< Rut 3 >

1 Ɛda bi Naomi ka kyerɛɛ Rut sɛ, “Me babaa, ɛberɛ aduru sɛ mehwehwɛ fie a wobɛtena mu na wobɛnya deɛ ɛhia wo biara.
After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.
2 Boas yɛ yɛn busuani pɛɛ na wayɛ adɔeɛ mmorosoɔ sɛ wama wo ne nʼadwumayɛfoɔ aboaboa atokoɔ ano. Anadwo yi, ɔbɛhuhu atokoɔ so wɔ ayuporobea hɔ.
This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.
3 Enti, yɛ deɛ merekyerɛ wo yi. Dware na tutu aduhwam gu wo ho na fa wo ntadeɛ pa bi hyɛ. Afei, kɔ ayuporobea hɔ, nanso mma Boas nhunu wo kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛdidi awie.
Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 Hwɛ na hunu baabi a ɔda hɔ yie, afei, kɔ na kɔyi ne nan ho akatasoɔ na da hɔ. Ɔbɛka deɛ ɔpɛ sɛ woyɛ akyerɛ wo.”
And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.
5 Rut kaa sɛ, “Biribiara a wobɛka akyerɛ me sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.”
She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.
6 Enti, ɔkɔɔ ayuporobea hɔ anadwo no, na ɔdii akwankyerɛ a nʼase de maa no no so.
And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.
7 Boas didi wieeɛ no a ne honhom aba ne ho no, ɔkyeaa ne ho too atokoɔ mmoano no ho, na ɔfaa mu daeɛ. Rut yɛɛ nwaa kɔyii ne nan ho akatasoɔ na ɔdaa hɔ.
And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.
8 Anadwo dasuo mu no, Boas bɔɔ pitiri danee ne ho. Ɛyɛɛ no nwanwa sɛ ɔhunuu sɛ ɔbaa da ne nan ase.
And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,
9 Ɔbisaa sɛ, “Na hwan nie?” Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ me wo ɔsomfoɔ Rut. Trɛ wo nkatasoɔ no mu kakra gu me so na woyɛ mʼabusua gyefoɔ.”
And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.
10 Na Boas kaa sɛ, “Awurade nhyira wo, me babaa! Worekyerɛ abusua dɔ a ebi mmaa da sɛ woankɔdi aberantewaa bi akyi, sɛ ɔwɔ sika anaa ɔyɛ ohiani.
And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.
11 Afei, me babaa, mma hwee nha wo. Mɛyɛ deɛ ɛho hia, ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a ɔwɔ kuro yi mu nim sɛ woyɛ ɔbaa a wodi wo ho ni.
Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 Nanso, akwansideɛ baako wɔ hɔ. Ɛyɛ nokorɛ turodoo sɛ meyɛ mo abusua agyefoɔ mu baako deɛ, nanso, ɔbarima foforɔ bi wɔ hɔ a ɔyɛ obusuani nimpɔn sene me.
Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
13 Tena ha anadwo yi na sɛ adeɛ kye a, me ne no bɛkasa. Sɛ ɛyɛ ne pɛ sɛ ɔbɛgye wo a, ɛnneɛ ma ho kwan na ɔnware wo. Na sɛ ɛnyɛ ne pɛ nso a, ɛnneɛ, ɛkwan biara so, sɛ Awurade te ase yi, mɛware wo! Enti da ha ma adeɛ nkye.”
Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.
14 Enti, Rut daa ne nan ho kɔsii adekyeeɛ nanso ɔsɔree ɛberɛ a na anim ayɛ hwanihwani no. Na Boas ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ obi hunu sɛ ɔbaa bi bɛdaa ayuporeeɛ ha.”
So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
15 Boas toaa so kaa sɛ, “Fa wʼatadeɛ ngugusoɔ no bra na trɛ mu.” Ɔsesaa atokoɔ no susukora nsia guu mu na ɔboaa no maa ɔde hyɛɛ nʼakyi. Na Boas sane kɔɔ kuro no mu.
And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,
16 Rut baa nʼase Naomi nkyɛn no, ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Me babaa, ɛkɔsii sɛn?” Rut kaa biribiara a Boas yɛ maa no kyerɛɛ Naomi,
And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 na ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Ɔmaa me atokoɔ susukora nsia kaa sɛ, ‘Mfa nsapan nkɔ wʼase nkyɛn.’”
And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law.
18 Afei, Naomi kaa sɛ, “Me ba, twɛn kɔsi sɛ wobɛhunu deɛ ɛbɛsi. Ɔbarima no renna so kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛwie dwumadie no. Ɔbɛma asi ɛnnɛ dua yi ara.”
And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.

< Rut 3 >