫盧德;他們在那裏大約住了十年。
5 And both Maalon and Chelaion died also; and the woman was left of her husband and her two sons.
瑪赫隆和基肋雍二人有相繼去世,只剩下了那婦人,沒有兒子,以沒有丈夫。
6 And she rose up and her two daughters-in-law, and they returned out of the country of Moab, for she heard in the country of Moab that the Lord [had] visited his people to give them bread.
於是她便與她的兩個兒媳打算從摩阿布鄉間起程回家,因為她在摩阿布鄉間聽說天主垂顧了他的百姓,賜給了他們食糧。納熬米勸兒媳回家
7 And she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her: and they went by the way to return to the land of Juda.
當她和她的兩個兒媳,要從寄居的地方出發,取道回猶大故鄉的時候,
8 And Noemin said to her daughter-in-law, Go now, return each to the house of her mother: the Lord deal mercifully with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.
納熬米就對她的兩個兒媳說:「你們去罷! 各自回娘家去! 願上主恩待你們,如同你們待了死者和我一樣。
9 The Lord grant you that you may find rest each of you in the house of her husband: and she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
院上主賜你們在新夫家裏,各得安身! 」於是就吻了她們;她們便放聲大哭,
10 And they said to her, We will return with you to your people.
向她說:「我們要同你回到你的民族中去。」
11 And Noemin said, Return now, my daughters; and why do you go with me? have I yet sons in my womb to be your husbands?
納敖米回答說:「我的女兒,你們回去罷! 為什麼要跟我去呢﹖難道我還能懷妊生子給你們做丈夫嗎﹖
12 Turn now, my daughters, for I am too old to be married: for I said, Suppose I were married, and should bear sons;
我的女兒啊,你們回去罷! 你們走罷! 我已老了,不能再嫁人了;如說我尚又希望,今夜能嫁人,也懷妊生子,
13 would you wait for them till they should be grown? or would you refrain from being married for their sakes? Not so, my daughters; for I am grieved for you, that the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.
你們又豈能等待他們長大,持身不嫁人﹖我的女兒啊! 不要這樣,有了你們我反而更苦,因為上主已伸出手來與我作對。」盧德追隨婆母
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpha kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people; but Ruth followed her.
她們於是又放聲大哭。敖爾帕吻了自己的婆婆,便回自己的家鄉去了;盧德對婆母仍依依不捨。
15 And Noemin said to Ruth, Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; turn now you also after your sister-in-law.
納敖米向她說:「看,你的嫂子已回她民族和她的神那裏去了,你也跟你的嫂子回去罷! 」
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following you; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people [shall be] my people, and your God my God.
盧德答說:「請你別逼我離開你,而不跟你去。你到那裏去,我也要到那裏去;你住在那裏,我也住在那裏;你的民族,就是我的民族;你的天主,就是我的天主;
17 And wherever you die, I will die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, [if I leave you], for death [only] shall divide between me and you.
你死在那裏,我也死在那裏,埋在那裏;若不是死使我與你分離,願上主罰我,重重罰我! 」
18 And Noemin seeing that she was determined to go with her, ceased to speak to her any more.
納敖米見她執意要與自己同去,就不再勸阻她了。
19 And they went both of them until they came to Bethleem: and it came to pass, when they arrived at Bethleem, that all the city rang with them, and they said, Is this Noemin?
於是二人同行,來到了白冷。她們一到了白冷,全城的人都為她們所驚動。婦女們驚問說:「這不是納敖米嗎﹖」
20 And she said to them, Nay, do not call me Noemin; call me 'Bitter,' for the Mighty One has dealt very bitterly with me.
她向她們說:「你們不要叫我納敖米,應叫我瑪辣,因為全能者待我好苦!
21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me back empty: and why call you me Noemin, whereas the Lord has humbled me and the Mighty One has afflicted me?
我去時富足,如今上主卻使我空空而回。上主責罰了我,全能者降禍於我,你們為什麼還叫我納敖米呢﹖」
22 So Noemin and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, returned from the country of Moab; and they came to Bethleem in the beginning of barley harvest.
納敖米同她的兒媳摩阿布女子盧德回來了,是從摩阿布鄉間回來的。她們來到白冷,正是開始收大麥的時候。

< Ruth 1 >