1, 2. (a) Kanaya okwa lhughendo lhwa Ruta na Naomi n’okwa malighe awababya nagho. (b) Olhughendo lhwa Ruta lhwabya lhuthi lhwa mbaghane oko lhwa Naomi?

RUTA na Naomi mubaghenda haghuma omwa nzira eyikalhaba omwa mbwarara ye Moabu. Okwa ndambi eyo babya in’ibo basa omwa mbwarara. Thalengekania Ruta akalhangirira okwa hyutsutsu hyabu obuthuku ku bwabirighenda, n’erikebera nyokobyalha wiwe akabulha nga bakendi kesyahi. Ruta abya anzire Naomi ya kutsibu kandi iniakakolha ekyosi-kyosi eky’angathoka akamutsomana.

² Abakali abo, abosi babya bawithe ebikabalyambaya. Okwa ndambi eyi, Naomi abya iniamabirighunza myaka mingyi iniane mukwakali, aliriryo kandi abya imwanamabiriholerwa baghalha biwe babiri, ya Kilioni na Malona, neryo abya iniane n’omwa bulighe obo. Ruta nayu abya iniane omwa bulighe. Malona yuwabya mwira wiwe. Ruta na Naomi abosi babya ibakaya haghuma, omwa tawuni ye Betelehemu omwa Israeli. Aliriryo, eya bakaghenda eyo, y’ewobu Naomi. Aliwe Ruta iyo abya iniakaghenda eyo athasi, erisighania ab’eka yiwe, ekihugho ky’ewabu, n’emirwa yakyo yosi, imwamuli n’esyonyamuhanga syabu.​—Soma Ruta 1:3-6.

3. Ni subirya ly’ebibulyo byahi erikendi thuwathikya erigherererya erikirirya lya Ruta?

³ Ni kyahi ekyaleka omumbesa mulere oyu iniathwamu athya? Ruta angabwene athi akaghalha k’eritsuka obuli kindu kya buhyaka n’eritsomana Naomi? Eby’erisubirya okwa bibulyo ebi, bikendi leka ithwabana bingyi eby’erigherererya oku Ruta, omwana mutho we Moabu busana n’erikirirya liwe. (Lebaya nʼakasanduko “Omubiiri Muke Owakolire Ndeke.“ (Lebaya nʼakasanduko “Omubiiri Muke Owakolire Ndeke.”) Eritsuka, thulebaye ekyaleka abakali babiri aba, Naomi na Ruta, ibaghenda lhughendo lhuuli olhu, bakaya e Betelehemu.

4, 5. (a) Ni kyahi ekyaleka Naomi n’ab’eka yiwe ibahumira e Moabu? (b) Ni bitsibu byahi ebya Naomi abana e Moabu?

⁴ Ruta akulira e Moabu, akahugho kake akabya ebulhua lyuba bw’Engetse y’Omunyu. Ekitsweka eki kyabya mw’ehithwe hike-hike  okuli muthi mughuma-mughuma, imulhabire n’emisya. Mughulhu mungyi ‘Ekihugho kye Moabu’ ikik’eraya, aliwe e Israeli iyine enzalha nene. Erithwalira haghuma, ekyo ky’ekyaleka Ruta iniabanangana na Malona.​—Ruta 1:1.

⁵ Enzalha nene eyawa e Israeli muyaleka Elimeleki, mwira wa Naomi, iniathwamu erithwalha mukali wiwe na baghalha biwe babiri eriyikalha e Moabu ng’ababunga. Erihuma eri lyangabya imulyalenga okw’ikirirya ly’obuli mughuma w’okw’ibo kundi Abaisraeli babya batholere ibabya ibakaramirya Yehova y’omo mwanya owabuyirire owabya iniabirihiraho. (Ebi. 16:16, 17) Nomwakine indi Naomi mwasighalha inianahambirire erikirirya liwe, olhuholho lhwa mwira wiwe mulhwa mwitha obulighe.​—Ruta 1:2, 3.

6, 7. (a) Busana naki kyangabya imukyaponesya Naomi, baghalha biwe bakathahya okwa bakali be Moabu? (b) Busana naki kyabya kindu kyuwene Naomi erikangania balyana biwe b’olhukeri n’olhwanzo?

