1 Kadzeni, live lisabuswa tikhulu kwase kwaba nendlala lenkhulu eveni. Lenye indvodza yakaJuda, leyayihlala eBhetlehema, yahamba nemkayo nemadvodzana ayo lamabili yaya kuyawuhlalahlala eveni lakaMowabi.
2 Libito lalendvodza kwakungu-Elimeleki, umkayo kunguNawomi, emadvodzana ayo kunguMahaloni naKhiliyoni. Babebesive sema-Efratha eBhetlehema yakaJuda. Bafike bacaba bahlala kulo lelive lakaMowabi.
3 Elimeleki, indvodza yaNawomi, wafa; Nawomi wasala nalamadvodzana akhe lamabili.
4 Lamadvodzana ateka bafati bakaMowabi; libito lalomunye umfati kwakungu-Opha, lomunye kunguRuthe. Bahlala lapho iminyaka lengaba lishumi.
5 BoMahaloni naKhiliyoni, bobabili, bafa; Nawomi wasala angenandvodza ate nendvodzana.
6 Emvakwaloko Nawomi weva kutsi Simakadze ubabusisile bantfu bakubo ngekubapha inala. Ngako-ke wavele watilungiselela kuhamba nalaba bomalukatane bakhe.
7 Besuka lapho, base balibangisa eveni lakaJuda.
8 Nawomi wase ukhuluma kubomalukatane bakhe, watsi: “Ncandzekani, nibuyele emakhaya akini. Shangatsi Simakadze anganiphatsa ngemusa, njengobe benibaphetse ngemusa nani bafi, lababengemadvodzana ami, kantsi nami futsi beningiphetse kahle.
9 Shangatsi Simakadze anganibusisa aniphe emadvodza, nakhe imiti!” Ngako Nawomi wabavalelisa ngekubanga, bakhala.
10 Bakhuluma kuye batsi: “Cha, sitawuhamba nawe siye esiveni sakini.”
11 Kodvwa Nawomi wakhuluma kubo, watsi: “Ncandzekani, madvodzakati ami, nitawuhambelani nami? Nitsi mine ngisenayo nje inhlanyelo kutsi ngingatala emadvodzana langaba ngemadvodza enu?
12 Ncandzekani, madvodzakati ami, sengimdzala kakhulu kutsi ngingaphindze ngendze manje. Nome bekungenteka ngibe nelitsemba, ngilale nendvodza kulobusuku, ngitale emadvodzana,
13 benitawemela yini adzimate akhule? Beningahlala ningendzi yini? Cha, madvodzakati ami, mine ngibuhlungu kabi ngani kutsi sandla saSimakadze simelene nami.”
14 Baphindze basicala phansi futsi sililo. Opha wanga uninatala wakhe wahamba, kodvwa Ruthe wanamatsela kuye.
15 Ngako-ke Nawomi wakhuluma kuRuthe, watsi: “Angitsi uyabona kutsi dzadzewenu sewuhambile wabuyela kubo, nawe-ke ncandzeka kanye naye.”
16 Ruthe waphendvula watsi: “Ngicela kutsi ungangincengi kutsi ngikushiye. Ngiyekele, ngihambe nawe. Lapho uya khona, nami ngitakuya khona; lapho uyawuhlala khona, nami ngiyawuhlala khona. Sive sakini, kuyawuba sive sami; naNkulunkulu wakho kube nguNkulunkulu wami.
17 Lapho uyawufela khona, nami ngiyawungcwatjwa khona. Shangatsi Simakadze angangijezisa kakhulu, nangabe mine ngivumela nome ngabe yini, ngaphandle kwekufa, kutsi kusehlukanise.”
18 Watsi kube Nawomi abone kutsi Ruthe utimisele kuhamba naye, wangabe asachubeka nekumncenga kutsi ancandzeke.
19 Bahamba bobabili badzimate bafika eBhetlehema. Batsi kube befike eBhetlehema, bonkhe bantfu kulelo dolobha babajabulela. Labasikati babutana bodvwana batsi: “Utsi ngabe nguNawomi lo?”
20 Wabaphendvula watsi: “Hhayi, ningasangibiti ngekutsi nginguNawomi, sale senitsi nginguMara, ngobe Nkulunkulu Somandla ungihlanekele, wangiletsela kuhlupheka.
21 Ngahamba ngiphelele, kodvwa Simakadze ungibuyise mahhala. Pho, nisangibitelani kutsi nginguNawomi, kantsi Simakadze ungihlanekele, wangiletsela kuhlupheka?”
22 Wancandzeka kanjalo-ke Nawomi namalukatane wakhe labengumMowabi, baphuma eveni lemaMowabi. Lapha eBhetlehema befika nakucala kuvunwa ibhali.
