Revised Literal Translation

Ruth 1

1Now it came to pass in the daysבִּימֵי֙bi.MeiH3117when the judgesשְׁפֹ֣טshe.FotH8199ruledהַשֹּׁפְטִ֔יםha.sho.fe.TimH8199,that there was a famineרָעָ֖בra.'AvH7458in the landבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776.And a certain manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376of Beth–lehem–judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063 H1035wentH3212to sojournלָגוּר֙la.GurH1481in the countryבִּשְׂדֵ֣יbis.DeiH7704of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,he, and his wifeוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹve.'ish.ToH802,and his twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבָנָֽיו׃va.NavH1121.

2And the nameוְשֵׁ֣םve.ShemH8034of the manהָאִ֣ישׁha.'IshH376wasElimelechאֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְ'eli.Me.lekhH458,and the nameוְשֵׁם֩ve.ShemH8034of his wifeאִשְׁתּ֨וֹ'ish.ToH802Naomiנָעֳמִ֜יno.'o.MiH5281,and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of his twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147sonsבָנָ֣יו׀va.NavH1121Mahlonמַחְל֤וֹןmach.LonH4248and Chilionוְכִלְיוֹן֙ve.khil.yOnH3630,Ephrathitesאֶפְרָתִ֔ים'ef.ra.TimH673of Beth–lehem–judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063 H1035.And they cameוַיָּבֹ֥אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the countryשְׂדֵי־se.dei-H7704of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124, and continued there.

3And Elimelechאֱלִימֶ֖לֶךְ'e.li.Me.lekhH458Naomi’sנָעֳמִ֑יno.'o.MiH5281husbandאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376diedוַיָּ֥מָתvai.Ya.motH4191;and she was leftוַתִּשָּׁאֵ֥רva.ti.sha.'ErH7604,and her twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶֽיהָ׃va.Nei.haH1121.

4And they tookוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375them wivesH802of the womenH802of Moabמֹֽאֲבִיּ֔וֹתmo.'a.vi.YotH4125;the nameשֵׁ֤םshemH8034of the oneהָֽאַחַת֙ha.'a.ChatH259wasOrpahעָרְפָּ֔ה'a.re.PahH6204,and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of the otherהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתha.she.NitH8145Ruthר֑וּתRutH7327:and they dwelledוַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427there about tenכְּעֶ֥שֶׂרke.'E.serH6235yearsשָׁנִֽים׃sha.NimH8141.

5And Mahlonמַחְל֣וֹןmach.LonH4248and Chilionוְכִלְי֑וֹןve.khil.YonH3630diedוַיָּמ֥וּתוּvai.ya.Mu.tuH4191also bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147of them; and the womanהָֽאִשָּׁ֔הha.'i.ShahH802was leftוַתִּשָּׁאֵר֙va.ti.sha.'ErH7604of her twoמִשְּׁנֵ֥יmi.she.NeiH8147sonsיְלָדֶ֖יהָye.la.Dei.haH3206and her husbandוּמֵאִישָֽׁהּ׃u.me.'i.ShahH376.

6Then she aroseוַתָּ֤קָםva.Ta.komH6965with her daughters in lawוְכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָve.kha.lo.Tei.haH3618,that she might returnוַתָּ֖שָׁבva.Ta.shovH7725from the countryמִשְּׂדֵ֣יmi.se.DeiH7704of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124:for she had heardשָֽׁמְעָה֙sha.me.'AhH8085in the countryבִּשְׂדֵ֣הbis.DehH7704of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124how that Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068had visitedפָקַ֤דfa.KadH6485his peopleעַמּ֔וֹa.MoH5971in givingלָתֵ֥תla.TetH5414them breadלָֽחֶם׃La.chemH3899.

7Wherefore she went forthוַתֵּצֵ֗אva.te.Tze'H3318out of the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725where she was, and her twoוּשְׁתֵּ֥יu.she.TeiH8147daughters in lawכַלֹּתֶ֖יהָkha.lo.Tei.haH3618with her; and they wentH3212on the wayבַדֶּ֔רֶךְva.De.rekhH1870to returnלָשׁ֖וּבla.ShuvH7725unto the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.

