1Now 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.1.1 ruled: Heb. judged 2And 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.1.2 continued: Heb. were 3And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4And 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. 5And 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. 7Wherefore 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. 8And 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. 9The 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. 10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11And 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? 12Turn 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;1.12 should have…: or were with an husband 13Would 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.1.13 tarry: Heb. hope1.13 it grieveth…: Heb. I have much bitterness 14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And 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:1.16 Intreat…: or, Be not against me 17Where 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. 18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.1.18 was…: Heb. strengthened herself
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? 20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.1.20 Naomi: that is, Pleasant1.20 Mara: that is, Bitter 21I 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? 22So 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.
Naomi Na Ruthu
11:1 Amu 2:16-18; Mwa 12:10; 35:19; 36:35; 47:4; 2Fal 6:25; Hag 1:11; Za 105:16; Kum 28:38; 1Fal 18:2; Mik 5:2Wakati Waamuzi walipotawala Israeli, kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi. Mtu mmoja kutoka nchi ya Bethlehemu ya Yuda, pamoja na mke wake na wanawe wawili, akaenda kuishi katika nchi ya Moabu. 21:2 Rut 2:1; 4:3; Amu 3:30; 1Sam 16:18; Mwa 35:16-19Mtu huyu aliitwa Elimeleki, mkewe aliitwa Naomi, na hao wanawe wawili waliitwa Maloni na Kilioni. Walikuwa Waefrathi kutoka Bethlehemu ya Yuda. Wakaenda katika nchi ya Moabu, wakaishi huko.
3Elimeleki mumewe Naomi akafa, hivyo Naomi akabaki na wanawe wawili. 41:4 1Fal 11:1; Mt 1:5; Rut 4:13; Ezr 9:2; Neh 13:23Nao wakaoa wanawake Wamoabu, jina la mmoja aliitwa Orpa, na wa pili aliitwa Ruthu. Baada ya kama miaka kumi, 51:5 Rut 2:11Maloni na Kilioni pia wakafa. Basi Naomi akabaki hana mume wala wanawe wawili.
61:6 Mwa 11:31; 36:35; 38:16; 50:24; Kut 4:31; Yer 29:10; Sef 2:7; Za 80:14; Zek 10:3; Lk 1:68; 7:16; Mwa 28:20; 48:15; Mit 30:8; Isa 55:10; Mt 6:11; Za 132:15Aliposikia akiwa huko Moabu kwamba Bwana amewasaidia watu wake kwa kuwapa chakula, Naomi na wakweze wakajiandaa kurudi nyumbani. 7Yeye na wakweze wawili wakaondoka pale walipokuwa wakiishi na kushika njia kurudi nchi ya Yuda.
81:8 Mwa 38:11; 19:19; Yos 24:25; 2Tim 1:16Ndipo Naomi akawaambia wale wakwe zake wawili, “Rudini, kila mmoja wenu nyumbani kwa mama yake. Bwana na awatendee fadhili kama mlivyowatendea hao waliofariki, na pia mimi. 91:9 Rut 3:1; Mwa 27:27, 38; 29:11; Hes 25:6Bwana na amjalie kila mmoja wenu maisha mema nyumbani kwa mume mwingine.”
Kisha akawabusu, nao wakalia kwa sauti kubwa, 10wakamwambia, “Tutarudi pamoja na wewe nyumbani kwa watu wako.”
111:11 Mwa 38:11; Kum 25:5Lakini Naomi akasema, “Rudini nyumbani, binti zangu. Kwa nini mnifuate? Je, mimi nitaweza tena kuwa na wana wengine ambao wataweza kuwaoa ninyi? 12Rudini nyumbani, binti zangu; mimi ni mzee kiasi kwamba siwezi kumpata mume mwingine. Hata kama ningefikiria kuwa bado kuna tumaini kwangu, hata kama ningekuwa na mume usiku huu na kuwazaa wana, 131:13 Mwa 38:11; Kut 1:14; 15:23; 1Sam 30:6; Ay 19:21; Za 32:4; 38:2; Amu 2:15; 4:5je, mngesubiri mpaka wakue? Mngebakia bila kuolewa mkiwasubiri? La, hasha, binti zangu. Nimepata uchungu kuliko ninyi, kwa sababu mkono wa Bwana umekuwa kinyume nami!”
141:14 Rut 2:11; 3:1; Mik 7:6; Mit 17:17; 18:24; Yn 6:66-69; Ebr 10:39; Mwa 31:28; Kum 10:20Kisha wakalia tena kwa sauti. Orpa akambusu mama mkwe wake, akaenda zake, lakini Ruthu akaambatana naye.
151:15 Kum 25:7; Yos 24:14; Amu 11:24Naomi akamwambia, “Tazama, mwenzako anarejea kwa watu wake na kwa miungu yake. Rudi pamoja naye.”
161:16 2Fal 2:2; Yos 24:15; Mwa 24:58; Za 45:10; Rut 2:11-12Lakini Ruthu akajibu, “Usinisihi nikuache au niache kukufuata. Utakakokwenda nami nitakwenda, na wewe utakapoishi nitaishi. Watu wako watakuwa watu wangu, na Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu. 171:17 1Sam 3:17; 14:44; 20:13; 25:22; 1Fal 2:23; 19:2; 20:10; 2Sam 3:9; 19:13; 2Fal 6:31; 15:21Pale utakapofia nami nitafia hapo, na papo hapo nitazikwa. Bwana na aniadhibu vikali, kama kitu kingine chochote kitanitenga nawe isipokuwa kifo.” 181:18 Mdo 21:14Naomi alipotambua kwamba Ruthu amenuia kufuatana naye, hakuendelea kumsihi tena.
191:19 Amu 17:7; Isa 23:7; Mt 21:10; Mao 2:15Kwa hiyo hao wanawake wawili wakaondoka, wakafika Bethlehemu. Walipofika Bethlehemu, mji mzima ulitaharuki, wanawake wakashangaa, wakasema, “Huyu aweza kuwa ni Naomi?”
201:20 Mwa 15:1; 17:1; Za 91:1; Kut 6:3; Ay 6:4Akawaambia, “Msiniite tena Naomi,1:20 Naomi maana yake Wa Kupendeza, Wa Kufurahisha. niiteni Mara,1:20 Mara maana yake Chungu. kwa sababu Mwenyezi1:20 Mwenyezi hapa ina maana ya Shaddai kwa Kiebrania. amenitendea mambo machungu sana. 211:21 Ay 1:21; 30:11; Za 88:7; Isa 53:4Mimi niliondoka hali nimejaa, lakini Bwana amenirudisha mtupu. Kwa nini kuniita Naomi? Bwana amenitendea mambo machungu; Mwenyezi ameniletea msiba.”
221:22 Rut 2:2-6, 21; 4:5, 10; Kut 9:31; Mwa 11:31; Law 19:9; 2Sam 21:9Kwa hiyo Naomi alirudi pamoja na Ruthu Mmoabu mkwe wake, nao wakafika Bethlehemu mwanzoni mwa kuvuna shayiri.
