< רות 3 >
ותאמר לה נעמי חמותה בתי הלא אבקש לך מנוח אשר ייטב לך׃ | 1 |
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.
ועתה הלא בעז מדעתנו אשר היית את נערותיו הנה הוא זרה את גרן השערים הלילה׃ | 2 |
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.
ורחצת וסכת ושמת שמלתך עליך וירדתי הגרן אל תודעי לאיש עד כלתו לאכל ולשתות׃ | 3 |
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.
ויהי בשכבו וידעת את המקום אשר ישכב שם ובאת וגלית מרגלתיו ושכבתי והוא יגיד לך את אשר תעשין׃ | 4 |
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.”
ותאמר אליה כל אשר תאמרי אעשה׃ | 5 |
She answered, “I will do everything as you have instructed.”
ותרד הגרן ותעש ככל אשר צותה חמותה׃ | 6 |
And she went down to the threshing floor, and she did everything that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
ויאכל בעז וישת וייטב לבו ויבא לשכב בקצה הערמה ותבא בלט ותגל מרגלתיו ותשכב׃ | 7 |
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.
ויהי בחצי הלילה ויחרד האיש וילפת והנה אשה שכבת מרגלתיו׃ | 8 |
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.
ויאמר מי את ותאמר אנכי רות אמתך ופרשת כנפך על אמתך כי גאל אתה׃ | 9 |
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.”
ויאמר ברוכה את ליהוה בתי היטבת חסדך האחרון מן הראשון לבלתי לכת אחרי הבחורים אם דל ואם עשיר׃ | 10 |
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.
ועתה בתי אל תיראי כל אשר תאמרי אעשה לך כי יודע כל שער עמי כי אשת חיל את׃ | 11 |
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.
ועתה כי אמנם כי אם גאל אנכי וגם יש גאל קרוב ממני׃ | 12 |
Neither do I deny myself to be a near relative, but there is another nearer than I.
ליני הלילה והיה בבקר אם יגאלך טוב יגאל ואם לא יחפץ לגאלך וגאלתיך אנכי חי יהוה שכבי עד הבקר׃ | 13 |
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.”
ותשכב מרגלתו עד הבקר ותקם בטרום יכיר איש את רעהו ויאמר אל יודע כי באה האשה הגרן׃ | 14 |
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.”
ויאמר הבי המטפחת אשר עליך ואחזי בה ותאחז בה וימד שש שערים וישת עליה ויבא העיר׃ | 15 |
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.
ותבוא אל חמותה ותאמר מי את בתי ותגד לה את כל אשר עשה לה האיש׃ | 16 |
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.
ותאמר שש השערים האלה נתן לי כי אמר אל תבואי ריקם אל חמותך׃ | 17 |
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.’”
ותאמר שבי בתי עד אשר תדעין איך יפל דבר כי לא ישקט האיש כי אם כלה הדבר היום׃ | 18 |
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.”