< Ruth 3 >
1 Kisha Naomi akamwambia mkwewe, “Binti yangu, je, nisingelikutafutia pumziko ambako utatunzika vyema?
And Naomi her mother-in-law saith to her, 'My daughter, do not I seek for thee rest, that it may be well with thee?
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.
and now, is not Boaz of our acquaintance, with whose young women thou hast been? lo, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of barley to-night,
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.
and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink;
4 Atakapokwenda kulala, angalia mahali atakapolala. Kisha uende ufunue miguu yake, ulale. Naye atakuambia utakalofanya.”
and it cometh to pass when he lieth down, that thou hast known the place where he lieth down, and hast gone in, and uncovered his feet, and lain down, — and he doth declare to thee that which thou dost do.'
5 Ruthu akajibu, “Lolote usemalo nitatenda.”
And she saith unto her, 'All that thou sayest — I do.'
6 Basi akashuka mpaka kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, akafanya kila kitu mama mkwe wake alichomwambia kufanya.
And she goeth down [to] the threshing-floor, and doth according to all that her mother-in-law commanded 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.
And Boaz eateth and drinketh, and his heart is glad; and he goeth in to lie down at the end of the heap; and she cometh in gently, and uncovereth his feet, and lieth down.
8 Usiku wa manane, kitu kilimshtua Boazi, akajigeuza, akagundua yupo mwanamke amelala miguuni pake.
And it cometh to pass, at the middle of the night, that the man trembleth, and turneth himself, and lo, a woman is 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.”
And he saith, 'Who [art] thou?' and she saith, 'I [am] Ruth thy handmaid, and thou hast spread thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou [art] a redeemer.'
10 Akamwambia, “Binti yangu, ubarikiwe na Bwana. Wema huu wa sasa ni mkuu kushinda hata ule ulioonyesha mwanzoni. Hukuwakimbilia vijana, wakiwa matajiri au maskini.
And he saith, 'Blessed [art] thou of Jehovah, my daughter; thou hast dealt more kindly at the latter end than at the beginning — not to go after the young men, either 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.
And now, my daughter, fear not, all that thou sayest I do to thee, for all the gate of my people doth know that thou [art] 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.
And now, surely, true, that I [am] a redeemer, but also there is a redeemer 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.”
Lodge to night, and it hath been in the morning, if he doth redeem thee, well: he redeemeth; and if he delight not to redeem thee, then I have redeemed thee — I; Jehovah liveth! lie down till the 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.”
And she lieth down at his feet till the morning, and riseth before one doth discern another; and he saith, 'Let it not be known that the woman hath come into the floor.'
15 Pia akamwambia, “Leta shela yako uliyoivaa, uitandaze.” Naye alipoitandaza, akamimina vipimo sita vya shayiri, akamtwika. Kisha Ruthu akarudi zake mjini.
And he saith, 'Give the covering which [is] on thee, and keep hold on it;' and she keepeth hold on it, and he measureth six [measures] of barley, and layeth [it] on her; and he goeth into the city.
16 Basi Ruthu alipofika kwa mama mkwe wake Naomi, akamuuliza, “Je, binti yangu, ilikuwaje huko?” Ndipo akamwelezea kila kitu Boazi alichomfanyia.
And she cometh in unto her mother-in-law, and she saith, 'Who [art] thou, my daughter?' and she declareth to her all that the man hath done to her.
17 Akaendelea kusema, “Amenipa shayiri vipimo sita akisema, ‘Usiende kwa mama mkwe wako mikono mitupu.’”
And she saith, 'These six [measures] of barley he hath given to me, for he said, Thou dost not go in empty unto thy mother-in-law.'
18 Kisha Naomi akasema, “Subiri binti yangu, mpaka utakapojua kwamba hili jambo limekwendaje. Kwa sababu mtu huyu hatatulia mpaka akamilishe jambo hili leo.”
And she saith, 'Sit still, my daughter, till thou dost know how the matter falleth, for the man doth not rest except he hath completed the matter to-day.'