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.
There was a famine during the time when the judges ruled Israel, so a man left Bethlehem in Judah and went to live in exile in the country of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.
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.
His name was Elimelech, and his wife's name Naomi. His sons were called Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went to the country of Moab and lived there.
3 Ndipo Elimeleki, mume wa Naomi, alikufa, na Naomi aliachwa na watoto wake wa kiume wawili.
However, Elimelech, Naomi's husband, 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.
The sons married Moabite women. One was called Orpah, the other was called Ruth. After 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 died. Naomi was left alone, without her two sons or 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.
So she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the country of Moab and return home because she had heard that the Lord had blessed his people there with food.
7 Hivyo aliondoka sehemu aliyokuwa pamoja na wake wa watoto wake wawili, walitelemka njia kurudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda.
She left the place where she had been living and with her two daughters-in-law set out on the road 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.
However, as they left, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Each of you, go back to your mother's homes, and may the Lord be as kind to you as you have been to me, and to those who have died.
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 give you a good home with another husband.” She kissed them, and they all started to cry loudly.
10 Wakamwambia, “Hapana! tutarudi pamoja na wewe kwa watu wako.”
“No! We want to go back with you to your people,” they replied.
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?
“Why do you want to go back with me?” Naomi asked. “I'm not able to have any more sons for you to marry.
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?
Go back home, my daughters, because I'm too old to marry again. Even if I were to sleep with a new husband tonight and had 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 decide you weren't going to marry anyone else? No. The whole situation is more bitter for me than it is for you, for the Lord has turned against me!”
14 Ndipo wake wa watoto wake wakapaza sauti zao na kulia tena. Oripa alimuaga kwa kumbusu, lakini Ruth aliendelea kubaki naye.
They started crying loudly again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth held on tightly to Naomi.
15 Naomi alisema, “sikiliza, mwenzako amerudi kwa watu wake na miungu yake. Ruri pamoja naye.”
“Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back home with her,” said Naomi.
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, “Please don't keep on telling me to leave you and go back. Where you go, I will go. Where you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. 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 harshly if I let anything but death separate us!”
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 telling Ruth to go home.
19 Hivyo wote wawili walisafiri mpaka walipofika mjini Bethelehemu. Kwa hiyo walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote uliwafurahia, wanawake walisema, “Huyu ni Naomi?”
So the two of them walked on until they reached Bethlehem. When they arrived there, the whole town got excited. “Is this Naomi?” the women asked.
20 Lakini aliwaambia, “Msiniite Naomi. Niiteni Mchungu, kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
She said to them, “Don't call me Naomi! Call me Mara, for the Almighty has treated me very bitterly.
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 left here full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has condemned me, when the Almighty has brought disaster on me?”
22 Kwa hivyo Naomi na Ruth Mmoabu, mke wa mtoto wake, walirudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu. walirudi Bethrehemu mwazo wa mavuno ya shairi.
This is the way that Naomi returned from Moab with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
