1:1 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。
Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab. 1:2 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。
The man was named Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his sons Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. Some time after their arrival on the Moabite plateau, 1:3 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。
Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, 1:4 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。
who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, 1:5 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。
both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband. 1:6 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。
She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. 1:7 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，
She and her two daughters-in-law left the place where they had been living. Then as they were on the road back to the land of Judah, 1:8 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。
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother’s house! May the LORD be kind to you as you were to the departed and to me! 1:9 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，
May the LORD grant each of you a husband and a home in which you will find rest." She kissed them good-bye, but they wept with loud sobs, 1:10 向她说：「我们要同你回到你的民族中去。」
and told her they would return with her to her people. 1:11 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﹖
"Go back, my daughters!" said Naomi. "Why should you come with me? Have I other sons in my womb who may become your husbands? 1:12 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，
Go back, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to marry again. And even if I could offer any hopes, or if tonight I had a husband or had borne sons, 1:13 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。」
would you then wait and deprive yourselves of husbands until those sons grew up? No, my daughters! my lot is too bitter for you, because the LORD has extended his hand against me." 1:14 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。
Again they sobbed aloud and wept; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. 1:15 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!」
"See now!" she said, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!" 1:16 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；
But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! for wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 1:17 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!」
Wherever you die I will die, and there be buried. May the LORD do so and so to me, and more besides, if aught but death separates me from you!" 1:18 纳敖米见她执意要与自己同去，就不再劝阻她了。
Naomi then ceased to urge her, for she saw she was determined to go with her. 1:19 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﹖」
So they went on together till they reached Bethlehem. On their arrival there, the whole city was astir over them, and the women asked, "Can this be Naomi?" 1:20 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!
But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made it very bitter for me. 1:21 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﹖」
I went away with an abundance, but the LORD has brought me back destitute. Why should you call me Naomi, since the LORD has pronounced against me and the Almighty has brought evil upon me?" 1:22 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。
Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.