⁶ Kandi kyangabya imukyalethera Naomi y’obulighe baghalha biwe bakathahya okwa bakali be Moabu. (Ruta 1:4) Abya inianakyasi ngoku thatha-kulhu w’ekihanda kiwe, iya Abrahamu, mwalengaho kutsibu erisonderya mughalha wiwe, iya Isaka, y’omukali erilhua omwa b’okw’iyo ababya bakaramya Yehova. (Enz. 24:3, 4) Enyuma waho, Emighambo ya Musa muyaghania Abaisraeli erilighira abaana babu erithahangania n’ab’ebihanda, kikasyaleka bakaramya esyosanamu.​—Ebi. 7:3, 4.

⁷ Nomwabine bithya, Malona na Kilioni mubathahya okwa bakali be Moabu. Nomwakine indi Naomi anganabya imwapona, mwalhangira athi akakanganaya balyana biwe, Ruta na Oripa, b’olhukeri n’olhwanzo. Obundi abya inianawithe amaha athi kiro kighuma nabo bakendi syaramya Yehova ng’iyo. Aliriryo, ekyathwasi kiri kithi iya Ruta na Oripa babya banzire Naomi ya kutsibu. Obughuma obo mubwabawathikya bakabana ebitsibu. Abosi babere bathebabutha, mubabya bakwakali.​—Ruta 1:5.

8. Ni kyahi ekyaleka Ruta inianza Yehova?

⁸ Eriramya erya Ruta akuliramu mulyana muwathikya eriyitheghekera ekitsibu ng’eki? Alinga eyihi. Abamoabu babya bakaramya esyonyamuhanga nyingyi. Kemosi yuwabya mukulhu w’omwisyo. (Emig. 21:29) Edini y’Abamoabu yikabya ngayabya yikasighika eby’obutsindi n’ebikubahisaya ebyabya bikanyirire omwa buthuku obo, imwamuli n’erihonga abaana. Ekyosi-kyosi ekya Ruta ighira oku Malona kutse Naomi ekihambire oku Nyamuhanga Yehova, ow’olhukogho n’ow’olhwanzo owe Israeli, mukyaleka Ruta inialhangira ndeke embaghane. Mwalhangira ngoku Yehova ni muthabali w’olhwanzo butsira ow’eryubahisya. (Soma Eryibuka Ebihano 6:5.) Ebitsibu byabere bikatsuka, Ruta angabya imwayithunda hakuhi na Naomi n’erihulikirira ndeke omukekulhu oyu akamukanirya oku  Nyamuhanga omuthoki w’ebyosi, Yehova, emibiiri yiwe y’amaaka, n’emibere y’olhwanzo n’olhukogho eyo akanganaya abandu biwe.

9-11. (a) Ni thwamu lyahi erya Naomi, Ruta, na Oripa bakolha? (b) Ebitsibu ebyahika oku Naomi, Ruta, na Oripa byanga thweghesyaki?

⁹ Naomi, iyo abya iniananzire eriminya okwa by’ewabu. Kiro kighuma mwowa, obundi omusuburi akabugha athi enzalha yahwere e Israeli. Ngoku Yehova abya iniabirisubana n’abandu biwe. Kandi ngoku e Betelehemu yabya iyabirithasyabya ngoku erina lyayu likamanyisaya, “Enyumba y’Omuggati.” Neryo Naomi mwathwamu erisuba ewabu.​—Ruta 1:6.

¹⁰ Ruta na Oripa banga kolireki? (Ruta 1:7) Babya ibabiribeghera ndeke oku Naomi omwa buthuku babya omwa bulighe. Kwilhabirirya Ruta iyo, akabya ngamwabeghera oku Naomi busana n’olhukeri lhwa Naomi n’erikirirya ery’abya awithe omu Yehova. Abakwakali basathu aba, abosi mubatsuka olhughendo olhw’eriya e Yuda.

¹¹ Omwatsi wa Ruta akathwibukaya ngoku ebitsibu ebikalire bikahika okwa bandu bosi, ababi na babuya. (Omu. 9:2, 11) Kandi iniathasya thukangania ngoku thutholere ithwayihira okwa bandi busana n’erithuhumulikania, na kwilhabirirya abakayikethera Yehova, Nyamuhanga oyo Naomi abya akaramya.​—Emi. 17:17.

