NAʻE lue ʻa Lute he tafaʻaki ʻo Nāomí ʻi ha hala naʻe lele ʻo kolosi ʻi he tokalelei māʻolunga, ʻaluʻanga matangi ʻo Mōapé. Naʻá na toko ua pē he taimi ko ení, ko e ongo kiʻi ʻata valevale ʻi he funga fonua kāfakafa. Sioloto atu ki hono fakatokangaʻi ʻe Lute kuo lōloa ʻa e ngaahi ʻata ʻi he laʻaá he hoʻatā efiafí, peá ne sio leva ki heʻene faʻē-ʻi-he-fonó mo fifili pe kuo taimi ke kumi ha feituʻu ke na mālōlō ai ʻi he poʻulí. Naʻá ne ʻofa moʻoni ʻia Nāomi pea naʻá ne fai ʻa e meʻa kotoa naʻá ne malavá ke tokangaʻi ia.

Ko e fefine taki taha naʻá ne fuesia ha kavenga mamafa ʻo e mamahí. Kuo hoko ʻa Nāomi ko ha uitou ʻi he laui taʻu he taimi ko ení, ka naʻá ne tengihia ʻa e ongo mole ne toki hokó—ko e mate ʻa hono ongo fohá, ko Kilioni mo Māloni. Naʻe mamahi foki mo Lute. Ko Māloni ʻa hono husepānití. Ko ia mo Nāomí naʻá na huʻu atu ki he feituʻu tatau, ko e kolo ko Pētelihemá ʻi ʻIsileli. Neongo ia, ʻi ha founga, naʻe kehekehe ʻa ʻena fonongá. Ko e foki ʻa Nāomi iá ki ʻapi. Ko e fakatoʻotoʻa ia ʻa Lute ke ʻalu ki he taʻeʻiloá, ʻo tukuange ʻa hono kāingá tonu, ko hono fonua tupuʻangá, pea mo e kotoa ʻo hono anga fakafonuá—kau ai ʻa hono ngaahi ʻotuá—naʻá ne tuku ki mui.—Lute 1:3-6.

Ko e hā naʻá ne ueʻi ha finemui ke ne fai ha fuʻu liliu lahi pehē? Naʻe anga-fēfē hono maʻu ʻe Lute ʻa e mālohi ke ʻai ha moʻui foʻou maʻana pea ke ne tokangaʻi ʻa Nāomí? ʻI hono ako ke maʻu ʻa e ngaahi talí, te tau maʻu ai ʻa e meʻa lahi ke faʻifaʻitaki ki ai ʻi he tui ʻa Lute ko e Mōapé. ʻUluakí, tau sio angé ki he founga naʻe hoko ai ʻa e ongo fefine ʻe toko ua ko iá ʻo ʻi he hala lōloa ki Pētelihemá.

Ko ha Fāmili Naʻe Veuki ʻe ha Meʻa Fakamamahi

Naʻe tupu hake ʻa Lute ʻi Mōape, ko ha kiʻi fonua ʻoku tuʻu ʻi he hahake ʻo e Tahi Maté. Ko e feituʻú naʻe meimei lahi ai ʻa e ngaahi manafa māʻolunga ʻikai loko ʻulu ʻakauʻia ʻoku lele ʻo afe ʻi ha ngaahi teleʻa fāsiʻi lolotó. Ko e “tukuʻuta ʻo Moape” ʻoku faʻa fakamoʻoniʻi ko e kelekele faama mahu ia, naʻa mo e taimi ʻoku uesia ai ʻe he hongé ʻa ʻIsilelí. Ko hono moʻoní, ko e meʻa ko iá, ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻe ʻuluaki fetuʻutaki ai ʻa Lute mo Māloni pea mo hono fāmilí.—Lute 1:1.

