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 time when the judges ruled, there was once a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah took his wife and two sons to live in the territory 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.
His name was Elimelech and his wife’s was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. After they had been living in Moab for some time,
3 Ndipo Elimeleki, mume wa Naomi, alikufa, na Naomi aliachwa na watoto wake wa kiume wawili.
Elimelech died, and Naomi 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 married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,
5 Kisha wote Mahiloni na Kileoni walikufa, na kumuacha Naomi bila mme wake na bila watoto wake wawili.
Mahlon and Chilion both died, and Naomi was left alone, without husband or sons.
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 set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab, for she had heard that the Lord had remembered his people and given them food.
7 Hivyo aliondoka sehemu aliyokuwa pamoja na wake wa watoto wake wawili, walitelemka njia kurudi kwenye nchi ya Yuda.
As they were setting out together on the journey to 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.
Naomi said to her daughters-in-law, “Go, return both of you to the home of your mother. May the Lord be kind to you as you have been kind to the 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.
The Lord grant that each of you may find peace and happiness in the house of a new husband.” Then she kissed them; but they began to weep aloud
10 Wakamwambia, “Hapana! tutarudi pamoja na wewe kwa watu wako.”
and said to her, “No, 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 said, “Go back, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Can I still bear sons who might 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?
Go back, my daughters, go your own way, because I am too old to have a husband. Even if I should say, ‘I have hope,’ even if I should have a husband tonight and should 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 until they were grown up? Would you remain single for them? No, my daughters! My heart grieves for you, for the Lord has sent me adversity.”
14 Ndipo wake wa watoto wake wakapaza sauti zao na kulia tena. Oripa alimuaga kwa kumbusu, lakini Ruth aliendelea kubaki naye.
Then they again wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth stayed with her.
15 Naomi alisema, “sikiliza, mwenzako amerudi kwa watu wake na miungu yake. Ruri pamoja naye.”
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and to her own gods. Go along with 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.
But Ruth answered, “Do not urge me to leave you or to go back. I will go where you go, and I will stay wherever you stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God;
17 Mahali utakapofia, nitafia hapo, na hapo nitazikwa. Yahweh aniwezeshe, na hata zaidi, ikiwa kuna chochote isipokuwa kifo kamwe hakiwezi kututenganisha.
I will die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord bring a curse upon me, if anything but death separate 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 ceased urging her to return.
19 Hivyo wote wawili walisafiri mpaka walipofika mjini Bethelehemu. Kwa hiyo walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote uliwafurahia, wanawake walisema, “Huyu ni Naomi?”
So they journeyed on until they came to Bethlehem. Their arrival stirred the whole town, and the women said, “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 said to them, “call me Mara, for the Almighty has given me a bitter lot.
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 had plenty when I left, but the Lord has brought me back empty handed. Why should you call me Naomi, now that the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has brought misfortune 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.
So Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, returned from Moab. They reached Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
