2 Igama lalowo muntu lalingu-Elimeleki, igama lomkakhe lalinguNawomi, amagama amadodana akhe amabili ayengoMahaloni noKiliyoni; babe ngama-Efratha aseBetlehema Juda. Bafika ezweni lakwaMowabi, bahlala khona.
3 U-Elimeleki umyeni kaNawomi wafa; kepha yena wasala namadodana akhe amabili.
4 Azithathela abafazi kwabesifazane bakwaMowabi; igama lomunye lalingu-Orpa, igama lomunye lalinguRuthe; bahlala khona kwangathi iminyaka eyishumi.
5 OMahaloni noKiliyoni bafa bobabili; owesifazane washiywa-ke ngabantwana bakhe ababili nangumyeni wakhe.
6 Wayesesuka nawomalokazana bakhe ukuba abuye ezweni lakwaMowabi, ngokuba wayezwile ezweni lakwaMowabi ukuthi uJehova uhambele abantu bakhe ukuba abaphe ukudla.
7 Waphuma endaweni lapho wayekhona, omalokazana bakhe benaye; bahamba ngendlela yokubuyela ezweni lakwaJuda.
8 UNawomi wathi komalokazana bakhe ababili: “Hambani nibuyele, kube yilowo nalowo endlini kanina; uJehova makanenzele umusa, njengalokho nanenza kwabafileyo nakimi.