8And Naomiנָעֳמִי֙no.'o.MiH5281saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559unto her twoלִשְׁתֵּ֣יlish.TeiH8147daughters in lawכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָkha.lo.Tei.haH3618,GoH3212,returnשֹּׁ֔בְנָהShoe.nahH7725eachאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to her mother’sאִמָּ֑הּ'i.MahH517houseלְבֵ֣יתle.VeitH1004:Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068dealיַ֣עַשׂya.'a.sehH6213kindlyחֶ֔סֶדChe.sedH2617with you, as ye have dealtעֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם'a.si.TemH6213with the deadהַמֵּתִ֖יםha.me.TimH4191, and with me.

9Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068grantיִתֵּ֤ןyi.TenH5414you that ye may findוּמְצֶ֣אןָu.me.Tze.naH4672restמְנוּחָ֔הme.nu.ChahH4496,eachאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802of youin the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of her husbandאִישָׁ֑הּ'i.ShahH376.Then she kissedוַתִּשַּׁ֣קva.ti.ShakH5401them; and they lifted upוַתִּשֶּׂ֥אנָהva.ti.Se.nahH5375their voiceקוֹלָ֖ןko.LanH6963,and weptוַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃va.tiv.Kei.nahH1058.

10And they saidוַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה־va.to.Mar.nah-H559unto her, Surely we will returnנָשׁ֖וּבna.ShuvH7725with thee unto thy peopleלְעַמֵּֽךְ׃le.'a.MekhH5971.

11And Naomiנָעֳמִי֙no.'o.MiH5281saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559,Turn againשֹׁ֣בְנָהShoe.nahH7725,my daughtersבְנֹתַ֔יve.no.TaiH1323:why will ye goH3212with me? are there yet any moresonsבָנִים֙va.NimH1121in my wombבְּֽמֵעַ֔יbe.me.'AiH4578,that they may be your husbandsלַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃la.'a.na.ShimH582?

12Turn againשֹׁ֤בְנָהShoe.nahH7725,my daughtersבְנֹתַי֙ve.no.TaiH1323,goH3212your way;for I am too oldזָקַ֖נְתִּיza.Kan.tiH2204to have an husbandלְאִ֑ישׁle.'IshH376.If I should sayאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiH559,I haveיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426hopeתִקְוָ֔הtik.VahH8615, ifI should have an husbandלְאִ֔ישׁle.'IshH376also to nightהַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ha.Lay.lahH3915,and should also bearיָלַ֥דְתִּיya.Lad.tiH3205sonsבָנִֽים׃va.NimH1121;

13Would ye tarryתְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָהte.sa.Be.re.nahH7663for themהֲלָהֵ֣ן׀ha.la.HenH3860till they were grownיִגְדָּ֔לוּyig.Da.luH1431?would ye stayתֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָהte.'a.Ge.nahH5702for themהֲלָהֵן֙ha.la.HenH3860from having husbandsלְאִ֑ישׁle.'IshH376?nay, my daughtersבְּנֹתַ֗יbe.no.TaiH1323;for it grievethמַר־mar-H4843me muchמְאֹד֙me.'OdH3966for your sakes that the handיַד־yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068is gone outיָצְאָ֥הya.tze.'AhH3318against me.

14And they lifted upוַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָהva.ti.Se.nahH5375their voiceקוֹלָ֔ןko.LanH6963,and wept againוַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָהva.tiv.Kei.nahH1058:and Orpahעָרְפָּה֙'a.re.PahH6204kissedוַתִּשַּׁ֤קva.ti.ShakH5401her mother in lawלַחֲמוֹתָ֔הּla.cha.mo.TahH2545;but Ruthוְר֖וּתve.RutH7327claveדָּ֥בְקָהDa.ve.kahH1692unto her.

15And she saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559,Behold, thy sister in lawיְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְye.vim.TekhH2994is gone backשָׁ֣בָהSha.vahH7725unto her peopleעַמָּ֖הּ'a.MahH5971,and unto her godsאֱלֹהֶ֑יהָ'e.lo.Hei.haH430:returnשׁ֖וּבִיShu.viH7725thou afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310thy sister in lawיְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃ye.vim.TekhH2994.

