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.
NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his 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.
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 Ndipo Elimeleki, mume wa Naomi, alikufa, na Naomi aliachwa na watoto wake wa kiume wawili.
And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and 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.
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 Kisha wote Mahiloni na Kileoni walikufa, na kumuacha Naomi bila mme wake na bila watoto wake wawili.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and 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.
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Hivyo aliondoka sehemu aliyokuwa pamoja na wake wa watoto wake wawili, walitelemka njia kurudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda.
Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto 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.
And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 Mungu awajalie ninyi kupata pumziko, kila mmoja wenu katika nyumba ya mme mwingine.” Kisha akawabusu, na wakapaza sauti zao na kulia.
The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 Wakamwambia, “Hapana! tutarudi pamoja na wewe kwa watu wako.”
And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy 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?
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be 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?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also 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 ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is 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.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 Naomi alisema, “sikiliza, mwenzako amerudi kwa watu wake na miungu yake. Ruri pamoja naye.”
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
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.
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Mahali utakapofia, nitafia hapo, na hapo nitazikwa. Yahweh aniwezeshe, na hata zaidi, ikiwa kuna chochote isipokuwa kifo kamwe hakiwezi kututenganisha.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 Naomi alipoona kuwa Ruth alikuwa ameamua kwenda naye, aliacha kubishana naye.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19 Hivyo wote wawili walisafiri mpaka walipofika mjini Bethelehemu. Kwa hiyo walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote uliwafurahia, wanawake walisema, “Huyu ni Naomi?”
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 Lakini aliwaambia, “Msiniite Naomi. Niiteni Mchungu, kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very 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 out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath 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, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
