Chapter 1

1In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man of Beit Lechem in Yehuda, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab.

vai-HI bi-MAY sh'-FOT ha-sho-F'-TEEM, vai-HI ra-AV ba-A-RETZ, va-YAY-lekh EESH mi-BAYT le-KHEM y'-hu-DAH la-GUR bi-s'-DAY mo-AV, HU v'-ish-TO u-sh'-NAY va-NAV.

אוַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃

2The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Machlon and Kilyon—Ephrathites of Beit Lechem in Yehuda. They came to the country of Moab and remained there.

v'-SHEM ha-ISH e-li-ME-lekh v'-SHEM i-SHO no-a-MEE v'-SHEM sh'-NAY va-NAV, ma-KH'-lon v'-khil-YON, ef-ra-TEEYM mi-BAYT le-KHEM y'-hu-DA, va-ya-VO-u s'-DEY mo-AV, va-y'-hi-YU-SHAM

בוְשֵׁ֣ם הָאִ֣ישׁ אֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְ וְשֵׁם֩ אִשְׁתּ֨וֹ נׇעֳמִ֜י וְשֵׁ֥ם שְׁנֵֽי־בָנָ֣יו ׀ מַחְל֤וֹן וְכִלְיוֹן֙ אֶפְרָתִ֔ים מִבֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ שְׂדֵֽי־מוֹאָ֖ב וַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָֽׁם׃

3Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

vai-YAMOT e-li-ME-lekh eesh no-a-MEE, va-ti-SHA-er HEE u-sh'-NAY va-NE-ha

גוַיָּ֥מׇת אֱלִימֶ֖לֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ נׇעֳמִ֑י וַתִּשָּׁאֵ֥ר הִ֖יא וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיהָ׃

4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Rut, and they lived there about ten years.

vai-YIS-u la-HEM na-SHEEM mo-a-VEE-ot, SHEM ha-a-KHAT or-PAH, v'-SHEM ha-SHE-nee-YT ruT, vai-YAY-sh'-VU sham k'-a-SER sha-NEEM

דוַיִּשְׂא֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם נָשִׁים֙ מֹֽאֲבִיּ֔וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הָאַחַת֙ עׇרְפָּ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית ר֑וּת וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָׁ֖ם כְּעֶ֥שֶׂר שָׁנִֽים׃

5Then those two—Machlon and Kilyon—also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.

va-ya-MU-tu gam sh'-nay-HEM makh-LON v'-khil-YON va-ti-sha-AYR ha-i-SHAH mi-sh'-NAY y'-la-DE-ha u-may-ee-SHAH

הוַיָּמֻ֥תוּ גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם מַחְל֣וֹן וְכִלְי֑וֹן וַתִּשָּׁאֵר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה מִשְּׁנֵ֥י יְלָדֶ֖יהָ וּמֵאִישָֽׁהּ׃

6She started out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab; for in the country of Moab she had heard that Hashem had taken note of His people and given them food.

va-TA-kom hee v'-kha-lo-TE-ha va-TA-shov mi-s'-DEI mo-AV, kee sha-M'-a bi-s'-DEI mo-AV, kee-FA-kad a-do-NAI et-a-MO la-TET la-HEM la-KHEM

ווַתָּ֤קׇם הִיא֙ וְכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָ וַתָּ֖שׇׁב מִשְּׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֑ב כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְעָה֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב כִּֽי־פָקַ֤ד יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃

7Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living; and they set out on the road back to the land of Yehuda.

va-TE-tzei min ha-ma-KOM a-SHER ha-Y'-ta-SHA-ma u-sh'-TEI kha-lo-TE-ha i-ma va-TE-la-KH'-na va-DE-rekh la-SHU-v el E-rets y'-hu-DAH

זוַתֵּצֵ֗א מִן־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽיְתָה־שָּׁ֔מָּה וּשְׁתֵּ֥י כַלּוֹתֶ֖יהָ עִמָּ֑הּ וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃

8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Turn back, each of you to her mother's house. May Hashem deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me!

va-TOMER no-a-MEE lish-TEI kha-LO-tei-HA lekh-NA sho-vei-NA i-SHA le-VEIT i-MAH (ya-a-AS) [ya-AS] a-do-NAI i-ma-KHEM khe-SED ka-a-SHER a-SEE-TEM im-ha-ME-tim v'-i-ma-DEE

