< Ruth 4 >
1 [Meanwhile], Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. [That was the place where people met together to decide important matters]. When the man that Boaz had mentioned came there, the close relative of Ruth and Naomi’s dead husbands [who had a responsibility to take care of Naomi and Ruth], Boaz said to him, “My friend, come over here and sit down.” So the man went and sat down.
波阿次走上城門口,坐在那裏。可巧,波阿次所說的那位至親,正從那裏經過,他就對他說:「某兄,請過來,坐一坐! 」他就過去坐下了。
2 Boaz then gathered ten of the elders of the town and asked them to sit down [there also]. After they sat down,
波阿次又由城內的長老中,邀請了十位,對他們說:「請你們在這裏坐一坐! 」他們就都坐下。
3 he said to the man who had the responsibility to take care of Naomi, “Naomi has returned from Moab [region]. She wants to sell the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
波阿次便對那位至親說:「從摩阿布鄉間回來的納敖米要賣我們兄弟厄里默肋客的一塊田。
4 I thought that I should tell you about that, and suggest that you buy it, while these elders who are sitting here are listening. If you are willing to buy the property, do that. But if you do not want to buy it, tell me, so that I will know. I am suggesting this to you because you are the one who has the first right to buy it, and I am the one who has the second/next right to buy it.” The man replied, “I will buy it!”
我認為我應在你面前說明這事,並請你當著在坐的諸位及民眾的長老前,購買這塊地。若你願意盡你至親的義務,就盡;若你不願意盡,起告訴我知道;因為除你應盡這義務之外,沒有別人了;你以後就是我。」那人答說:「我盡。」
5 Then Boaz told him, “When you buy the land from Naomi, you will also be taking Ruth, [the woman] who is from Moab, [to be your wife], in order that she may [give birth to a son who will] inherit the property of her dead husband [MTY].”
波阿次接著說:「你從納敖米手中購得田地的那一天,也應娶亡者之妻,即摩阿布女子盧德,好給死者在嗣業上留名。」
6 Then the close relative [of Ruth’s dead husband] said, “[If that is so], I do not [want to] buy the field, because then my own [children] would not inherit the property; [Ruth’s children would inherit it]. You buy the property!”
那位至親答說:「那麼我就不能盡這義務了,免得我的產業受害,你盡我應盡的義務罷! 我不能盡了。」
7 At that time, it was the custom in Israel, when a person bought property that belonged to another person, that the man who was selling the property would take off one of his sandals and give it to the one who was buying the property. That was the way they finalized sales in Israel.
從前在以色列中間,無論對於買賣或交易,為確定一事,有這樣的一個風俗:就是一方應脫下自己的鞋,交與另一方:這在以色列就算為證據。
8 So that close relative said to Boaz, “You buy the field yourself!” And he took off [one of] his sandals [and gave it to Boaz].
那為至親對波阿次說:「你購買罷! 」遂就脫下了自己的鞋。
9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the [other] people [who were there], “Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to [her dead husband] Elimelech and [his dead sons] Mahlon and Chilion.
於是波阿次對長老以及所有在坐的民眾說:「今天你們作證,我從納敖米手中購得了屬於厄里默肋客及基肋雍與瑪赫隆的一切產業;
10 I am also taking Ruth, [the woman] from Moab, Mahlon’s widow, to be my wife, in order that she may give birth to a son who will inherit the property of the dead man. In that way, Elimelech’s name will continue [LIT] among the members of his family and among all the people of this town. Today you all are witnesses [of what I have done].”
同時我也取得了瑪赫隆的妻,摩阿布的女子盧德為我的妻室,好給死者在嗣業上留名,不叫死者的名字,在自己的兄弟和故鄉的門戶中失傳;今日你們為此作證! 」
11 All the elders and the [others] who were sitting at the [town] gate [agreed, and one of them] said, “[Yes, ] we are witnesses. We hope/desire that Yahweh will enable this woman, who will be coming into your home, to give birth to many children, as Rachel and Leah did. They are the women from whom all [us] people [MTY] of Israel are descended. We hope that you will become rich in the clan of Ephratah, and become famous [MTY] [here] in Bethlehem.
在城門旁的民眾和長老都回答說:「我們作證。願上主使這走進你家中的婦女,像似那兩位曾建立了以色列家的辣黑耳和肋阿! 願你在厄弗辣大昌盛,願你在白冷得享盛名!
12 We hope/desire that Yahweh will enable you and this young woman to have many descendants. And we hope/desire that your family will be as important as the family of your ancestor Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar.”
願你的家藉上主使這少婦給你所生的後裔,相似塔瑪爾給猶大所生的培勒茲的家。」波阿次娶盧德
13 So Boaz took Ruth [home], and she became his wife. He (slept with/had sexual relations with) her [EUP] and Yahweh enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.
波阿次遂娶了盧德,她就成了他的妻子。他走近了他,上主賜她懷孕,生了一個兒子。
14 The women [of Bethlehem] said to Naomi, “Praise Yahweh! Now he has given [LIT] 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 [MTY] throughout Israel.
婦女們就對納敖米說:「願上主受頌揚! 因為他沒有使你今日缺乏承繼者。願他在以色列中得享盛名!
15 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].”
他是你心靈的安慰,是你老年的依靠,因為他是愛你的兒媳所生的;像這樣的兒媳,對你實勝過七個兒子。」
16 Then Naomi took the baby and put him on her lap, and took care of him.
納敖米接過嬰兒來,抱在懷中,做了他的保母。
17 The women who were living near her said, “[It is as though] Naomi [now] has a son!” And they named him Obed. [Later], Obed became the father of Jesse, and [later] Jesse became the father of [King] David.
鄰近的婦女喊著說:「納敖米得了個兒子! 」他們就給他起名叫敖貝得;他就是達味的父親葉瑟的父親。達味族譜
18 Here is [a list of] the ancestors of [King David]: Perez’s son was Hezron. Hezron’s son was Ram. Ram’s son was Amminadab. Amminadab’s son was Nahshon. Nahshon’s son was Salmon. Salmon’s son was Boaz. Boaz’s son was Obed. Obed’s son was Jesse. Jesse’s son was [King] David.
以下是培肋茲的族譜:培勒茲生赫茲龍,