Ruth 1
1 Ilitokea katika siku za utawala wa majaji kuwa kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi, na mtu mmoja wa Bethelehemu ya Yuda alikwenda katika nchi ya Moabu pamoja na mke wake na watoto wake walili wa kiume.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
2 Jina la mtu huyo lilikuwa Elimeleki, na jina la mke wake lilikuwa Naomi. Majina ya watoto wake wawili wa kiume waliitwa Mahiloni na Kileoni, ambao walikuwa Waefraimu wa Betherehemu ya Yuda. Waliwasili katika nchi ya Moabu na kuishi hapo.
The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
3 Ndipo Elimeleki, mume wa Naomi, alikufa, na Naomi aliachwa na watoto wake wa kiume wawili.
Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
4 Watoto hawa walioa wanawake wa Moabu; jina la mmoja lilikuwa Oripa, na jina la mwingine lilikuwa Ruth. waliishi huko kwa takribani miaka kumi.
who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5 Kisha wote Mahiloni na Kileoni walikufa, na kumuacha Naomi bila mme wake na bila watoto wake wawili.
both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
6 Ndipo Naomi aliamua kuondoka Moabu pamoja na wake wa watoto wake na kurudi Yuda kwa sababu alikuwa amesikia katika mkoa wa Moabu kuwa Yahweh amewasaidia watu wake katika uhitaji na amewapa chakula.
When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
7 Hivyo aliondoka sehemu aliyokuwa pamoja na wake wa watoto wake wawili, walitelemka njia kurudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda.
Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8 Naomi aliwaambia wake wa watoto wake, “Nendeni, mrudi, kila mmoja wenu, kwenye nyumba ya mama yake. na Mungu aonyeshe wema juu yenu, kama mlivyo onyesha wema kwao waliokufa na kwangu.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9 Mungu awajalie ninyi kupata pumziko, kila mmoja wenu katika nyumba ya mme mwingine.” Kisha akawabusu, na wakapaza sauti zao na kulia.
May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10 Wakamwambia, “Hapana! tutarudi pamoja na wewe kwa watu wako.”
and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 Lakini Naomi alisema, “Rudini, wanangu! Kwa nini mtakwenda na mimi? Kwani bado nina watoto katika tumbo langu kwa ajili yenu, ili kwamba waje wawe waume zenu?
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12 Rudini, wanangu, nendeni katika njia zenu wenyewe, kwa kuwa mimi ni mzee sana kuwa na mme. Kama nikisema, 'Natumaini nipate mume usiku huu,' na kisha kuzaa watoto wakiume, kwa hiyo mnaweza kusubiri mpaka wakue?
Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 Mtasubiri na msiolewe sasa? Hapana, wanangu! Ina nihuzunisha zaidi, kuliko inavyo wahuzunisha ninyi, kwa sababu mkono wa Yahweh umeenda kinyume na mimi.”
would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14 Ndipo wake wa watoto wake wakapaza sauti zao na kulia tena. Oripa alimuaga kwa kumbusu, lakini Ruth aliendelea kubaki naye.
Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 Naomi alisema, “sikiliza, mwenzako amerudi kwa watu wake na miungu yake. Ruri pamoja naye.”
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
16 lakini Ruth alisema, “Usiniache niondoke mbali nawe, kwa kuwa uendako, nitakwenda, utakapoishi, nitaishi; watu wako watakuwa watu wangu, na Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17 Mahali utakapofia, nitafia hapo, na hapo nitazikwa. Yahweh aniwezeshe, na hata zaidi, ikiwa kuna chochote isipokuwa kifo kamwe hakiwezi kututenganisha.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18 Naomi alipoona kuwa Ruth alikuwa ameamua kwenda naye, aliacha kubishana naye.
When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
19 Hivyo wote wawili walisafiri mpaka walipofika mjini Bethelehemu. Kwa hiyo walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote uliwafurahia, wanawake walisema, “Huyu ni Naomi?”
So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 Lakini aliwaambia, “Msiniite Naomi. Niiteni Mchungu, kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21 Nilikwenda nikiwa nimejaa, lakini Yahweh kanirudisha nyumbani nikiwa sina wote. Hivyo kwa nini mnaniita Naomi, wakati mnaona Yahweh amenihukumu, kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitaabisha?”
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22 Kwa hivyo Naomi na Ruth Mmoabu, mke wa mtoto wake, walirudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu. walirudi Bethrehemu mwazo wa mavuno ya shairi.
So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
