Ruth
Chapter1
11Onceinthetimeofthejudgestherewasafamineintheland;soamanfromBethlehemofJudahdepartedwithhiswifeandtwosonstoresideontheplateauofMoab.
当民长执政时代，国内发生了饥荒。有个人带了他的妻子和两个儿子，从犹大白冷到摩阿布乡间去侨居。
2ThemanwasnamedElimelech,hiswifeNaomi,andhissonsMahlonandChilion;theywereEphrathitesfromBethlehemofJudah.SometimeaftertheirarrivalontheMoabiteplateau,
这人名叫厄里默肋客，他的妻子名叫纳敖米，他的两个儿子：一个名叫玛赫隆，一个名叫基肋雍，是犹大白冷厄弗辣大人。他们到了摩阿布乡间，就住在那里。
3Elimelech,thehusbandofNaomi,died,andshewasleftwithhertwosons,
后来纳敖米的丈夫厄里默肋客死了，留下了她和她的两个儿子。
4whomarriedMoabitewomen,onenamedOrpah,theotherRuth.Whentheyhadlivedthereabouttenyears,
他们都娶了摩阿布女子为妻：一个名叫敖尔帕，一个名叫卢德；他们在那里大约住了十年。
5bothMahlonandChiliondiedalso,andthewomanwasleftwithneitherhertwosonsnorherhusband.
玛赫隆和基肋雍二人也相继去世，只剩下了那妇人，没有儿子，也没有丈夫。
6ShethenmadereadytogobackfromtheplateauofMoabbecausewordreachedhertherethattheLORDhadvisitedhispeopleandgiventhemfood.
于是她便与她的两个儿媳打算从摩阿布乡间起程回家，因为她在摩阿布乡间听说天主垂顾了他的百姓，赐给了他们食粮。
7Sheandhertwodaughters-in-lawlefttheplacewheretheyhadbeenliving.ThenastheywereontheroadbacktothelandofJudah,
当她和她的两个儿媳，要从寄居的地方出发，取道回犹大故乡的时候，
82Naomisaidtohertwodaughters-in-law,＂Goback,eachofyou,toyourmother'shouse!MaytheLORDbekindtoyouasyouweretothedepartedandtome!
纳敖米就对她的两个儿媳说：＂你们去罢！各自回娘家去！愿上主恩待你们，如同你们待了死者和我一样。
9MaytheLORDgranteachofyouahusbandandahomeinwhichyouwillfindrest.＂Shekissedthemgood-bye,buttheyweptwithloudsobs,
愿上主赐你们在新夫家里，各得安身！＂于是就吻了她们；她们便放声大哭，
10andtoldhertheywouldreturnwithhertoherpeople.
向她说：＂我们要同你回到你的民族中去。＂
113＂Goback,mydaughters!＂saidNaomi.＂Whyshouldyoucomewithme?HaveIothersonsinmywombwhomaybecomeyourhusbands?
纳敖米回答说：＂我的女儿，你们回去罢！为什么要跟我去呢？难道我还能怀妊生子给你们做丈夫吗？
12Goback,mydaughters!Go,forIamtoooldtomarryagain.AndevenifIcouldofferanyhopes,oriftonightIhadahusbandorhadbornesons,
我的女儿啊，你们回去罢！你们走罢！我已老了，不能再嫁人了；如说我尚有希望，今夜能嫁人，也怀妊生子，
13wouldyouthenwaitanddepriveyourselvesofhusbandsuntilthosesonsgrewup?No,mydaughters!mylotistoobitterforyou,becausetheLORDhasextendedhishandagainstme.＂
你们又岂能等待他们长大，持身不嫁人？我的女儿啊！不要这样，有了你们我反而更苦，因为上主已伸出手来与我作对。＂
14Againtheysobbedaloudandwept;andOrpahkissedhermother-in-lawgood-bye,butRuthstayedwithher.