16And Ruthרוּת֙rutH7327saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559,Intreatתִּפְגְּעִי־tif.ge.'i-H6293me not to leaveלְעָזְבֵ֖ךְle.'a.ze.VekhH5800thee, orto returnלָשׁ֣וּבla.ShuvH7725from following afterמֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְme.'a.cha.Ra.yikhH310thee: for whither thou goestH3212,I will goH3212;and where thou lodgestתָּלִ֙ינִי֙ta.Li.niH3885,I will lodgeאָלִ֔ין'a.LinH3885:thy peopleעַמֵּ֣ךְ'a.MekhH5971shall bemy peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,and thy Godוֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְve.lo.Ha.yikhH430my Godאֱלֹהָֽי׃'e.lo.HaiH430:

17Where thou diestתָּמ֙וּתִי֙ta.Mu.tiH4191,will I dieאָמ֔וּת'a.MutH4191,and there will I be buriedאֶקָּבֵ֑ר'e.ka.VerH6912:Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068doיַעֲשֶׂ֨הya.'a.SehH6213so to me, and moreיֹסִ֔יףyo.SifH3254also, if oughtbut deathהַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vetH4194partיַפְרִ֖ידyaf.RidH6504thee and me.

18When she sawוַתֵּ֕רֶאva.Te.re'H7200that she was stedfastly mindedמִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶתmit.'a.Me.tzetH553to goH3212with her, then she leftוַתֶּחְדַּ֖לva.tech.DalH2308speakingלְדַבֵּ֥רle.da.BerH1696unto her.

19So they twoשְׁתֵּיהֶ֔םshe.tei.HemH8147wentH3212until they cameבֹּאָ֖נָהbo.'A.nahH935to Beth–lehemH1035.And it came to pass, when they were comeכְּבֹאָ֙נָה֙ke.vo.'A.nahH935to Beth–lehemH1035,that all the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892was movedוַתֵּהֹ֤םva.te.HomH1949about them, and they saidוַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָהva.to.Mar.nahH559, Isthis Naomiנָעֳמִֽי׃no.'o.MiH5281?

20And she saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559unto them, Callתִּקְרֶ֥אנָהtik.Re.nahH7121me not Naomiנָעֳמִ֑יno.'o.MiH5281,callקְרֶ֤אןָke.Re.naH7121me Maraמָרָ֔אma.Ra'H4755:for the Almightyשַׁדַּ֛יsha.DaiH7706hath dealt veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966bitterlyהֵמַ֥רhe.MarH4843with me.

21I went outהָלַ֔כְתִּיha.Lakh.tiH1980fullמְלֵאָ֣הme.le.'AhH4392,And Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068hath brought me home againהֱשִׁיבַ֣נִיhe.shi.Va.niH7725emptyוְרֵיקָ֖םve.rei.KamH7387: why thencallתִקְרֶ֤אנָהtik.Re.nahH7121ye me Naomiנָעֳמִ֔יno.'o.MiH5281,seeing Yhwhוַֽיהוָה֙va.Yah.wehH3068hath testifiedעָ֣נָה'A.nahH6030against me, and the Almightyוְשַׁדַּ֖יve.sha.DaiH7706hath afflictedהֵ֥רַֽעHe.ra'H7489me?

22So Naomiנָעֳמִ֗יno.'o.MiH5281returnedוַתָּ֣שָׁבva.Ta.shovH7725,and Ruthוְר֨וּתve.RutH7327the Moabitessהַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤הha.mo.'a.vi.YahH4125,her daughter in lawכַלָּתָהּ֙kha.la.TahH3618,with her, which returnedהַשָּׁ֖בָהha.Sha.vahH7725out of the countryמִשְּׂדֵ֣יmi.se.DeiH7704of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124:and they cameבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935to Beth–lehemH1035in the beginningבִּתְחִלַּ֖תbit.chi.LatH8462of barleyשְׂעֹרִֽים׃se.'o.RimH8184harvestקְצִ֥ירke.TzirH7105.

Commentaries on Ruth 1