complete verse (Ruth 1:18 - 1:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 1:18-1:21:

  • Noongar: “When Naomi understood Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more. So those two returned to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, all the people were excited because of them, and the women said, ‘This one’s Naomi, isn’t she?’ She said to them, ‘I am not Naomi, I am called Mara because God has made my life bitter. I went away full but God brings me back empty. Why call me Naomi, God has attacked me and he has given me only sorrow.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “After Ruth said this, Naomi knew that surely Ruth really wanted to go with her. So Naomi did not say anything further. So the two of them went to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, all the people in the town were astonished in their hearts. And they asked: ‘Is this person really Naomi?’ But Naomi answered: ‘Now you must not call me Naomi any longer. Now you call me the name Mara, because God has caused me to meet great misfortune. When I left here I was blessed. But now God has caused me to return empty handed. Because God hates me and God has given me to meet great difficulties, so don’t call me Naomi any longer’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Noemi saw that Ruth was- really -determined to go with her, she just kept-silent. So the two of them continued to walk until they arrived in Betlehem. When they arrived there, the people were-stirred-up/became-excited/surprised.d The women said, ‘Is that really Noemi?’ Noemi said to them, ‘You(pl) do- not -call me Noemi, but you(pl) call me Mara, for the Almighty God has-caused- my life -to-become- very -bitter. When- I -left here I had everything, but the LORD caused- me -to-return empty-handed. Therefore you(pl) do- not -call me Noemi anymore, for the LORD Almighty has-caused- me -to-suffer.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Naomi realized that Ruth was very determined to go with her, she stopped urging her to return home. So the two women continued walking until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived there, everyone in town was excited to see them. The women of the town exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?/It is difficult to believe that this is Naomi!’ Naomi said to them, ‘Don’t call me Naomi, which means ‘pleasant’. Instead, call me Mara, which means ‘bitter’, because God Almighty has made my life very unpleasant. When I left here, I felt rich, because I had a family. But Yahweh has brought me back here and now I feel poor, because I have no family. Do not call me Naomi. I feel as though Yahweh has spoken against (OR, afflicted) me. Almighty God has caused me to experience a great tragedy.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 3:1 - 3:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 3:1-5:

  • Noongar: “Later, Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, ‘My daughter, I must find a home for you so someone can look after you. Now, this man, Boaz, is our relative. You have been working beside his young women. Boaz will thresh his wheat at his threshing floor tonight. Go, wash and perfume yourself and put on your best clothes. Go to the threshing floor, but don’t let him see you until he stops eating and drinking. When he sleeps, watch where he is lying, then go and uncover his feet and lie there. He will tell you what you must do.’ Ruth said to her, ‘Everything you say, I will do.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “After that, Naomi told Ruth: ‘Child! It is good for me to seek a husband for you, so that you can have a family and be well/at peace like others. Now you know Boaz because you have been following the women who work for him. Boaz is really of our clan and very close. And this evening he is coming to guard the place where they thresh his grain. So you bathe and put on perfume and wear new clothing. Then you go to the place where they are threshing Boaz’s grain. But don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. When he goes to sleep, you watch where that is. When he is sleeping soundly, then you go and lift the blanket from his legs/feet. Then you sleep near his feet. And whatever he tells you, you do that.’ Then Ruth answered her mother-in-law: ‘All that you have instructed me, surely I will follow all your words.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One day, Noemi said to Ruth, ‘Child, I want you(sg) to marry now for your(sg) good. There-is [is-it-not-so] Boaz our(incl) relative, whose female servants you(sg) have-been- working -with. You(sg) know (what), tonight he will-be-winnowing/[lit. causing/allowing-wind-to-blow-through] the barley. Therefore take a bath, put-on-perfume, and wear your(sg) best clothes. Then go to the place-of-threshing, but do- not -show-(yourself) to him until he has-finished eating and drinking. When he is-going-to-sleep, you(sg) watch/observe where he will-lie-down. And when he is asleep, go-to him and lift-up the blanket at his feet and you sleep there. Then he will-tell you(sg) what you(sg) will-do.’ Ruth replied, ‘I will-do all what you(sg) have-said.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day, Naomi said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, I think that I should try to arrange for you to have a husband who will take care of/provide for you. Boaz, the man with whose servant girls you have been gathering grain, is a close relative of our dead husbands. Listen carefully. Tonight he will be at the ground where the barley has been threshed. He will be separating the barley grain from the chaff. Bathe yourself and put on some perfume. Put on your best clothes. Then go down to the ground where they have threshed the grain. But do not let Boaz know that you are there while he is eating supper and drinking. When he has finished eating, notice where he lies down to sleep. Then when he is asleep, take the blanket off his feet and lie close to his feet. When he wakes up, he will tell you what to do.’ Ruth replied, ‘I will do everything that you have told me to do.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Ruth 4:14 - 4:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 4:14-15:

  • Noongar: “All the women said to Naomi, ‘We praise God because this day he will not leave you childless and he will not leave your family with no new right-man. May he become famous in Israel. This man will give you life. When you are old, he will look after you, because your daughter loves you and she has born you this son and she is better for you than seven sons.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “The women in the town said to Naomi: ‘Praise God, he has given you a grandson. We pray that God will give this child great authority so that everyone in Israel will know his name. And we pray that your heart will become like a young person thanks to your having this grandson. And that your grandson will have a heart to provide for you your entire life. Surely this child is the child of your daughter-in-law who loves you very much. Your daughter-in-law is is better to you that seven sons.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The women said to Noemi, ‘Praise the LORD! He gave you(sg) today a grandchild to take-care of you(sg). May he become famous in Israel! He will-strengthen and take-care of you(sg) when you(sg) are now very old, for he is the child of your(sg) daughter-in-law who really loves you(sg) much more than the love of the seven male children.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, ‘Praise Yahweh! Now he has given you a grandson who will be the one who will have the responsibility to take care of you. We hope that he will become famous throughout Israel. He will make you feel young again, and he will take care of you when you become old. Your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given birth to a son, who will be better to/do more for you than if you had seven sons of your own.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)