חוַתֹּ֤אמֶר נׇעֳמִי֙ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י כַלֹּתֶ֔יהָ לֵ֣כְנָה שֹּׁ֔בְנָה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ (יעשה) [יַ֣עַשׂ] יְהֹוָ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ חֶ֔סֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם עִם־הַמֵּתִ֖ים וְעִמָּדִֽי׃

9May Hashem grant that each of you find security in the house of a husband!” And she kissed them farewell. They broke into weeping

YI-ten a-do-NAI la-KHEM u-m'-TZE-na m'-NU-kha i-SHA bayt i-SHAH va-ti-SHAK la-HEN va-ti-SE-na KO-lan va-tiv-KEE-na

טיִתֵּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ לָכֶ֔ם וּמְצֶ֣אןָ מְנוּחָ֔ה אִשָּׁ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּשַּׁ֣ק לָהֶ֔ן וַתִּשֶּׂ֥אנָה קוֹלָ֖ן וַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃

10and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

va-to-MA-ra-NAH la-HA, KEE i-TAKH na-SHU-v l'-a-MAYKH

יוַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה־לָּ֑הּ כִּֽי־אִתָּ֥ךְ נָשׁ֖וּב לְעַמֵּֽךְ׃

11But Naomi replied, “Turn back, my daughters! Why should you go with me? Have I any more sons in my body who might be husbands for you?

va-TA-mer no-a-MEE sho-VE-na v'-no-TAI la-MAH te-LAKH-na i-MEE ha-OD-LEE ba-NEEM b'-me-AI v'-ha-YU la-KHEM la-a-na-SHEEM

יאוַתֹּ֤אמֶר נׇעֳמִי֙ שֹׁ֣בְנָה בְנֹתַ֔י לָ֥מָּה תֵלַ֖כְנָה עִמִּ֑י הַֽעֽוֹד־לִ֤י בָנִים֙ בְּֽמֵעַ֔י וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם לַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃

12Turn back, my daughters, for I am too old to be married. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I were married tonight and I also bore sons,

SHO-v'-NA v'-no-TAI le-KHE-na, KEE za-KAN-TEE mi-H'-YOT le-EESH, KEE a-MAR-TEE YESH-LEE tik-VAH, GAM ha-YEE-TEE ha-LAI-la le-EESH, v'-GAM ya-LAD-TEE va-NEEM.

יבשֹׁ֤בְנָה בְנֹתַי֙ לֵ֔כְןָ כִּ֥י זָקַ֖נְתִּי מִהְי֣וֹת לְאִ֑ישׁ כִּ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ יֶשׁ־לִ֣י תִקְוָ֔ה גַּ֣ם הָיִ֤יתִי הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וְגַ֖ם יָלַ֥דְתִּי בָנִֽים׃

13should you wait for them to grow up? Should you on their account debar yourselves from marriage? Oh no, my daughters! My lot is far more bitter than yours, for the hand of Hashem has struck out against me.”

ha-la-HEYN t'-sa-BAYR-na AD a-SHER yi-G'-du-LO ha-la-HEYN t'-a-GAY-na l'-vil-TI he-YOT l'-EESH al b'-no-TAI KEE-mar-LEE m'-OD mi-KHEM KEE-ya-t'-SAH v'-EE yad a-do-NAI

יגהֲלָהֵ֣ן ׀ תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִגְדָּ֔לוּ הֲלָהֵן֙ תֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָה לְבִלְתִּ֖י הֱי֣וֹת לְאִ֑ישׁ אַ֣ל בְּנֹתַ֗י כִּֽי־מַר־לִ֤י מְאֹד֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־יָצְאָ֥ה בִ֖י יַד־יְהֹוָֽה׃

14They broke into weeping again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law farewell. But Rut clung to her.

va-ti-SE-na ko-LAN va-tiv-KEE-na OD va-ti-SHAK or-PAH la-cha-mo-TAH v'-RUT da-VE-kah BAH

ידוַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָה קוֹלָ֔ן וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָה ע֑וֹד וַתִּשַּׁ֤ק עׇרְפָּה֙ לַחֲמוֹתָ֔הּ וְר֖וּת דָּ֥בְקָה בָּֽהּ׃

15So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and her gods. Go follow your sister-in-law.”

