1 Soģu valdības laikā zemē izcēlās bads. Kāds vīrs no Jūdas Bētlemes gāja, lai apmestos Moāba zemē, - viņš pats, viņa sieva un abi viņa dēli. 2 Šī vīra vārds bija Ēlimelehs, viņa sievas vārds bija Naomija, un viņa abu dēlu vārdi bija Mahlons un Kiljons; viņi bija efratieši no Jūdas Bētlemes. Viņi nonāca Moāba zemē un tur palika. 3 Ēlimelehs, Naomijas vīrs, nomira, un viņa palika ar saviem abiem dēliem. 4 Tie ņēma sev moābiešu sievas: vienas vārds bija Orpa, un otras vārds bija Rute. Viņi dzīvoja tur kādus desmit gadus. 5 Tad nomira abi - Mahlons un Kiljons. Tā šī sieva palika viena pēc abu dēlu un vīra nāves. 6 Nu viņa kopā ar savām vedeklām posās atgriezties atpakaļ no Moāba zemes, jo viņa bija tur dzirdējusi, ka Tas Kungs esot labvēlīgi uzlūkojis Savu tautu, dodams tai maizi. 7 Viņa kopā ar savām vedeklām atstāja vietu, kur viņa bija, un gāja atpakaļ uz Jūdas zemi. 8 Ceļā Naomija sacīja abām savām vedeklām: "Ejiet, griezieties atpakaļ katra savas mātes mājā, un Tas Kungs lai parāda jums mīlestību, tāpat kā jūs esat to parādījušas man un abiem nelaiķiem. 9 Tas Kungs lai dod jums atrast mieru katrai sava vīra namā." Tad viņa tās skūpstīja, bet tās sāka skaļā balsī raudāt 10 un atbildēja viņai: "Mēs gribam iet tev līdzi pie tavas tautas." 11 Tad Naomija sacīja: "Griezieties atpakaļ, manas meitas, kādēļ jums nākt man līdzi? Vai man būtu vēl dēli manā klēpī, kas varētu jums kļūt par vīriem? 12 Griezieties atpakaļ, manas meitas, ejiet, jo esmu par vecu, lai ietu pie vīra. Ja arī es sacītu: man ir cerības, - un ja pat šo nakti es ietu pie vīra un dzemdētu dēlus, 13 vai jūs gan gaidītu, līdz kamēr tie izaugtu? Vai jūs gan noslēgtos, neiedamas pie vīra? Nē, manas meitas, jo man ir pārāk sāpīgi jūsu dēļ, ka Tā Kunga roka ir mani skārusi." 14 Tad viņas vēl skaļāk raudāja, un Orpa deva skūpstu savai vīramātei, bet Rute pieglaudās viņai. 15 Tad tā viņai sacīja: "Lūk, tava svaine ir atgriezusies pie savas tautas un pie saviem dieviem, seko arī tu savai svainei." 16 Bet Rute atbildēja: "Nespied mani tevi atstāt un no tevis aiziet, jo, kurp tu iesi, es iešu un, kur tu mitīsi, es mitīšu; tava tauta būs mana tauta, un tavs Dievs būs mans Dievs. 17 Kur tu mirsi, es miršu, un tur es gribu būt arī apglabāta. Lai Tas Kungs dara man tā un vēl vairāk, tiešām, nāve vien spēs šķirt mani un tevi." 18 Un, kad Naomija redzēja, ka viņa nelokāmi paliek pie sava nodoma iet viņai līdzi, viņa mitējās viņu pierunāt. 19 Tā viņas abas gāja tālāk, līdz nonāca Bētlemē. Un, kad viņas ienāca Bētlemē, tad visā pilsētā viņu dēļ radās satraukums. Un bija dzirdamas runas: vai šī nav Naomija? 20 Viņa sacīja tām: "Nesauciet mani - Naomija , bet sauciet mani - Māra , jo Visuvarenais man ir licis pieredzēt daudz rūgtuma. 21 Pilnībā es aizgāju, un tukšai Tas Kungs man ir licis atgriezties. Kādēļ jūs mani saucat Naomija, ja Tas Kungs mani ir pazemojis un Visuvarenais mani ir apbēdinājis?" 22 Tā Naomija atgriezās un līdz ar viņu moābiete Rute, viņas vedekla, kas bija atnākusi no Moāba zemes. Viņas ieradās Bētlemē miežu pļaujas sākumā.
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.
