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 of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed to sojourn in the region of the Moabites with his wife and two children.
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.
He called himself Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and his two sons, the one Mahlon, and the other Chilion, Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. And entering into the region of the Moabites, they stayed there.
3 Ndipo Elimeleki, mume wa Naomi, alikufa, na Naomi aliachwa na watoto wake wa kiume wawili.
And Elimelech the husband of Naomi died; and she remained with her 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.
They took wives from among the Moabites, of whom one was called Orpah, and the other Ruth. And they lived there ten years.
5 Kisha wote Mahiloni na Kileoni walikufa, na kumuacha Naomi bila mme wake na bila watoto wake wawili.
And they both died, namely Mahlon and Chilion, and the woman was left alone, bereaved of her two children 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.
And she arose so that she might journey to her native land, with both her daughters-in-law, from the region of the Moabites. For she had heard that the Lord had provided for his people and had given them food.
7 Hivyo aliondoka sehemu aliyokuwa pamoja na wake wa watoto wake wawili, walitelemka njia kurudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda.
And so she departed from the place of her sojourn, with both her daughters-in-law, and having set out upon the way, she was about to return 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.
She said to them, “Go to the home of your mother. May the Lord deal mercifully with you, just as you 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.
May he grant you to find rest in the houses of the husbands, whom you will obtain by lot.” And she kissed them. They lifted up their voice, and began to weep,
10 Wakamwambia, “Hapana! tutarudi pamoja na wewe kwa watu wako.”
and to say, “We will journey 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 she answered them, “Return, my daughters. Why come with me? Do I have any more sons in my womb, so that you could hope for husbands from me?
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, my daughters, go forth. For I am now exhausted by old age, and not fit for the bond of marriage. Even if I were to conceive on this night, and 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.”
if you were willing to wait until they were grown and had completed the years of adolescence, you would be elderly before you could marry. Do not do so, I beg you, my daughters. For your difficulties weigh upon me greatly, and the hand of the Lord has been set against me.”
14 Ndipo wake wa watoto wake wakapaza sauti zao na kulia tena. Oripa alimuaga kwa kumbusu, lakini Ruth aliendelea kubaki naye.
In response, they lifted up their voice and began to weep again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and then turned back. Ruth clung to her mother-in-law.
15 Naomi alisema, “sikiliza, mwenzako amerudi kwa watu wake na miungu yake. Ruri pamoja naye.”
Naomi said to her, “See, your kinswoman returns to her people, and to her gods. Hurry after her.”
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.
She answered, “Do not be against me, as if I would abandon you and go away; for wherever you will go, I will go, and where you will stay, I also will stay with you. Your people are my people, and your God is my God.
17 Mahali utakapofia, nitafia hapo, na hapo nitazikwa. Yahweh aniwezeshe, na hata zaidi, ikiwa kuna chochote isipokuwa kifo kamwe hakiwezi kututenganisha.
Whichever land will receive you dying, in the same I will die, and there I will have the place of my burial. May God cause these things to happen to me, and add more also, if anything except death alone should separate you and I.”
18 Naomi alipoona kuwa Ruth alikuwa ameamua kwenda naye, aliacha kubishana naye.
Therefore, Naomi saw that Ruth, being firmly resolved in her soul, was determined to go with her, and that she was unwilling to be dissuaded, and that nothing further could convince her to return to her own.
19 Hivyo wote wawili walisafiri mpaka walipofika mjini Bethelehemu. Kwa hiyo walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote uliwafurahia, wanawake walisema, “Huyu ni Naomi?”
And so they set out together, and they came to Bethlehem. When they had entered the city, the news quickly spread among them all. And the women said, “This is that Naomi.”
20 Lakini aliwaambia, “Msiniite Naomi. Niiteni Mchungu, kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi (that is, beautiful), but call me Mara (that is, bitter). For the Almighty has greatly filled me with bitterness.
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 led me back empty. So then, why call me Naomi, whom the Lord has humbled and the Almighty has afflicted?”
22 Kwa hivyo Naomi na Ruth Mmoabu, mke wa mtoto wake, walirudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu. walirudi Bethrehemu mwazo wa mavuno ya shairi.
Therefore, Naomi went with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, from the land of her sojourn, and returned to Bethlehem, at the time of the first reaping of the barley.