Ko ha honge ʻi ʻIsileli naʻe fakatuipauʻi ai ki he husepāniti ʻo Nāomí, ʻa ʻElimeleki, kuo pau ke ne hiki mo hono uaifí mo e ongo fohá mei honau fonua tupuʻangá ʻo nofo ko e kau muli ʻi Mōape. Ko e hikí ʻoku pau pē naʻe ʻomai ai ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga faingataʻa ki he tui ʻa e mēmipa taki taha ʻi he fāmilí, he naʻe fiemaʻu ki he kau ʻIsilelí ke nau lotu maʻu pē ʻi he feituʻu toputapu naʻe vaheʻi ange ʻe Sihová. (Teutalōnome 16:16, 17) Naʻe ngāue ʻa Nāomi ke tauhi ke moʻui ʻa ʻene tuí. Neongo ia, naʻá ne mamahi ʻi he taimi naʻe mate ai ʻa hono husepānití.—Lute 1:2, 3.

Naʻá ne toe mamahi nai ki mui ʻi he taimi naʻe mali ai ʻa hono ongo fohá mo e ongo fefine Mōapé. (Lute 1:4) Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Nāomi ko e kui ʻi hono fonuá, ʻa ʻĒpalahame, naʻá ne fai ha feinga lahi ke maʻu ha uaifi maʻa hono fohá, ʻa ʻAisake, mei he lotolotonga ʻo hono kakaí tonu, ʻa ia naʻa nau lotu kia Sihova. (Sēnesi 24:3, 4) Ki mui ai, naʻe fakatokanga ʻi he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ki he kau ʻIsilelí ke ʻoua te nau tuku honau ngaahi fohá mo e ngaahi ʻofefiné ke nau mali mo ha kau muli, ʻi he manavahē telia naʻa taki atu ai ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ki he tauhi ʻaitolí.—Teutalōnome 7:3, 4. *

Kae kehe, naʻe mali ʻa Māloni mo Kilioni mo e  ongo fefine Mōape. Kapau naʻe hohaʻa pe siva ʻa e ʻamanaki ʻa Nāomí, ʻoku hā mahino naʻá ne fakapapauʻi ke fakahāhā ki heʻene ongo tama ʻi he fonó, ʻa Lute mo ʻOpa, ʻa e anga-lelei mo e ʻofa moʻoni. Mahalo pē naʻá ne ʻamanaki te nau hoko foki ʻo lotu kia Sihova ʻi ha ʻaho ʻo hangē pē ko iá. Ko e hā pē ʻa e tuʻungá, ko Lute mo ʻOpa fakatouʻosi naʻá na ʻofa ʻia Nāomi. Ko e vahaʻangatae lelei naʻa nau maʻú naʻe tokoniʻi ai kinautolu ʻi he taimi naʻe hoko ai ʻa e meʻa fakamamahí. Ki muʻa ke fanauʻi ʻe ha taha ʻo e ongo finemuí ha fānaú, naʻá na fakatou hoko ko e ongo uitou.—Lute 1:5.

Naʻe teuʻi ia ʻe he puipuituʻa fakalotu ʻo Luté ki ha meʻa fakamamahi pehē? ʻOku mātuʻaki ngalingali naʻe ʻikai. Ko e kau Mōapé naʻa nau lotu ki he ngaahi ʻotua tokolahi, ko e tuʻu-ki-muʻa ʻi honau lotolotongá ko Kīmosi. (Nōmipa 21:29) ʻOku hā ngali ko e lotu Mōapé naʻe ʻikai ke ʻatā mei he anga-fakamamahí mo e ngaahi meʻa fakalilifu naʻe failahia ʻi he taimi ko iá, ʻo kau ai ʻa hono feilaulau ʻaki ʻa e fānaú. Ko ha meʻa pē naʻe ako ʻe Lute meia Māloni pe ko Nāomi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtua ʻofa mo mohu meesi ʻo ʻIsilelí, ʻa Sihova, ʻoku pau pē naʻá ne ʻai moʻoni ia ke ne mātuʻaki kehe. Naʻe pule ʻa Sihova fakafou ʻi he ʻofa, ʻo ʻikai ko e fakamālohi! (Teutalōnome 6:5) Tupu mei he mole fakatupu lōmekina naʻe hoko kiate iá, ʻoku pau pē naʻe ʻunuʻunu ai ʻa Lute ʻo toe ofi ange kia Nāomi pea fanongo loto-lelei kia Nāomi ʻi heʻene talanoa fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtua māfimafi-aoniú.