1 Nawomi abenesihlobo sakhe lesasiselusendvo lwaka-Elimeleki. Lesihlobo sasicebe kakhulu futsi sihloniphekile; libito laso kwakunguBowazi.
2 Ruthe, umMowabi, wakhuluma kuNawomi, watsi: “Kuncono ngihambe ngiye ensimini ngiyewukhwimita emvakwalowo lengingahle ngitfole kuye umusa.” Nawomi waphendvula watsi: “Hamba, ndvodzakati yami.”
3 Ngako-ke Ruthe wahamba wayawukhwimita emasimini emvakwebavuni. Kwenteka wangena ensimini leyayiyakaBowazi. Bowazi abewelusendvo lwaka-Elimeleki.
4 Kwase kufika Bowazi aphuma eBhetlehema, wafike kubavuni watsi: “Simakadze akabe nani!” Bamphendvula batsi. “Simakadze akakubusise!”
5 Bowazi wabuta kulendvuna yebavuni watsi: “Wakabani lomakoti?”
6 Lendvuna yamphendvula yatsi: “Lomakoti ungumMowabi, lofike naNawomi, aphuma eveni lakaMowabi.
7 Ufike la kimi watsi: ‘Ngicela kukhwimita, ngilandzele bavuni.’ Kusukela ekuseni ngeluvivi seloku angene lapha ensimini solomane uyasebenta, uphumuphumule kancane emtfuntini.”
8 Bowazi wakhuluma kuRuthe, watsi: “Lalela-ke, ndvodzakati yami, ungasacali kuyawukhwimita kulenye insimi, kodvwa namatsela kulamantfombatana ami lavunako.
9 Wena ubukisise insimi lapho bavuna khona, bese uyabalandzela. Lamajaha ngiwayale kutsi angakutsintsi. Nase womile, ubonatsa kuletimbita letigcwaliswe ngulamajaha.”
10 Ruthe wakhotsamisa buso bakhe, wabonga, watsi: “Kungani ngizuze umusa longaka kuwe nekutsi unginake kangaka ngiwetive?”
11 Bowazi waphendvula watsi: “Sebangitjele konkhe lokwentele unyokotala, seloku kwafa indvodza yakho. Bangitjela nangekusuka kwakho kini, washiya uyihlo nenyoko, nelive lakini lemdzabu, weta esiveni lowawungasati.
12 Shangatsi Simakadze angakunika umvuzo ngaloku lose ukwentile. Shangatsi Simakadze, Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli, angakunika umvuzo lophelele, njengobe naku sewukhosele ngaphansi kwakhe nje.”
13 Ruthe wamphendvula watsi: “Maye, ube nemusa kimi, mnumzane, ngobe sewungidvudvutile, wangikhulumisa ngemoya lomuhle mine ncekukati yakho, lite ngingesiye lomunye wetincekukati takho.”
14 Nasekudliwa Bowazi wabita Ruthe watsi: “Kota lapha, utekudla nasi sinkhwa, usishibe ngeliwayini.” Ngako-ke wahlala kanye netisebenti, Bowazi wamnika imbasha; wadla waze wesutsa, kwadzimate kwasala.
15 Watsi nakasukuma kuyawukhwimita, Bowazi wakhuluma nalamajaha, watsi: “Ruthe nibomyekela akhwimite nalapho kungakavunwa khona, ningamekhuti.
16 Nibomhoshulela letinye titfungo atitsatse, ningamtsetsisi.”
17 Ngako-ke Ruthe wachubeka wakhwimita, laze layawushona; watsi kube akubhule, kwaba ngemakhilogremu labengaba lishumi.
18 Wakutsatsa wahamba nako waya ekhaya; wakhombisa uninatala sonkhe sivuno sakhe, waphindze wamnika nekudla lokwakusele ensimini nakadlako.
19 Nawomi wabuta Ruthe watsi: “Lamuhla bewukhwimita kuphi? Bewusebenta kuphi? Ubusisiwe lowo muntfu lokunakile!” Ruthe waphendvula watsi: “Lamuhla bengisebenta ensimini yemuntfu lekutsiwa nguBowazi.”
20 Nawomi watsi kumalukatane wakhe: “Shangatsi Simakadze lonemusa kulabaphilako nalabafile angambusisa.” Wachubeka watsi: “Lomuntfu usihlobo setfu sengati, ungulomunye walabo labafanele kusinakekela.”
21 Ruthe wachubeka wakhuluma kuninatala, watsi: “Ngetulu kwaloko uphindze watsi angichubeke kukhwimita naletisebenti takakhe kuze kuphele kuvuna.”
22 Nawomi waphendvula Ruthe, malukatane wakhe, watsi: “Kulungile-ke, ndvodzakati, kuncono ubuyele uyewusebenta kanye nalamantfombatana asensimini yakaBowazi; ngobe ensimini yalomunye bangahle bakuhluphe.”