12, 13. Ekyaleka Naomi inianza athi Ruta na Oripa basube ewabu niki, kandi erimbere mubasubirya bathiki?

¹² Abakwakali abasathu aba babere babighenda lhughendo lhuuli, hamathasyabya ekindi ekikalyambaya Naomi. Mwalengekania okwa balyana biwe babiri ababya ibane nayu n’olhwanzo olhwa babya ibabirikangania iyo na baghalha biwe. Mukyamulyambya akalengekania ngoku angathabya muheke okw’ibo. Neryo kandi bendibya babighenda nayu e Betelehemu, anga bakolire athi?

¹³ Erighunzerera, mwakwama kyabugha athi: ‘Mughende, obuli mughuma asube omwa nyumba ya koyo wiwe. Yehova abakolere ebibuya ngoku mwakolera abaholha b’ebibuya naghe nibya.’ Kandi  mwababwira ngoku Yehova akendi syabatsumulha, ibathasyathahibwa n’eribana erilhuhuka. Omwatsi akalholha embere athi, ‘Neryo Naomi mwalyatsirirabo, nabo mubasumba emirenge yabu, mubalira.’ Sihali ekyangaleka iwuthalhangira ekyaleka Ruta na Oripa ibabeghera kutsibu okwa mukali oyuwabya awithe olhwanzo oyu kandi oyutsomene abandi. Abosi mubahathikana bathi: ‘Eyihi, nikwa thukendi suba haghuma nawu okwa kithunga kyawu.’​—Ruta 1:8-10.

14, 15. (a) Oripa mwasuba eyiri bahi? (b) Naomi mwalengaho athi erilemba-lemba Ruta athi asubeyo?

¹⁴ Aliriryo, Naomi mwathakwama kyaligha. Mwabasoborera ndeke-ndeke ngoku sihali eky’angakolha eribawathikya ibane e Israeli, kundi syabya awithe omulhume ow’erimuwathikya, abaghalha abanga bathahirye, kandi isyali n’amaha aw’eributha bandi. Mwabakangania ngoku kikamwitha bulighe bunene iyo eribya isyangathoka eribawathikya. Iya Oripa iyo mwayitheghererya ekya Naomi abugha. Ab’okw’iyo babya ibane e Moabu, mama wiwe inianeyo, n’enyumba ey’erikalhamu iyineyo. Mwalhangira ikihikire erisighalha e Moabu. Aliriryo, inianaponire, mwalyatsirira Naomi akamulhagha athi bukyayi, neryo amabinduka n’erighenda.​—Ruta 1:11-14.

¹⁵ Kandi ibbwa iya Ruta? Naomi syabya akahathikana Oripa musa. Aliriryo, e Biblia yithi: “Nikwa Ruta mwamumakirira.” Obundi Naomi abya iniabirithasyatsuka olhughendo, aliriryo abere akakeba Ruta inianamukwamire enyuma. Naomi mwamubwira athi: ‘Lebaya, mulikyenyu amabirisuba okwa bandu biwe, n’okwa nyamuhanga siwe, nawu wusubule wukwame mulikyenyu.’ (Ruta 1:15) Ebinywe bya Naomi ebi bikaleka ithwathasyaminya owundi mwatsi mukulhu. Oripa mwathasuba okwa bandu biwe basa aliriryo n’okwa  “nyamuhanga siwe.” Mwayowa isikibi erisighalha inianemuramya Kemosi n’esindi nyamuhanga esy’amabehi. Mbwino na Ruta mwanayowa athya?

16-18. (a) Ruta mwakangania athi olhwanzo olhuthyusa? (b) Olhwanzo lhwa Ruta olhu lhukathweghesayaki? (Lebaya n’ekisasani ekiriko abakali babiri.)

¹⁶ Abere akasamalira Naomi ibane omwa nzira mw’ibibene, Ruta mwabya inianasikire omwa muthima. Aby’anzire kutsibu Naomi na Nyamuhanga oyo Naomi abya akakolera. Neryo Ruta mwabugha athi: ‘Sunyihathikane erikusighania, n’erisubulha okw’ikukwama; kusangwa aho wukaya, ngendi ghendaho; n’aho wukandilhalirira, ngendi lhaliriraho; abandu bawu basyabya bandu baghe; na Nyamuhanga wawu asyabya Nyamuhanga waghe. Aho wasyaholera, naghe nasyaholeraho, n’aho nasyathabwa. Yehova angole athya na kwilhaba aho; olhuholho lhusa lhwo lhwasyathughaba thunawe.’​—Ruta 1:16, 17.