 Ko Nāomi, ʻi heʻene tafaʻakí, naʻá ne vēkeveke ke ʻilo ha ongoongo fekauʻaki mo hono fonua tupuʻangá. ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha naʻá ne fanongo ai mei ha mēsianiti fefonongaʻaki nai, kuo ʻosi ʻa e honge ʻi ʻIsilelí. Naʻe fakahanga ʻe Sihova ʻa ʻene tokangá ki hono kakaí. Naʻe toe moʻui ʻa Pētelihema ʻo fakatatau ki hono hingoá, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻuhingá ko e “Fale ʻo e Mā.” Naʻe fili ai ʻa Nāomi ke ne foki ki ʻapi.—Lute 1:6.

Ko e hā ʻe fai ʻe Lute mo ʻOpá? (Lute 1:7) Naʻá ne hoko ʻo vāofi mo Nāomi fakafou ʻi he mamahi naʻa nau kaungāʻinasi aí. ʻOku hā ngali, ko Lute naʻe tautefito ʻa hono tohoaki ia ki he anga-lelei ʻa Nāomí pea mo ʻene tui taʻeueʻia kia Sihová. Naʻe kamata fononga fakataha ʻa e kau uitou ʻe toko tolú ki Siuta.

Ko e talanoa kia Luté ʻoku fakamanatu mai ai kiate kitautolu ko e meʻa fakamamahí mo e mole ʻi he maté ʻoku tofanga ai ʻa e kakai lelei pea pehē foki ki he kakai kovi. (Koheleti 9:2, 11) ʻOku fakahaaʻi mai ai kiate kitautolu foki ʻi he fehangahangai mo e mole taʻealamakātakiʻí, ʻoku fakapotopoto ke tau kumi ki ha fakafiemālie mo e fakanonga mei he niʻihi kehé—tautefito ki he faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau kumi hūfanga kia Sihová, ʻa e ʻOtua ko ia naʻe lotu ki ai ʻa Nāomí.—Palōveepi 17:17.

ʻOfa Mateaki ʻa Luté

ʻI he falō ʻa e laui maile ʻi mui ʻi he kau uitou ʻe toko tolú, naʻe kamata ke lōmekina ʻa Nāomi ʻe ha toe hohaʻa. Naʻá ne fakakaukau fekauʻaki mo e ongo finemui ʻi hono tafaʻakí pea mo e ʻofa naʻá na fakahāhā kiate ia mo hono ongo fohá. Naʻe ʻikai lava ke ne makātakiʻi ʻa e fakakaukau ki he toe fakalahi atu ʻa ʻena kavengá he taimi ko ení. Kapau te na liʻaki ʻa hona fonua tupuʻangá pea haʻu mo ia, ko e hā ʻe lava ke ne fai maʻanaua ʻi Pētelihemá?

Naʻe faifai pē ʻo lea ange ʻa Nāomi: “O, ʻo foki taki taha ki he fale o ʻene faʻe; tauange mo Sihova ke ne fai ʻofa kiate kimoua, ʻo hange ko hoʻomo fai ki he pekia, pea kiate au.” Naʻá ne toe fakahāhā ha ʻamanaki ʻe fakapaleʻi kinaua ʻe Sihova ʻaki ha ongo husepāniti foʻou mo ha moʻui foʻou. “Pea ne toki ʻuma kiate kinaua,” ko e lau ia ʻa e fakamatalá, “pea nau ofaʻaki ʻenau fākafoa.” ʻOku ʻikai faingataʻa ke sio ki he ʻuhinga naʻe ongoʻi mātuʻaki pipiki ai ʻa Lute mo ʻOpa ki he fefine loto-ʻofa mo taʻesiokita ko ení. Ko kinaua fakatouʻosi naʻá na hanganaki vilitaki: “ʻIkai, ka te tau foki mo koe ki ho kakai.”—Lute 1:8-10.