23 Ngako Ruthe wachubeka asebenta nalamantfombatana akaBowazi, baze bacedza kuvuna ibhali nakolo. Wachubeka kuhlala neninatala.
1 Emvakwesikhatsi Nawomi, uninatala wakhe, wakhuluma kuRuthe watsi: “Ndvodzakati! Utsi kungete kwaba ncono kutsi ngikwakhele umuti?
2 LoBowazi, lebewusebenta nemantfombatana akakhe, usihlobo sengati. Lalela la: Lamuhla Bowazi utawubhula kolo lapha ebaleni.
3 Ngako-ke geza, ugcoke kahle uphelele, ufake emakha, bese uyewuka uya lapho atawubhulela khona. Kodvwa ungacali umtjele kutsi ungubani asengakacedzi kudla nekunatsa.
4 Ubocaphelisisa kutsi utawulala kuphi, uye khona, ufike ugwabule ingubo ngasetinyaweni takhe, bese uyangena ulala eceleni kwato, utakutjela kutsi kufanele wenteni.”
5 Ruthe waphendvula watsi: “Konkhe loko lokushoko ngitakwenta.”
6 Ngako-ke Ruthe wewuka waya ebaleni lekubhulela kolo, wenta njengobe uninatala abemtjelile.
7 Ngesikhatsi Bowazi asadlile wanatsa, wativela ajabulile; ngako wahamba wayawulala eceleni kwencumbi yakolo. Ruthe wanyonyoba wasondzela kuBowazi, wafike wagwabula ingubo ngasetinyaweni takhe wangena, walala.
8 Ekhatsi nebusuku Bowazi watsi uyaphaphama wetfuka sekulele umuntfu lomsikati etinyaweni takhe.
9 Wambuta watsi: “Ungubani wena?” Wamphendvula watsi: “NginguRuthe, incekukati yakho, njengobe usihlobo sami sengati sengitetfula kuwe kutsi ungifukamele. Ngicela kutsi ungingene.”
10 Bowazi watsi: “Shangatsi Simakadze angakubusisa, ndvodzakati yami. Ukhombise inhlonipho lenkhulu kimi kunalena loyikhombisa unyokotala. Ngisho phela ngobe naku awukagijimeli kuyakwendza emadvodzeni lasemancane, lacebile nome laphuyile.
11 Cha, ndvodzakati yami, ngitakwentela konkhe loko lokucelako, ngako ungesabi. Tonkhe takhamiti talesigodzi tiyati kutsi ungumfati sibili.
12 Yebo, kuliciniso kutsi ngisihlobo sakho sengati, noko sikhona lesisedvute kakhulu kuwe kunami.
13 Sale ulala kwalamuhla. Kusasa ekuseni ngitawuvukela kuye ngalendzaba. Nangabe uyavuma kukungena, kutabe kulungile. Kodvwa nangabe akafuni, ngetsembisa phambi kwaSimakadze kutsi ngitakungena mine. Ngako lala kuze kuse.”
14 Ngako Ruthe walala ngasetinyaweni taBowazi kwaze kwasa, kodvwa washeshe wavuka kusemnyama. Phela Bowazi abengafuni kutsi kwatiwe kutsi kuke kwaba nalomsikati kulelo bala lekubhula.
15 Bowazi watsi kuye: “Khumula lelibhayi lolembetse uliletse la utekulendlala.” Ngako walikhumula, walendlala. Bowazi watsela kulo kolo labenesisindvo lesasingemakhilogremu labengaba ngemashumi lamabili, wametfwesa. Ruthe wancandzeka, wakhuphukela ekhaya edolobheni.
16 Watsi nakefika, uninatala wambuta watsi: “Uhambe njani, ndvodzakati yami?” Ruthe wamphendvula amtjela konkhe lokwakwentiwe nalokwakukhulunywe nguBowazi kuye.
17 Wachubeka Ruthe watsi: “Utsite: ‘Akukafaneli ubuyele kunyokotala ugoce tandla.’ Ngako ungiphe nangu kolo longemakhilogremu langaba ngema-20.”
18 Nawomi wamphendvula watsi: “Beketela, ndvodzakati, utawubona kutsi tintfo tihamba njani. Bowazi angeke asibeke sibunu sakhe phansi lamuhla angakayilungisi lendzaba.”
1 Bowazi wesuka lapho waya esangweni lelidolobha, wafike wahlala phansi. Kwabe sekufika lesihlobo sengati lakhuluma ngaso kuRuthe. Bowazi wasibitela eceleni, watsi: “Ase ute ngalapha, mnganami, uhlale phansi sikhulume.” Nembala waphambuka, wafike wahlala phansi.
