< Ruth 3 >

1 Kisha Naomi akamwambia mkwewe, “Binti yangu, je, nisingelikutafutia pumziko ambako utatunzika vyema?
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
2 Je, Boazi, ambaye umekuwa pamoja na watumishi wake wasichana, si jamaa yetu wa karibu? Usiku wa leo atakuwa anapepeta ngano kwenye sakafu ya kupuria.
Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Look, he winnows barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3 Basi oga na ukajipake marashi, ujivalie nguo zako nzuri. Kisha uende kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, lakini angalia asijue kwamba upo pale mpaka atakapomaliza kula na kunywa.
Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, and put on your clothes, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 Atakapokwenda kulala, angalia mahali atakapolala. Kisha uende ufunue miguu yake, ulale. Naye atakuambia utakalofanya.”
It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do."
5 Ruthu akajibu, “Lolote usemalo nitatenda.”
She said to her, "All that you say I will do."
6 Basi akashuka mpaka kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, akafanya kila kitu mama mkwe wake alichomwambia kufanya.
She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.
7 Wakati Boazi alipomaliza kula na kunywa, naye akawa amejawa na furaha, alikwenda kulala mwisho wa lundo la nafaka. Ruthu akanyemelea polepole, akafunua miguu yake, na akalala.
When Boaz had eaten and drank, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 Usiku wa manane, kitu kilimshtua Boazi, akajigeuza, akagundua yupo mwanamke amelala miguuni pake.
It happened at midnight, that the man was startled and turned over; and look, a woman lay at his feet.
9 Akauliza, “Wewe ni nani?” Akajibu, “Ni mimi Ruthu, mjakazi wako. Uitande nguo yako juu yangu, kwa sababu wewe ndiwe jamaa wa karibu wa kutukomboa.”
He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your handmaid; for you are a redeeming kinsman."
10 Akamwambia, “Binti yangu, ubarikiwe na Bwana. Wema huu wa sasa ni mkuu kushinda hata ule ulioonyesha mwanzoni. Hukuwakimbilia vijana, wakiwa matajiri au maskini.
He said, "Blessed are you by Jehovah, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn't follow young men, whether poor or rich.
11 Sasa, binti yangu, usiogope. Nitakufanyia yote uliyoomba. Kwa maana mji wote wa watu wangu wanakujua ya kwamba wewe ni mwanamke mwenye tabia nzuri.
Now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.
12 Ingawa ni kweli kwamba mimi ndiye jamaa aliye karibu, bado kuna mtu mwingine wa jamaa aliye karibu zaidi wa kukomboa kuliko mimi.
Now it is true that I am a redeeming kinsman; however there is a redeemer closer than I am.
13 Wewe kaa hapa usiku huu, kisha asubuhi kama akikubali kukomboa, vyema na akomboe. La sivyo kama hayuko tayari, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo nitafanya hivyo. Lala hapa mpaka asubuhi.”
Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a redeemer, well; let him do the redeemer's part. But if he will not do the part of a redeemer for you, then I will do the part of a redeemer for you, as Jehovah lives. Lie down until the morning."
14 Hivyo huyo mwanamke akalala miguuni pake mpaka asubuhi, akaondoka mapema pasipo mtu kuweza kumtambua mwenzake, maana Boazi alisema, “Isijulikane kabisa ya kuwa mwanamke alifika kwenye sakafu ya kupuria.”
She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."
15 Pia akamwambia, “Leta shela yako uliyoivaa, uitandaze.” Naye alipoitandaza, akamimina vipimo sita vya shayiri, akamtwika. Kisha Ruthu akarudi zake mjini.
He said, "Bring the cloak that is on you, and hold it." She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city.
16 Basi Ruthu alipofika kwa mama mkwe wake Naomi, akamuuliza, “Je, binti yangu, ilikuwaje huko?” Ndipo akamwelezea kila kitu Boazi alichomfanyia.
When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" She told her all that the man had done to her.
17 Akaendelea kusema, “Amenipa shayiri vipimo sita akisema, ‘Usiende kwa mama mkwe wako mikono mitupu.’”
She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"
18 Kisha Naomi akasema, “Subiri binti yangu, mpaka utakapojua kwamba hili jambo limekwendaje. Kwa sababu mtu huyu hatatulia mpaka akamilishe jambo hili leo.”
Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day."

< Ruth 3 >