Neongo ia, naʻe ʻikai ke fakalotoʻi ngofua ʻa Nāomi. Naʻá ne fakaʻuhinga mālohi ʻo pehē ʻoku siʻi ʻa e meʻa ʻe lava ke ne fai maʻanaua ʻi ʻIsilelí, koeʻuhí kuo ʻikai hano husepāniti ke tokonaki maʻana, ʻikai ha ongo foha ke mali mo kinaua, pea ʻikai foki ha ʻamanaki. Naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ko ʻene taʻemalava ke tokangaʻi kinauá ko ha tupuʻanga ia ʻo e loto-kona moʻoni kiate ia.—Lute 1:11-13.

Kia ʻOpa, naʻe moʻoni ʻa e ngaahi lea ʻa Nāomí. Naʻe ʻi ai hono fāmilí ʻi Mōape, ko ha faʻē, mo ha  ʻapi ʻoku tatali mai kiate ia. Naʻe hā ngali ʻaonga moʻoni ange ke nofo ai pē ʻi Mōape. Ko ia ai, naʻá ne ʻuma fakamāvae ʻi he loto-mamahi kia Nāomi peá ne foki.—Lute 1:14.

Fēfē ʻa Lute? Ko e ngaahi fakaʻuhinga ʻa Nāomí naʻe kaungatonu foki mo ia kiate ia. Neongo ia, ʻoku tau lau: “Ka ka pikitai ki ai ʻa Lute.” Mahalo pē naʻe toe hoko atu ʻa e lue ʻa Nāomi ʻi he halá ka ne fakatokangaʻi naʻe muimui mai ʻa Lute ʻi mui ʻiate ia. Naʻá ne fakakolekole: “Vakai, kuo foki ho tokoua ki hono kakai, pea ki hono ʻotua: muimui koe ki ho tokoua.” (Lute 1:15) Ko e ngaahi lea ʻa Nāomí ʻoku fakahaaʻi mai ai ha fakaikiiki mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ki he tokotaha lautohí. Kuo foki ʻa ʻOpa ʻo ʻikai ki hono kakaí pē ka ki hono “ʻotua” foki. Naʻá ne fiemālie ke hoko atu ko ha tokotaha lotu kia Kīmosi pea ki he ngaahi ʻotua loi kehé. Naʻe pehē ʻa e ongoʻi ʻa Luté?

ʻI heʻene fehangahangai mo Nāomi ʻi he hala lingolingoa ko iá, ko e loto ʻo Luté naʻe papau mo mahino. Naʻe fonu mahuohua ia ʻi he ʻofa kia Nāomi—pea ki he ʻOtua naʻe tauhi ki ai ʻa Nāomí. Ko ia naʻá ne lea: “ʻOua te ke oʻi au ke liʻaki koe, pea ke tuku ʻeku muimui ʻiate koe: he ko e potu ʻoku ke ʻalu ki ai, te u ʻalu ki ai au; pea ko e potu ʻoku ke mohe ai, te u mohe ai: ko ho kakai ko hoku kakai, pea ko ho ʻOtua ko hoku ʻOtua: ko e potu te ke pekia ai, te u pekia ai, pea ʻe tanu ai au. ʻIlo ʻe au, ʻo lahi hake, ʻo kapau ʻe ai ha meʻa ʻe fakamavae kitaua, ko e mate pe.”—Lute 1:16, 17.