va-TO-mer hi-NEH sha-VA y'-vim-TEKH el a-MAH v'-el e-lo-HE-ha, shu-VEE a-cha-RAY y'-vim-TEKH

טווַתֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ שָׁ֣בָה יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ אֶל־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֑יהָ שׁ֖וּבִי אַחֲרֵ֥י יְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃

16But Rut replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow 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.

va-TO-mer Ruth al tif-g'-ee VEE l'-oz-VAYKH la-SHUV may-a-kha-RA-yikh KEE el a-SHER tay-l'-KHEE ay-LAYKH u-va-a-SHER ta-LEE-nee a-LEEN a-MAYKH a-MEE vay-lo-HA-yikh e-lo-HAI

טזוַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃

17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may Hashem do to me if anything but death parts me from you.”

ba-a-SHER ta-MU-ti a-MU-t v'-SHAM e-ka-VER, ko YA-a-SEH a-do-NAI li, v'-ko yo-SEEF, ki ha-MA-vet yaf-REED be-NI u-vei-NEKH

יזבַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּמ֙וּתִי֙ אָמ֔וּת וְשָׁ֖ם אֶקָּבֵ֑ר כֹּה֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י הַמָּ֔וֶת יַפְרִ֖יד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃

18When [Naomi] saw how determined she was to go with her, she ceased to argue with her;

va-TE-re KI mit-a-MET-set HI la-LE-khet i-TAH va-TE-kh'-DAL l'-da-BAYR e-LE-ha

יחוַתֵּ֕רֶא כִּֽי־מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת הִ֖יא לָלֶ֣כֶת אִתָּ֑הּ וַתֶּחְדַּ֖ל לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶֽיהָ׃

19and the two went on until they reached Beit Lechem. When they arrived in Beit Lechem, the whole city buzzed with excitement over them. The women said, “Can this be Naomi?”

va-TE-la-KH'-NAH sh'-TEY-hem ad bo-A-nah beit la-KHEM, va-Y'-hee k'-vo-A-nah beit LE-khem, va-TE-hom kol ha-iR a-LE-hen, va-TO-mar-NA ha-ZOT no-a-MI.

יטוַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶ֔ם עַד־בּוֹאָ֖נָה בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיְהִ֗י כְּבוֹאָ֙נָה֙ בֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם וַתֵּהֹ֤ם כׇּל־הָעִיר֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה הֲזֹ֥את נׇעֳמִֽי׃

20“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, for Shaddai has made my lot very bitter.

va-TOM-er a-LE-hen al-tik-re-NAH li no-a-MI, ke-RE-na li ma-RA, ki-he-MAR sha-DAI li me-OD

כוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ן אַל־תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה לִ֖י נׇעֳמִ֑י קְרֶ֤אןָ לִי֙ מָרָ֔א כִּי־הֵמַ֥ר שַׁדַּ֛י לִ֖י מְאֹֽד׃

21I went away full, and Hashem has brought me back empty. How can you call me Naomi, when Hashem has dealt harshly with me, when Shaddai has brought misfortune upon me!”

a-NEE me-LAY-a ha-LAKH-tee v'-RAY-kam he-SHEE-va-NEE a-do-NAI la-MAH tik-re-NAH LEE no-a-MEE va-a-do-NAI a-NAH vee-SHA-dai he-RA lee

כאאֲנִי֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וְרֵיקָ֖ם הֱשִׁיבַ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֑ה לָ֣מָּה תִקְרֶ֤אנָה לִי֙ נׇעֳמִ֔י וַֽיהֹוָה֙ עָ֣נָה בִ֔י וְשַׁדַּ֖י הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽי׃

22Thus Naomi returned from the country of Moab; she returned with her daughter-in-law Rut the Moabite. They arrived in Beit Lechem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

va-TA-shov no-a-MEE v'-RUt ha-mo-a-vee-YAH kha-la-TAH i-MAH ha-sha-VAH mi-s'-DEI mo-AV v'-HEM-MAH ba-U bayt le-KHEM bi-t'-khi-LAT k'-tzeer s'-o-REEM

כבוַתָּ֣שׇׁב נׇעֳמִ֗י וְר֨וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤ה כַלָּתָהּ֙ עִמָּ֔הּ הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֑ב וְהֵ֗מָּה בָּ֚אוּ בֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת קְצִ֥יר שְׂעֹרִֽים׃