2waza uBhowazi wabiza ishumi lamadoda amakhulu omzi, wathi kuwo: “Khanikhe nithi nqwadalala apha.” Enjenjalo ke. 3UBhowazi wabhekisa kwisizalwana sakhe esingumkhululi wenjenje: “UNawomi obuyileyo eMowabhi ufuna ukuwuthengisa lowa mhlaba womntakwethu uElimeleki. 4Ndithe lo mbandela ndokha ndiwuphalaze kuwe apha phambi kwaba bantu balapha kunye nala madoda makhulu akowethu, ndiqonde ukuba uyawuthatha na. Ukuba uyawuthatha, wuthathe; kodwa ukuba akuwuthathi, ndixelele. Kaloku akukho mntu unelungelo ngaphezu kwakho; nkqu nam ndilandela wena.”
“Hayi, ndiza kuyithatha loo ntsimi,” watsho loo mfo.
5UBhowazi wathi: “Uze uqonde ukuba mhla wathatha laa ntsimi kuNawomi uthatha noRute, umka-mfi, ukuze lingaze licime igama lakhe kwilifa lakhe.”
6Uthe loo mfo: “Xa kunjalo ke mna andizi kuyithatha loo ntsimi, kuba ndiya kuba ndizifaka engxakini yokubeka umzi wam esichengeni. Ungayithatha wena; mna andinako.”
The book of Ruth: a story of suffering and loss giving way to hope and new beginnings