Ko e ngaahi lea ʻa Luté ʻoku taau ke fakatokangaʻi—ʻi he tuʻunga lahi he neongo kuó ne mate, ʻoku kei ʻiloʻi pē ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne leaʻakí ʻi he taʻu nai ʻe 3,000. ʻOku fakaeʻa haohaoa mai ai ha ʻulungaanga mahuʻinga, ko e ʻofa mateaki. Ko e ʻofa naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Luté naʻe mātuʻaki mālohi pea mātuʻaki mateaki ʻo ne pipiki ai kia Nāomi ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻá ne ʻalu ki ai. Ko e maté pē naʻe lava ke ne fakamāvaeʻi kinauá. Ko e kakai ʻo Nāomí te nau hoko ko hono kakai, he naʻe mateuteu ʻa Lute ke tukuange ʻa e meʻa kotoa pē naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻi Mōapé—ʻo aʻu ki he ngaahi ʻotua Mōapé. ʻI he ʻikai hangē ko ʻOpá, naʻe lava ke lea loto-moʻoni ʻa Lute naʻá ne loto ke hoko ʻa e ʻOtua ʻo Nāomí, ʻa Sihova, ko hono ʻOtua foki. *

Ko ia naʻe hokohoko atu ʻena fonongá, ko kinaua toko ua pē he taimi ko ení, ʻi he hala lōloa ki Pētelihemá. ʻI he fakafuofua ʻe taha, ko e fonongá naʻe feʻunga nai hono lōloá mo ha uike. Ko ia ai, ko e moʻoni, naʻá na taki taha maʻu ʻi heʻena feohí ha tuʻunga ʻo e fiemālie ʻi he fetaulaki mo e mamahí.

ʻOku ʻikai siʻi ʻa e mamahí ʻi he māmani ko ení. ʻI hotau taimí tonu, ʻa ia ʻoku ui ʻe he Tohi Tapú ko e “ngaahi taimi fakalilifu ʻa ia ʻe faingataʻa ke fekuki mo ia,” ʻoku tau fetaulaki ai mo e mole kehekehe pea pehē ki he mamahi. (2 Tīmote 3:1) Ko ia ko e ʻulungaanga ʻoku tau maʻu ʻia Luté kuo hoko ia ʻo mahuʻinga ange ʻi ha toe taimi. Ko e ʻofa mateakí—ʻa e faʻahinga ʻofa ʻoku pipiki ki he meʻa ʻoku fai ki aí pea fakafisi pē ke tukuangé—ko ha tokoni mālohi ia ki he leleí ʻi he māmani fakapoʻulituʻu ko ení. ʻOku tau fiemaʻu ia ʻi he nofo malí, ʻoku tau fiemaʻu ia ʻi he ngaahi vahaʻangatae fakafāmilí, ʻoku tau fiemaʻu ia ʻi he ngaahi kaungāmeʻá, ʻoku tau fiemaʻu ia ʻi he fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané. ʻI heʻetau fakatupulekina ʻa e faʻahinga ko ia ʻo e ʻofá, ʻoku tau faʻifaʻitaki ai ki he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻaupito ʻa Luté.

 Lute mo Nāomi ʻi Pētelihema

Ko e moʻoni, ko e meʻa ia ʻe taha ke leaʻaki ʻa e ʻofa mateakí; ko ha toe meʻa kehe ʻaupito ia ke fakamoʻoniʻi ʻa hono ngāueʻaki ʻa e ʻulungaanga ko iá. Naʻe maʻu ʻe Lute ʻi hono ʻaó ʻa e faingamālie ke fakahaaʻi ʻa ʻene ʻofa mateakí ʻo ʻikai kia Nāomi pē kae toe pehē foki ki he ʻOtua naʻá ne fili ke hoko ko hono ʻOtua tonú, ʻa Sihova.

