Ruth 3
1 Kisha Naomi akamwambia mkwewe, “Binti yangu, je, nisingelikutafutia pumziko ambako utatunzika vyema?
One day, Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, should I not seek to secure a home for you where you will be happy and prosperous?
2 Je, Boazi, ambaye umekuwa pamoja na watumishi wake wasichana, si jamaa yetu wa karibu? Usiku wa leo atakuwa anapepeta ngano kwenye sakafu ya kupuria.
Is not Boaz, with whose girls you have been, a relative of ours?
3 Basi oga na ukajipake marashi, ujivalie nguo zako nzuri. Kisha uende kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, lakini angalia asijue kwamba upo pale mpaka atakapomaliza kula na kunywa.
Tonight he is going to winnow barley on the threshing-floor. So bathe and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor. But do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 Atakapokwenda kulala, angalia mahali atakapolala. Kisha uende ufunue miguu yake, ulale. Naye atakuambia utakalofanya.”
Then when he lies down, mark the place where he lies. Go in, uncover his feet, lie down, and then he will tell you what to do.”
5 Ruthu akajibu, “Lolote usemalo nitatenda.”
“I will do as you say.” Ruth said to her.
6 Basi akashuka mpaka kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, akafanya kila kitu mama mkwe wake alichomwambia kufanya.
So she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law told her.
7 Wakati Boazi alipomaliza kula na kunywa, naye akawa amejawa na furaha, alikwenda kulala mwisho wa lundo la nafaka. Ruthu akanyemelea polepole, akafunua miguu yake, na akalala.
When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in a happy mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth came quietly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 Usiku wa manane, kitu kilimshtua Boazi, akajigeuza, akagundua yupo mwanamke amelala miguuni pake.
At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet!
9 Akauliza, “Wewe ni nani?” Akajibu, “Ni mimi Ruthu, mjakazi wako. Uitande nguo yako juu yangu, kwa sababu wewe ndiwe jamaa wa karibu wa kutukomboa.”
“Who are you?” he said. “I am Ruth your servant,” she answered, “Spread your cloak over your servant, for you are a near relative.”
10 Akamwambia, “Binti yangu, ubarikiwe na Bwana. Wema huu wa sasa ni mkuu kushinda hata ule ulioonyesha mwanzoni. Hukuwakimbilia vijana, wakiwa matajiri au maskini.
He said, “May you be blest by the Lord, my daughter. You have shown me greater favor now than at first, for you have not followed young men, whether poor or rich.
11 Sasa, binti yangu, usiogope. Nitakufanyia yote uliyoomba. Kwa maana mji wote wa watu wangu wanakujua ya kwamba wewe ni mwanamke mwenye tabia nzuri.
My daughter, have no fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for the whole town knows that you are a virtuous woman.
12 Ingawa ni kweli kwamba mimi ndiye jamaa aliye karibu, bado kuna mtu mwingine wa jamaa aliye karibu zaidi wa kukomboa kuliko mimi.
Now it is true that I am a near relative, but there is another man nearer than I.
13 Wewe kaa hapa usiku huu, kisha asubuhi kama akikubali kukomboa, vyema na akomboe. La sivyo kama hayuko tayari, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo nitafanya hivyo. Lala hapa mpaka asubuhi.”
Stay here tonight, and then in the morning, if he will perform for you the duty of a kinsman, well, let him do it. But if he will not perform for you the duty of a kinsman, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will do it for you. Lie down until morning.”
14 Hivyo huyo mwanamke akalala miguuni pake mpaka asubuhi, akaondoka mapema pasipo mtu kuweza kumtambua mwenzake, maana Boazi alisema, “Isijulikane kabisa ya kuwa mwanamke alifika kwenye sakafu ya kupuria.”
So she lay at his feet until morning, but rose before anyone could recognize her, for Boaz said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing-floor.”
15 Pia akamwambia, “Leta shela yako uliyoivaa, uitandaze.” Naye alipoitandaza, akamimina vipimo sita vya shayiri, akamtwika. Kisha Ruthu akarudi zake mjini.
He also said, “Bring the cloak which you have on and hold it.” So she held it while he poured into it six measures of barley and laid it on her shoulders. Then he went into the city.
16 Basi Ruthu alipofika kwa mama mkwe wake Naomi, akamuuliza, “Je, binti yangu, ilikuwaje huko?” Ndipo akamwelezea kila kitu Boazi alichomfanyia.
When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “Is it you, my daughter?” Then Ruth told Naomi all that the man had done for her.
17 Akaendelea kusema, “Amenipa shayiri vipimo sita akisema, ‘Usiende kwa mama mkwe wako mikono mitupu.’”
“He gave me these six measures of barley,” she said, “for he said I should not go to my mother-in-law empty-handed.”
18 Kisha Naomi akasema, “Subiri binti yangu, mpaka utakapojua kwamba hili jambo limekwendaje. Kwa sababu mtu huyu hatatulia mpaka akamilishe jambo hili leo.”
“Wait quietly, my daughter.” Naomi said, “Until you know how the affair will turn out, for the man will not rest unless he settles it all today.”