¹⁷ Ebinywe bya Ruta sibyang’ibiriranwa, kundi nomuhanamabirilhaba myaka 3,000 aliholire, bikinasubawamu namunabwire. Bikakanganaya ndeke-ndeke omubere mubuyanga ow’olhwanzo olhuthyusa. Olhwanzo olhwa Ruta aby’awithe lhwabya lhunene kutsibu indi mwamakirira Naomi ahosi-hosi ah’aghenda. Olhuholho lhusa lhw’olhwanga baghabwire. Abandu ba Naomi bangabere bandu biwe, kundi Ruta abya inianayitheghekire erisighania ebyosi ebyabya omwa kihugho kye Moabu, imwamune n’esyonyamuhanga esyʼomwa kihugho ekyo. Erithendibya nga Oripa, Ruta mwabugha ndeke-ndeke ngoku anzire Nyamuhanga wa Naomi, ya Yehova, iniabya Nyamuhanga wiwe.

¹⁸ Neryo mubalholha embere n’olhughendo, ibane babiri basa, omwa nzira nyiri eyikaya e Betelehemu. Kikalengekanibawa indi bangabya imubaghunza yenga nguma omwa nzira. Aliriryo, ahathe erithika-thika owundi mwaghumya owundi ibane haghuma nomubanabya omwa bulighe.

19. Wukalengekanaya thwanga gherererya thuthi olhwanzo lhwa Ruta olhuthyusa omwa maka wethu, omwa banywani, n’omwa kithunga?

¹⁹ Amalighe ni mangyi omwa kihugho. Omwa buthuku bwethu buno, obwa Biblia yikahulha mwa ‘emighulhu eyikalire,’ thukabana ebitsibu muthina-muthina ebikanubaya. (2 Tim. 3:1) Busana n’ekyo, omubere owa Ruta akanganaya akayithaghisibawa munabwire kwilhaba kera. Olhwanzo olhuthyusa, ni bugha ambu, olhwanzo olhw’erimakirira omundu kutse ekindu ahathe erilhwika, lhw’olhukayithaghisibawa kutsibu omwa kihugho ekitsandire kino. Lhukayithaghisibawa omwa butheke, omwa maka, omwa manywani, omwa kithunga ky’Ekikrisitayo. (Soma 1 Yoane 4:7, 8, 20.) Thukabya thukakangania olhwanzo olhuli ng’olhu, thukabya ithukagherereraya eky’erileberyako kibuya ekya Ruta.

20-22. (a) Emibere eya Naomi abyamu e Moabu muyamuhambako yithi? (b) Naomi mwabya n’amalengekania wahi awathahikire busana n’ebitsibu? (Lebaya na Yakobo 1:13.)

²⁰ Kyolhobire erithabugha wuthi wuwithe olhwanzo olhuthyusa, aliriryo sikyolho erilhukangania omwa mikolere. Ruta abya ini w’erikangania olhwanzo olhu butsira oku Naomi musa aliriryo n’oku Yehova, Nyamuhanga oyo athwamu erikolera.

²¹ Erighunzerera, abakali babiri aba mubahika e Betelehemu, omwa katawuni akali esyokilomita 10 eyikwa we Yerusalemu. Naomi n’ab’eka yabu, bakabya nga babya baghuda omwa katawuni kake ako, kundi obuli mundu abya inianemukania okw’isubulha liwe. Abakali ibakamuthungerera n’eribugha bathi, “Oyu nina Naomi kwehi?” Kikalhangirika ngoku abya iniabirihinduka busana n’ebitsibu n’amalighe awamuhikako iniane e Moabu.​—Ruta 1:19.

²² Naomi mwasoborera ab’okw’iyo n’abataka okwa bitsibu ebyo abana omwa ngebe. Nibya mwayowa erina liwe iritholere erihindulhwa, kundi mwabugha athi isibasyamwahulha mwa Naomi, erikamanyisaya “Obutseme Bwaghe,” aliriryo athi bamwahule mwa Mara, erikamanyisaya “Obukalihe.” Ka mwaghalhwa! Nga Yobu, nayu mwalengekania athi mbwino Yehova Nyamuhanga yuwamulethera ebitsibu.​—Ruta 1:20, 21; Yobu 2:10; 13:24-26.