Naʻe faifai pē ʻo aʻu ʻa e ongo fefiné ki Pētelihema, ko ha kolo naʻe maile nai ʻe ono (kilomita ʻe 10) ʻi he fakatonga ʻo Selusalemá. ʻOku hā ngali, ko Nāomi mo hono fāmilí, naʻa nau ʻiloa ʻi ha taimi ʻi he kiʻi kolo ko iá, he naʻe talanoa ʻa e feituʻú kotoa ki he ongoongo ʻo e toe foki mai ʻa Nāomí. Ko e kau fefine ʻi aí naʻa nau fakasio kiate ia mo pehē, “Ko Naomi eni?” ʻOku hā mahino, ko ʻene nofo fakataimi ʻi Mōapé naʻá ne liliu lahi ai; ko hono fōtungá mo ʻene tōʻongá naʻe fakahaaʻi ai ʻa e fakaʻilonga ʻo e ngaahi taʻu ʻo e faingataʻaʻia mo e mamahi.—Lute 1:19, PM.

Ki he ngaahi kāinga fefine mo e kaungāʻapi ʻi he ngaahi taʻu kuohilí, naʻe fakahaaʻi ʻe Nāomi ʻa e kona kuo hoko kiate ia ʻi he moʻuí. Naʻe aʻu ʻo ne ongoʻi ʻoku totonu ke fetongi ʻa hono hingoá mei he Nāomí, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻuhingá ko e “Melie,” ki he Mala, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻuhinga ko e “Kona.” Siʻi fakaʻofa ʻa Nāomi! ʻI he mātuʻaki hangē ko Siope ʻi muʻa ʻiate iá, naʻá ne tui kuo ʻomai ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtuá ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻá kiate ia.—Lute 1:20, 21; Siope 2:10; 13:24-26.

ʻI he nofo pē ʻa e ongo fefiné ʻi he moʻui ʻi Pētelihemá, naʻe kamata ke fakakaukau ʻa Lute fekauʻaki mo e founga lelei taha ke tokangaʻi ai ia tonu pea mo Nāomí. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ko e Lao naʻe ʻoange ʻe Sihova ki hono kakaí ʻi ʻIsilelí naʻe kau ai ha tokonaki ʻofa ki he kau masivá. Naʻe fakaʻatā ke nau ō ki he ngaahi ngoueʻangá ʻi he taimi utu-taʻú ʻo muimui he kau tuʻusí, ʻo tufi ʻa e meʻa naʻe toé pea pehē ki he meʻa naʻe tupu ʻi he ngaahi kauʻā mo e tuliki ʻo e ngaahi ngoueʻangá. *—Livitiko 19:9, 10; Teutalōnome 24:19-21.

 Ko e taimi ia ʻo e utu-taʻu paʻalé, ngalingali ʻi ʻEpeleli ʻi heʻetau tohimāhina ʻi onopōní, pea naʻe ʻalu ʻa Lute ki he ngaahi ngoueʻangá ke sio pe ko hai te ne fakaʻatā ia ke ne ngāue ʻi he malumalu ʻo e tokonaki ki he kau tufí. Naʻá ne ʻalu fāinoa ki he ngaahi ngoueʻanga ʻa ha tangata ko Pōasi, ko ha tokotaha koloaʻia naʻe ʻi ai hono kelekele pea ko ha kāinga ʻo e husepāniti kuo mate ʻo Nāomí, ʻa ʻElimeleki. Neongo naʻe ʻoange ʻe he Laó kiate ia ʻa e totonu ke ne tufi, naʻe ʻikai te ne fakamaʻamaʻaʻi ia; naʻá ne kole ki he talavou naʻá ne tokangaʻi ʻa e kau ngāue utu-taʻú ki ha ngofua ke ne tufi. Naʻá ne fakangofua ia, pea naʻe ngāue leva ʻa Lute.—Lute 1:22–2:3, 7.