2 Bowazi watsatsa emadvodza lalishumi labengimisumphe yelidolobha wawacela kutsi nawo ake atsi gozololo kancane.
3 Wabhekisa inkhulumo yakhe kulesihlobo sengati, watsi: “Nawomi losabuyile eveni lakaMowabi, utsengisa ngendzawana lekwakungeya-Elimeleki, sihlobo setfu sengati,
4 ngako ngibone kufanele kutsi ngikwatise loko emkhatsini walaba kanye nalemisumphe yalelidolobha, ngitsi nangabe uyayifuna, yitsenge embikwalamadvodza. Kodvwa nangabe awuyifuni, shano, ngobe phela kute lomunye longayitsenga ngaphandle kwakho. Mine ngitayitsenga nakwehluleka wena.” Lendvodza yaphendvula yatsi: “Ngitayitsenga.”
5 Bowazi wakhuluma watsi: “Kulungile-ke, kodvwa mhlazana utsenga lendzawo kuNawomi, kufanele ungene naRuthe, longumMowabi, umfelokati wemufi, khona utewuvusela umufi ligama.”
6 Lendvodza yaphendvula yatsi: “Cha, nakunjalo, ngingeke ngiyitsenge lendzawo, ngobe phela loko kutawusho kutsi lendzawo ingeke ibe lifa lebantfwabami. Yitsenge wena, mine ngingeke ngikhone kuyitsenga.”
7 Kadzeni lisiko laka-Israyeli lekutsengiselana nome kuntjintjiselana ngemhlaba, kuze kube siciniseko lesiphelele, bekutsi umtsengisi akhiphe sicatfulo sakhe asinike umtsengi. Loko-ke kwakube sekuba sibopho ngaleso sivumelwane.
8 Ngako-ke lendvodza yakhuluma kuBowazi, yatsi: “Yitsenge wena;” yakhumula sicatfulo sayo yasinika Bowazi.
9 Bowazi wakhuluma acondzise kuyo yonkhe lemisumphe nakubo bonkhe bantfu lababekhona lapho, watsi: “Nine nonkhe-ke lapha nibofakazi bami kusukela lamuhla kutsi sengikutsenge konkhe lobekukwakaNawomi, lobekukwaka-Elimeleki, nako konkhe lobekukwemadvodzana akhe boKhiliyoni naMahaloni.
10 Ngetulu kwaloko Ruthe, umMowabi, longumfelokati, labetekwe nguMahaloni, naye sengumkami. Loko kutawusita ekugcineni lifa netimphahla temndeni wemufi; umndeni wakhe uyawuchubeka esiveni sakhe, nasedolobheni lakubo. Nine-ke nibofakazi baloko kulelilanga lalamuhla.”
11 Bonkhe bantfu nelemisumphe leyayisesangweni yatsi: “Vele, sibofakazi. Shangatsi lomakoti lotawungena ekhaya lakho, Simakadze angamenta afanane naboRakheli naLeya, labasungula sive sema-Israyeli bobabili ngekutalela Jakobe bantfwana labanyenti. “Shangatsi ungema kahle kulolusendvo lwaka-Efratha, watiwe eBhetlehema.
12 Shangatsi bantfwana lotawubaphiwa nguSimakadze ngalomakoti bangenta umndeni wakho ufanane nemndeni waPheresi Thamari lowamtalela Juda.”
13 Ngako Bowazi watsatsa Ruthe, waba ngumkakhe. Simakadze wambusisa, Ruthe watetfwala, watala indvodzana.
14 Bafati labanye bakhuluma kuNawomi, batsi: “Akabongwe Simakadze, ngobe lamuhla ukuphe umtukulu loyingati yakho. Shangatsi ligama lakhe lingadvunyiswa ka-Israyeli.
15 Maye, malukatane wakho uyakutsandza bo! Loko lakwentele kona kukhulu kwendlula loko bekungentiwa ngemadvodzana lasikhombisa. Manje sewukutalele umtukulu lotawuba ngumliba loya embili, akusekele ebudzaleni bakho.”
16 Nawomi walutsatsa loluswane walugona, walunakekela, alukhulisa.
17 Bafati lababebomakhelwane bametsa libito lakhe batsi ngu-Obedi. Phela bonkhe babekhuluma batsi: “Kutelwe indvodzana kaNawomi.” Obedi watala Jese; Jese watala Davide.
18 Nati-ke titukulwane taPheresi: Pheresi watala Hesroni;
19 Hesroni watala Ramu; Ramu watala Aminadabi.
20 Aminadabi watala Nasoni; Nasoni watala Salmoni,
21 Salmoni watala Bowazi; Bowazi watala Obedi;
22 Obedi watala Jese; Jese watala Davide.