Ruth 3

1 Cependant Noémi, sa belle-mère, lui dit: "Ma fille, je désire te procurer un foyer qui fasse ton bonheur.

But afterwards, when she returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi said to her: “My daughter, I will seek rest for you, and I will provide so that it may be well with you.

2 Or Booz, avec les servantes duquel tu t’es trouvée, n’est-il pas notre parent? Eh bien! Cette nuit même il doit vanner les orges dans son aire.

This Boaz, whose young women you joined in the field, is our near relative, and this night he will winnow the threshing floor of barley.

3 Tu auras soin de te laver, de te parfumer et de revêtir tes plus beaux habits; puis tu descendras à l’aire, mais tu ne te feras pas remarquer de cet homme, avant qu’il ait fini de manger et de boire.

Therefore, wash and anoint yourself, and put on your decorative garments, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man see you, while he finishes eating and drinking.

4 Puis, quand il se sera couché, tu observeras l’endroit où il repose; tu iras découvrir le bas de sa couche et t’y étendras: lui-même, il t’indiquera alors ce que tu devras faire."

But when he goes to sleep, observe the place where he sleeps. And you will approach and lift up the covering, the part which covers near his feet, and lay yourself down, and sleep there; but he will tell you what you are obliged to do.”

5 Elle lui répondit: "Tout ce que tu me recommandes, je l’exécuterai."

She answered, “I will do everything as you have instructed.”

6 Elle descendit à l’aire et fit ce que sa belle-mère lui avait recommandé.

And she went down to the threshing floor, and she did everything that her mother-in-law had commanded her.

7 Booz mangea et but et fut d’humeur joyeuse; puis il alla se coucher au pied du monceau de blé. Et Ruth se glissa furtivement, découvrit le bas de sa couche et s’y étendit.

And when Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and he was merry, and he had gone to sleep by the pile of sheaves, she approached secretly, and, lifting the covering near his feet, she laid herself down.

8 Il arriva qu’au milieu de la nuit cet homme eut un mouvement de frayeur et se réveilla en sursaut, et voilà qu’une femme était couchée à ses pieds.

And behold, when it was the middle of the night, the man became frightened and confused, and he saw a woman lying near his feet.

9 "Qui es-tu?" s’écria-t-il. Elle répondit: "Je suis Ruth, ta servante; daigne étendre le pan de ton manteau sur ta servante, car tu es un proche parent."

And he said to her, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your handmaid. Spread your covering over your servant, for you are a near relative.”

10 Il répliqua: "Que l’Eternel te bénisse, ma fille! Ce trait de générosité est encore plus méritoire de ta part que le précédent, puisque tu n’as pas voulu courir après les jeunes gens, riches ou pauvres.

And he said, “You are blessed by the Lord, daughter, and you have excelled beyond your earlier benevolence, because you have not followed young men, whether poor or rich.

11 Maintenant, ma fille, sois sans crainte; tout ce que tu me demanderas, je le ferai pour toi, car tous les habitants de notre ville savent que tu es une vaillante femme.

Therefore, do not be afraid, but whatever you decide about me, I will accomplish for you. For all the people, who dwell within the gates of my city, know that you are a virtuous woman.

12 Toutefois, s’il est vrai que je suis ton parent, il existe un parent plus direct que moi.

Neither do I deny myself to be a near relative, but there is another nearer than I.

13 Passe donc la nuit ici; demain matin, s’il consent à t’épouser, c’est bien, qu’il le fasse! Mais s’il s’y refuse, c’est moi qui t’épouserai, par le Dieu vivant! Reste couchée jusqu’au matin."

Be at peace for this night. And when morning arrives, if he is willing to uphold the law of kinship for you, things will turn out well; but if he is not willing, then, I will take you, without any doubt, as the Lord lives. Sleep until morning.”

14 Elle demeura étendue au bas de sa couche jusqu’au lendemain matin; puis elle se releva avant l’heure où on peut se reconnaître les uns les autres "Car, disait-il, il ne faut pas qu’on sache que cette femme a pénétré dans l’aire."

And so she slept by his feet until the night was ending. And she arose before men could inquire of one another. And Boaz said, “Be careful, lest someone know that you came here.”

15 Booz dit encore: "Déploie le châle qui te couvre et tiens-le bien."; elle le lui tendit, et il y mit six mesures d’orge, l’en chargea et rentra en ville.

And again he said, “Spread your mantle that covers you, and hold it with both hands.” As she extended it and held it, he measured six measures of barley and placed it upon her. Carrying it, she went into the city.

16 Quant à Ruth, elle alla retrouver sa belle-mère, qui lui demanda: "Est-ce toi, ma fille?" Ruth lui raconta tout ce que l’homme avait fait pour elle.

And she came to her mother-in-law, who said to her: “What have you been doing, daughter?” And she explained to her all that the man had accomplished for her.

17 "Voici, ajouta-t-elle, six mesures d’orge qu’il m’a données en me disant: Tu ne dois pas revenir les mains vides auprès de ta belle-mère."

And she said, “Behold, he gave me six measures of barley, for he said, ‘I am not willing to have you return empty to your mother-in-law.’”

18 Noémi répondit: "Demeure tranquille, ma fille, jusqu’à ce que tu saches quel sera le dénouement de l’affaire; assurément, cet homme ne se tiendra pour satisfait qu’il ne l’ait menée à bonne fin aujourd’hui même."

And Naomi said, “Wait, daughter, until we see how things will turn out. For the man will not rest until he has accomplished what he said.”