Ruth 4

1 Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

1 波阿斯到了城門，坐在那裏，恰巧波阿斯所說的那至近的親屬經過。波阿斯說：「某人哪，你來坐在這裏。」他就來坐下。

2 Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

2 波阿斯又從本城的長老中揀選了十人，對他們說：「請你們坐在這裏。」他們就都坐下。

3 And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

3 波阿斯對那至近的親屬說：「從摩押地回來的拿俄米，現在要賣我們族兄以利米勒的那塊地；

4 I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.

4 我想當贖那塊地的是你，其次是我，以外再沒有別人了。你可以在這裏的人面前和我本國的長老面前說明，你若肯贖就贖，若不肯贖就告訴我。」那人回答說：「我肯贖。」

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

5 波阿斯說：「你從拿俄米手中買這地的時候，也當娶 死人的妻摩押女子路得，使死人在產業上存留他的名。」

6 The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”

6 那人說：「這樣我就不能贖了，恐怕於我的產業有礙。你可以贖我所當贖的，我不能贖了。」

7 Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel.

7 從前，在以色列中要定奪甚麼事，或贖回，或交易，這人就脫鞋給那人。以色列人都以此為證據。

8 So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

8 那人對波阿斯說：「你自己買吧！」於是將鞋脫下來了。

9 At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

9 波阿斯對長老和眾民說：「你們今日作見證，凡屬以利米勒和基連、瑪倫的，我都從拿俄米手中置買了；

10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

10 又娶了瑪倫的妻摩押女子路得為妻，好在死人的產業上存留他的名，免得他的名在本族本鄉滅沒。你們今日可以作見證。」

11 “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

11 在城門坐着的眾民和長老都說：「我們作見證。願耶和華使進你家的這女子，像建立以色列家的拉結、利亞二人一樣。又願你在以法他得亨通，在伯利恆得名聲。

12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

12 願耶和華從這少年女子賜你後裔，使你的家像她瑪從猶大所生法勒斯的家一般。」

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

13 於是，波阿斯娶了路得為妻，與她同房。耶和華使她懷孕生了一個兒子。

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.

14 婦人們對拿俄米說：「耶和華是應當稱頌的！因為今日沒有撇下你，使你無至近的親屬。願這孩子在以色列中得名聲。

15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

15 他必提起你的精神，奉養你的老，因為是愛慕你的那兒婦所生的。有這兒婦比有七個兒子還好！」

16 And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.

16 拿俄米就把孩子抱在懷中，作他的養母。

17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

17 鄰舍的婦人說：「拿俄米得孩子了！」就給孩子起名叫俄備得。這俄備得是耶西的父，耶西是大衛的父。

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,

18 法勒斯的後代記在下面：法勒斯生希斯崙；

19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,

19 希斯崙生蘭；蘭生亞米拿達；

20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,

20 亞米拿達生拿順；拿順生撒門；

21 Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,

21 撒門生波阿斯；波阿斯生俄備得；

22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

22 俄備得生耶西；耶西生大衛。