Sioloto atu ki he muimui ʻa Lute ʻi he kau utu-taʻú. ʻI heʻenau tutuʻu ʻa e paʻalé ʻaki ʻenau ngaahi hele piko māsilá, naʻá ne punou ke tufi ʻa e meʻa naʻe ngangana meiate kinautolú pe liʻakí, fakahaʻinga ʻa e ngaahi vaʻá, pea ʻave leva ki ha feituʻu ʻa ia naʻe lava ke ne haha ai ki mui ʻa e uité. Ko ha ngāue tuai, mo fakatupu helaʻia ia, pea naʻe ʻalu ki he toe faingataʻa ange ʻi he faai atu ʻa e ʻahó. Neongo ia, naʻe hokohoko fai ia ʻe Lute, ʻo toki tuku pē ʻi hono holoholoʻi ʻa e pupuha mei hono kemó pea ke kai ha kiʻi fakahoʻatā maʻamaʻa ʻi he “fale”—ngalingali ko ha palepale naʻe fokotuʻu ke fakamalumalu ai ʻa e kau ngāué.

ʻOku ngalingali naʻe ʻikai ʻamanaki pe ʻamanekina ʻe Lute ʻe fakatokangaʻi ia—ka naʻe pehē. Naʻe sio ʻa Pōasi kiate ia peá ne ʻeke ki he talavou pulé pe ko hai ia. Ko ha tangata ʻo e tuí ʻoku taau ke fakatokangaʻi, ko Pōasí naʻá ne lea fakafeʻiloaki ki heʻene kau ngāué—ko e niʻihi nai ai ko e kau ngāue lau ʻaho pe naʻa mo e kau mulí—ʻaki ʻa e lea: “Ke iate kimoutolu a Jihova.” Pea naʻa nau tali mai ʻaki ʻa e lea tatau. Ko e tangataʻeiki tokanga ko eni ki he meʻa fakalaumālié naʻá ne mahuʻingaʻia fakaetamai ʻia Lute.—Lute 2:4-7, PM.

ʻI hono ui ia ko e “ofefine,” naʻe faleʻi ʻe Pōasi ʻa Lute ke ne hokohoko haʻu ki heʻene ngaahi ngoué ʻo tufi pea ke ne nofo ofi ki he kau finemui ʻo hono falé ke kalofi ai mei hano fakahohaʻasi ʻe ha taha ʻo e kau ngāue tangatá. Naʻá ne fakapapauʻi naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e meʻakai ke ne kai ʻi he taimi kai hoʻataá. Neongo ia, hiliō he meʻa kotoa, naʻá ne feinga ke fakaongoongoleleiʻi mo fakalototoʻaʻi ia. Anga-fēfē?—Lute 2:8, 9, 14, PM.

ʻI he ʻeke ange ʻe Lute kia Pōasi pe ko e hā ha meʻa kuó ne fai, koeʻuhi ko ha muli ia, ke ne tuha ai mo ʻene ʻofá, naʻá ne tali ange naʻá ne fanongo ai fekauʻaki mo e meʻa kotoa kuó ne fai maʻa ʻene faʻē-ʻi-he-fono, ko Nāomí. Ngalingali pē naʻe fakavīkivikiʻi ʻe Nāomi ʻa ʻene tama ʻofeina ko Luté ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau fefine ʻo Pētelihemá, pea naʻe aʻu ʻa e talanoá kia Pōasi. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi foki, naʻe tafoki ʻa Lute ʻo lotu kia Sihova, he naʻá ne pehē: “Ke totogi e Jihova a hoo gaue, bea ke foaki kiate koe e Jihova koe Otua o Isileli ae totogi lahi, aia koe kabakau oona kuo ke haʻu ke falala ki ai.”—Lute 2:12, PM.

Hono moʻoni ē naʻe fakalototoʻaʻi ʻe he ngaahi lea ko iá ʻa Lute! Naʻá ne fili moʻoni ke falala ki he lalo kapakau ʻo Sihova ko e ʻOtuá, hangē ha kiʻi foʻi manupuna ʻoku nofo malu ʻi heʻene faʻē ʻokú ne maluʻi iá. Naʻá ne fakamālō kia Pōasi ʻi heʻene lea mātuʻaki fakafiemālie kiate iá. Pea naʻá ne hokohoko atu ʻa e ngāué ʻo aʻu ki heʻene efiafí.—Lute 2:13, 17.

