1
Ikawa zamani za Waamuzi walipoamua, kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi. Akaondoka mtu mmoja wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda, akaenda kukaa katika nchi ya Moabu, yeye na mkewe na wanawe wawili.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
2
Na jina la mtu huyo aliitwa Elimeleki, na jina la mkewe Naomi, na majina ya wanawe wawili Maloni na Kilioni, Waefrathi wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda. Wakafika nchi ya Moabu, wakakaa huko.
The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
3
Akafa Elimeleki, mumewe Naomi; na yule mwanamke akasalia na wanawe wawili.
Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
4
Nao wakaoa wake katika wanawake wa Moabu; na jina la mmoja aliitwa Orpa, na jina la wa pili Ruthuu. Wakakaa huko yapata miaka kumi.
who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5
Wakafa na Maloni na Kilioni wote wawili; na huyo mwanamke akawa amefiwa na wanawe wawili, na mumewe pia.
both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
6
Ndipo alipoondoka, yeye na wakweze, ili kurudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu; maana huko katika nchi ya Moabu amesikia ya kwamba Bwana amewajilia watu wake na kuwapa chakula.
When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
7
Basi akatoka pale alipokuwapo, na wakweze wawili pamoja naye; wakashika njia ili kurudi mpaka nchi ya Yuda.
Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8
Kisha Naomi akawaambia wakweze wawili, Nendeni sasa mkarejee kila mmoja nyumbani kwa mamaye; Bwana na awatendee mema ninyi, kama ninyi mlivyowatendea mema hao waliofariki na mimi pia.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9
Bwana na awajalie kuona raha kila mmoja nyumbani kwa mumewe. Kisha akawabusu; nao wakapaza sauti zao wakalia.
May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10
Wakamwambia, La, sivyo; lakini tutarudi pamoja nawe kwa watu wako.
and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11
Naye Naomi akasema, Enyi wanangu, mrejee; kwani kufuatana na mimi? Je! Mimi ninao watoto wa kiume tena tumboni mwangu, hata wawe waume zenu?
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12
Enyi wanangu, mrejee; nendeni zenu; kwa kuwa mimi ni mzee, siwezi kupata mume tena. Kama ningesema, Natumaini; kama ningepata mume hata usiku huu, na kuzaa watoto wa kiume;
Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13
je! Mngesubiri hata watakapokuwa watu wazima? Mngejizuia msiwe na waume? La, sivyo, wanangu; maana ni vigumu kwangu kuliko kwenu, kwa sababu mkono wa Bwana umetoka juu yangu.
would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14
Nao wakapaza sauti zao, wakalia tena, na Orpa akambusu mkwewe, lakini Ruthuu akaambatana naye.
Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15
Naye akasema, Tazama, shemeji yako amerejea kwa watu wake, na kwa mungu wake; basi urejee wewe umfuate shemeji yako.
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
16
Naye Ruthuu akasema, Usinisihi nikuache, Nirejee nisifuatane nawe; Maana wewe uendako nitakwenda, Na wewe ukaapo nitakaa. Watu wako watakuwa watu wangu, Na Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu;
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17
Pale utakapokufa nitakufa nami, Na papo hapo nitazikwa; Bwana anitende vivyo na kuzidi, Ila kufa tu kutatutenga wewe nami.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18
Basi alipomwona kuwa amekaza nia yake kufuatana naye, aliacha kusema naye.
When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
19
Hivyo hao wakaendelea wote wawili hata walipofika Bethlehemu. Na ikawa walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote ulitaharuki kwa habari zao. Nao wanawake wakasema, Je! Huyu ni Naomi?
So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women of the town exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20
Akawaambia, Msiniite Naomi niiteni Mara,kwa sababu Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21
Mimi nalitoka hali nimejaa, naye Bwana amenirudisha sina kitu, kwani kuniita Naomi, ikiwa Bwana ameshuhudia juu yangu, na Mwenyezi Mungu amenitesa?
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22
Basi Naomi akarudi; pamoja na Ruthuu Mmoabi, mkwewe; ambao walirudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu; nao wakafika Bethlehemu mwanzo wa mavuno ya shayiri.
So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.