< Ruth 1 >
1 It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country 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 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Kilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and continued 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 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, 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 for themselves wives from the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other 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 Mahlon and Kilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband.
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 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving 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 She went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
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 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May Jehovah deal kindly 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 Jehovah grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband." Then 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 They said to her, "No, but 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 Naomi said, "Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may 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 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 have a husband tonight, and should also 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 then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah has gone out 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 They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people, but Ruth clung to 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 She said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow 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 Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay; 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 where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried. Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me."
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 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her.
納敖米見她執意要與自己同去,就不再勸阻她了。
19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they asked, "Is this Naomi?"
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 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi. Call me Marah; for Shaddai 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 Jehovah has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Jehovah has testified against me, and Shaddai 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 Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem at 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。