Ko e ngāueʻi ʻe Lute ʻa e tuí ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻaupito ia kiate kitautolu kotoa he ʻahó ni ʻoku fāinga ʻi he ngaahi taimi faingataʻaʻia fakaʻekonōmika ko ení. Naʻe ʻikai te ne fakakaukau ʻoku moʻuaʻaki ange kiate ia ʻe ha meʻa ʻe he niʻihi kehé, ko ia naʻá ne houngaʻia ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē naʻe foaki ange kiate iá. Naʻe ʻikai te ne ongoʻi mā ʻi he ngāue taimi lōloa mo mālohi ke tokangaʻi ʻa e tokotaha naʻá ne ʻofa aí, neongo ko ha ngāue māʻulalo ia. Naʻá ne tali houngaʻia pea ngāueʻaki ʻa e akonaki fakapotopoto fekauʻaki mo e founga ke ngāue ai ʻi ha tuʻunga malu pea ʻi ha feohi leleí. Ko e meʻa mahuʻinga tahá, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito mole ʻene vakai ki he feituʻu ʻoku toka ai ʻa e falala moʻoní—ko ʻene Tamai fai maluʻí, ko Sihova ko e ʻOtuá.

Kapau ʻoku tau fakahāhā ʻa e ʻofa mateaki ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe fakahaaʻi ʻe Luté pea muimui ʻi heʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻo e anga-fakatōkilaló, faʻa ngāué, mo e houngaʻiá, te tau ʻilo ai ko ʻetau tuí foki ʻe hoko ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻaupito ki he niʻihi kehé.

[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]

[Puha ʻi he peesi 22]

Ko ha Kiʻi Ngāue Laulōtaha

Ko e tohi ʻa Luté ʻoku fakamatalaʻi ia hangē ha kiʻi foʻi maka-koloá, ko ha kiʻi ngāue laulōtaha. Fakatatau ki aí, ko e tohí ʻoku fakamatala lahi ai ki he tohi Fakamaau, ʻa ia naʻe ʻi muʻa ia pea tokoni mai ke tau ʻiloʻi ʻa e ngaahi taimi ʻi he tohi ʻa Luté. (Lute 1:1) Ko e ongo tohí fakatouʻosi ʻoku hā mahino naʻe tohi ʻe he palōfita ko Sāmiuela. Neongo ia, ʻi hoʻo lau ʻi he Tohi Tapú, te ke loto-tatau nai ko e tohi ʻa Luté ʻoku kau ia ʻi he ngaahi tohi fakaʻofoʻofa ʻo e Tohi Tapú. Hili hono lau ʻa e ngaahi tau, ngaahi ʻohofi, fakafepakiʻi ʻa e ʻohofi ʻoku lēkooti ʻi he tohi Fakamaau, ʻokú ke haʻu ai ki he kiʻi tohi ko ení ʻa ia ʻokú ne fakamanatu mai kiate kitautolu ko Sihová ʻoku ʻikai ke ne taʻeʻafioʻi ʻa e kakai nofo melino ʻoku nau fekuki mo e ngaahi palopalema fakaʻahó. Ko e foʻi tulama faingofua fakafāmili ko ení ʻokú ne ʻomai ha ngaahi lēsoni loloto fekauʻaki mo e ʻofá, molé, tuí mo e mateakí ʻa ia ʻe lava ke tau maʻu ʻaonga kotoa mei ai.

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 20]

Naʻe ʻunuʻunu ofi fakapotopoto ʻa Lute kia Nāomi lolotonga ha taimi ʻo e mamahi mo e mole

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 21, 22]

“Ko ho kakai ko hoku kakai, pea ko ho ʻOtua ko hoku ʻOtua”

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 23]

Naʻe loto-lelei ʻa Lute ke fai ʻa e ngāue mālohi mo māʻulalo ke tokonaki maʻana tonu pea mo Nāomi