1 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.
Ikawa zamani za Waamuzi walipoamua, kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi. Akaondoka mtu mmoja wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda, akaenda kukaa katika nchi ya Moabu, yeye na mkewe na wanawe wawili.
2 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.
Na jina la mtu huyo aliitwa Elimeleki, na jina la mkewe Naomi, na majina ya wanawe wawili Maloni na Kilioni, Waefrathi wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda. Wakafika nchi ya Moabu, wakakaa huko.
3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Akafa Elimeleki, mumewe Naomi; na yule mwanamke akasalia na wanawe wawili.
4 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.
Nao wakaoa wake katika wanawake wa Moabu; na jina la mmoja aliitwa Orpa, na jina la wa pili Ruthuu. Wakakaa huko yapata miaka kumi.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Wakafa na Maloni na Kilioni wote wawili; na huyo mwanamke akawa amefiwa na wanawe wawili, na mumewe pia.
6 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.
Ndipo alipoondoka, yeye na wakweze, ili kurudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu; maana huko katika nchi ya Moabu amesikia ya kwamba Bwana amewajilia watu wake na kuwapa chakula.
7 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.
Basi akatoka pale alipokuwapo, na wakweze wawili pamoja naye; wakashika njia ili kurudi mpaka nchi ya Yuda.
8 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.
Kisha Naomi akawaambia wakweze wawili, Nendeni sasa mkarejee kila mmoja nyumbani kwa mamaye; Bwana na awatendee mema ninyi, kama ninyi mlivyowatendea mema hao waliofariki na mimi pia.
9 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.
Bwana na awajalie kuona raha kila mmoja nyumbani kwa mumewe. Kisha akawabusu; nao wakapaza sauti zao wakalia.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
Wakamwambia, La, sivyo; lakini tutarudi pamoja nawe kwa watu wako.
11 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?
Naye Naomi akasema, Enyi wanangu, mrejee; kwani kufuatana na mimi? Je! Mimi ninao watoto wa kiume tena tumboni mwangu, hata wawe waume zenu?
12 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;
Enyi wanangu, mrejee; nendeni zenu; kwa kuwa mimi ni mzee, siwezi kupata mume tena. Kama ningesema, Natumaini; kama ningepata mume hata usiku huu, na kuzaa watoto wa kiume;
13 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.
je! Mngesubiri hata watakapokuwa watu wazima? Mngejizuia msiwe na waume? La, sivyo, wanangu; maana ni vigumu kwangu kuliko kwenu, kwa sababu mkono wa Bwana umetoka juu yangu.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Nao wakapaza sauti zao, wakalia tena, na Orpa akambusu mkwewe, lakini Ruthuu akaambatana naye.
15 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.
Naye akasema, Tazama, shemeji yako amerejea kwa watu wake, na kwa mungu wake; basi urejee wewe umfuate shemeji yako.
16 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:
Naye Ruthuu akasema, Usinisihi nikuache, Nirejee nisifuatane nawe; Maana wewe uendako nitakwenda, Na wewe ukaapo nitakaa. Watu wako watakuwa watu wangu, Na Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu;
17 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.
Pale utakapokufa nitakufa nami, Na papo hapo nitazikwa; Bwana anitende vivyo na kuzidi, Ila kufa tu kutatutenga wewe nami.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
Basi alipomwona kuwa amekaza nia yake kufuatana naye, aliacha kusema naye.
19 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?
Hivyo hao wakaendelea wote wawili hata walipofika Bethlehemu. Na ikawa walipofika Bethlehemu, mji wote ulitaharuki kwa habari zao. Nao wanawake wakasema, Je! Huyu ni Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Akawaambia, Msiniite Naomi niiteni Mara, kwa sababu Mwenyezi Mungu amenitenda mambo machungu sana.
21 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?
Mimi nalitoka hali nimejaa, naye Bwana amenirudisha sina kitu, kwani kuniita Naomi, ikiwa Bwana ameshuhudia juu yangu, na Mwenyezi Mungu amenitesa?
22 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.
Basi Naomi akarudi; pamoja na Ruthuu Mmoabi, mkwewe; ambao walirudi kutoka nchi ya Moabu; nao wakafika Bethlehemu mwanzo wa mavuno ya shayiri.
