1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 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 of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 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 dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
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 the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore 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 unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after 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: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19 ¶ So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Elīmelehs ar ģimeni dodas uz Moāba zemi
1 Tas notika soģu valdīšanas laikā. Zemē bija bads, un kāds vīrs devās no Betlēmes Jūdā, lai apmestos Moāba laukos, – viņš pats, viņa sieva un divi viņa dēli. 2 Šā vīra vārds bija Elīmelehs, viņa sievu sauca Naomi un abus viņa dēlus – Mahlons un Kiljons, tie bija efrātieši no Betlēmes Jūdā. Viņi devās uz Moāba laukiem un dzīvoja tur. 3 Bet Elīmelehs, Naomi vīrs, nomira un atstāja viņu ar abiem dēliem. 4 Tie ņēma sev sievas moābietes. Vienas vārds bija Orpa un otras vārds – Rute. Viņi tur dzīvoja kādus desmit gadus. 5 Bet arī tie abi nomira – Mahlons un Kiljons. Tā šī sieva palika bez abiem bērniem un vīra.
Naomi un viņas vedeklas
6 Kad viņa Moāba laukos uzzināja, ka Kungs ir gādājis par savu tautu un devis tai maizi, viņa kopā ar abām vedeklām cēlās, lai dotos atpakaļ no Moāba laukiem. 7 Viņa atstāja vietu, kur bija dzīvojusi, un abas vedeklas devās ceļā kopā ar viņu, lai atgrieztos Jūdas zemē. 8 Tad Naomi teica abām vedeklām: “Ejiet, atgriezieties katra savas mātes namā, un Kungs būs jums žēlīgs, un arī jūs esat tādas bijušas pret abiem mirušajiem un mani. 9 Kungs jums dos – jūs atradīsiet drošību katra sava vīra namā.” Un viņa tās skūpstīja, bet tās sāka raudāt. 10 Viņas teica: “Mēs kopā ar tevi atgriezīsimies pie tavas tautas!” 11 Bet Naomi sacīja: “Ejiet atpakaļ, manas meitas! Kāpēc lai jūs nāktu ar mani? Vai tad man vēl būtu dēli, kas kļūtu jums par vīriem? 12 Ejiet atpakaļ, manas meitas! Ejiet! Jo es esmu par vecu, lai būtu vīram. Ja es arī teiktu: man ir vēl cerība! – un pat ja es būtu naktī bijusi vīram un dzemdētu dēlus, 13 vai tāpēc jums gaidīt, kamēr tie izaug? Vai tāpēc jums ieslēgties, paliekot bez vīra? Nē, manas meitas! Man ir ļoti rūgti jūsu dēļ, jo Kunga roka nākusi pār mani.” 14 Tad viņas atkal sāka raudāt. Orpa atvadoties skūpstīja savu vīramāti, bet Rute pieglaudās tai. 15 Un Naomi sacīja: “Redzi, tava svaine dodas atpakaļ pie savas tautas un saviem dieviem. Dodies atpakaļ arī tu tāpat kā tava svaine.” 16 Bet Rute atbildēja: “Nespied mani tevi atstāt, ļauj sekot tev: kurp tu iesi – es iešu, kur tu mājosi – es mājošu, tava tauta būs mana tauta, tavs Dievs būs mans Dievs! 17 Kur tu mirsi – es miršu, un tur mani apraks. Lai Kungs dara man tā – un vēl pieliek! – nāve vien šķirs mani no tevis!”
18 Kad Naomi redzēja, ka viņa cieši apņēmusies nākt līdzi, viņa tai vairs neteica ne vārda. 19 Tā viņas abas gāja, līdz nonāca Betlēmē. Kad viņas ieradās Betlēmē, visa pilsēta sarosījās viņu dēļ, un sievas runāja: “Vai tik tā nav Naomi!?” 20 Bet viņa tām sacīja: “Nesauciet mani Naomi , sauciet mani – Mārā , jo Visuvarenais mani pārlieku sarūgtinājis. 21 Pilna es aizgāju, un tukšu mani Kungs ir pārvedis. Kāpēc gan jūs saucat mani Naomi, ja Kungs ir liecinājis pret mani un Visuvarenais man pāri darījis!” 22 Tā Naomi atgriezās, un kopā ar viņu no Moāba laukiem pārnāca viņas vedekla moābiete Rute. Viņas nonāca Betlēmē miežu pļaujas sākumā.