她们于是又放声大哭。敖尔帕吻了自己的婆婆，便回自己的家乡去了；卢德对婆母仍依依不舍。
15＂Seenow!＂shesaid,＂yoursister-in-lawhasgonebacktoherpeopleandhergod.Gobackafteryoursister-in-law!＂
纳敖米向她说：＂看，你的嫂子已回她民族和她的神那里去了，你也跟你的嫂子回去罢！＂
164ButRuthsaid,＂Donotaskmetoabandonorforsakeyou!forwhereveryougoIwillgo,whereveryoulodgeIwilllodge,yourpeopleshallbemypeople,andyourGodmyGod.
卢德答说：＂请你别逼我离开你，而不跟你去。你到那里去，我也要到那里去；你住在那里，我也住在那里；你的民族，就是我的民族；你的天主，就是我的天主；
17WhereveryoudieIwilldie,andtherebeburied.MaytheLORDdosoandsotome,andmorebesides,ifaughtbutdeathseparatesmefromyou!＂
你死在那里，我也死在那里，埋在那里；若不是死使我与你分离，愿上主罚我，重重罚我！＂
18Naomithenceasedtourgeher,forshesawshewasdeterminedtogowithher.
纳敖米见她执意要与自己同去，就不再劝阻她了。
19SotheywentontogethertilltheyreachedBethlehem.Ontheirarrivalthere,thewholecitywasastiroverthem,andthewomenasked,＂CanthisbeNaomi?＂
于是二人同行，来到了白冷。她们一到了白冷，全城的人都为她们所惊动。妇女们惊问说：＂这不是纳敖米吗？＂
205Butshesaidtothem,＂DonotcallmeNaomi.CallmeMara,fortheAlmightyhasmadeitverybitterforme.
她向她们说：＂你们不要叫我纳敖米，应叫我玛辣，因为全能者待我好苦！
21Iwentawaywithanabundance,buttheLORDhasbroughtmebackdestitute.WhyshouldyoucallmeNaomi,sincetheLORDhaspronouncedagainstmeandtheAlmightyhasbroughteviluponme?＂
我去时富足，如今上主却使我空空而回。上主责罚了我，全能者降祸于我，你们为什么还叫我纳敖米呢？＂
226ThusitwasthatNaomireturnedwiththeMoabitedaughter-in-law,Ruth,whoaccompaniedherbackfromtheplateauofMoab.TheyarrivedinBethlehematthebeginningofthebarleyharvest.
纳敖米同她的儿媳摩阿布女子卢德回来了，是从摩阿布乡间回来的。她们来到白冷，正是开始收大麦的时候。
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Footnotes(注解)
1[1,2]Inthetimeofthejudges:threegenerationsbeforetheendoftheperiodofjudges;cfRuth4:21-22.BethlehemofJudah:todistinguishitfromthetownofthesamenameinthetribeofZebulun(Joshua19:15).EphrathitesfromBethlehem:belongingtoaJudeanclanwhichsettledinBethlehem;cf1Sam17:12;1Chron2:50-51;4:4.
2[8]Mother'shouse:thewomen'spartofthedwelling;cfJudges4:17;Song3:4.
3[11]HaveIothersonshusbands?Naomiinsistedthatherdaughters-in-lawremainintheirowncountryonlyforthesakeofposterity.Ifshehadhadothersons,theleviratelawwouldhaveobligedthemtomarrythewidowsofherdeceasedsonstoperpetuatethenamesofthedeceased;cfGenesis38:8;Deut25:5,6.
4[16-17]Anexampleofheroicfidelityandpiety.Ruth'sdecision,confirmedwithanoath,toadheretohermother-in-lawimpelledhertoabandonhercountryanditspaganworship.
5[20-21]Naomi:＂amiable＂or＂pleasant,＂suggestingGod'sfavortowardher.TheAlmightyhasbroughteviluponme:theancientsregardedadversityasapunishmentfromGodforpersonalsin,asifgoodandevilwerealwaysrepaidinatemporalandmaterialmanner.
6[22]Barleyharvest:earlyApril.Thiscircumstancefavoredtheeventsofthenarrativethatfollow.