23. Ruta mwatsuka erilengekania okuki, kandi ni kihano kyahi ekyabya omwa Mighambo ya Musa busana n’abera? (Lebaya n’omwatsi ahikwa.)

²³ Abakali babiri aba babere baghunza e Betelehemu ya buthuku buke, Ruta mwatsuka erilengekania nga ni kyahi eky’angakolha ekyanga bawathikya iyo na Naomi. Mwaminya ngoku Emighambo eya Yehova abya iniabiriha abandu biwe e Israeli ngoku mwanabya ekihano eky’eriwathikya abera. Ibakalighirawa erighenda omwa malima omwa buthuku bw’erighesa neryo ibakwama abakaghesa b’enyuma n’erisongya-songya ebikasighalira n’ebikalhasa okwa misike y’amalima. *​—Law. 19:9, 10; Ebi. 24:19-21.

24, 25. Ruta mwakolhaki akayisanga omwa malima wa Boazi, kandi omubiiri ow’erisongya-songya ebikasighalira abya athi?

 ²⁴ Bwabya buthuku bw’erihulhulha ekisusu, obundi omwa Kwakani okwa kalinda eya munabwire, neryo Ruta mwaghenda omwa malima eriyalebya nga yinemwendi banika oyowangamulighira erikuma-kuma ebikasighalira erikwamana n’ekihano. Mwayisanga iniali omw’irima lya Boazi, omughuda oyuwabya awithe amalima kandi ini muhughu wa Elimeleki oyuwabya mwira wa Naomi. Nomwakine indi Omughambo aniakamulighira erikuma-kuma ebikasighalira, mwalhangira athi akatsuka erisaba oyuwabya ak’imanira abakaghesa. Mwamulighira, neryo Ruta amatsukiraho omubiiri.​—Ruta 1:22–2:3, 7.

²⁵ Thalengekania Ruta iniane enyuma sy’abakaghesa. Babere banemuthema ekisusu omwa mighusu yabu, munama n’erisongya-songya ehikathoghonga, erihiboha mwahighanda-highanda n’erihithwalha ah’akendi hihumbira. Abya mubiiri w’eriyithondolya, owakalhuhaya, kandi iniakakalha kutsibu eryuba likaka kutsibu. Aliriryo Ruta mwayikamba, iniakimana akasangulha olhunza lisa kandi akayalya akathanda omwa “nyumba”​—obundi akanyumba akahimbawa omw’irima ak’abakoli eryuwamamu.

26, 27. Boazi abya mulhume oyuli athi, kandi mwatsomana athi Ruta?

²⁶ Obundi Ruta syabya n’amaha kutse erilengekania athi anganaminywa. Aliriryo Boazi mwamulhangira neryo amabulya omukulhu w’abakoli biwe omwana-mutho oyo nga nindi. Boazi, omulhume w’erikirirya linene oyu iniakaramukaya abakoli biwe​—obundi abandi ibakakolha kiro kighuma kutse nibya ini b’ehandi​—athi: ‘Yehova  abye nenyu.’ Nabu ikubakasubiraya bathya. Omulhume oyuwabya anzire Yehova oyu mwatsomana Ruta ya ndeke.​—Ruta 2:4-7.

²⁷ Kundi mwamuthwalha nga mwali wiwe, Boazi mwabwira Ruta athi abye akasyabotha-botha buli kiro omwa malima wiwe n’erisiba haghuma n’abaana-batho biwe nuku abakoli biwe ab’obulhume sibamusatha-sathireko. Mwalhangira athi Ruta akabya inianemubana ebyalya by’erithungyi. (Soma Ruta 2:8, 9, 14.) Aliriryo ekikulhu kutsibu, iniakamusima n’erimuhira mw’omuhwa. Athi?

28, 29. (a) Ruta iniakakanibawako athi? (b) Nga Ruta, wanga saghira wuthi oku Yehova?

²⁸ Ruta abere akabulya Boazi athi iyo ng’ow’ehandi nga ni kyahi eky’akolire ekyanga leka iniamutsomana athya, Boazi mwasubirya athi abya iniabiriowa ebyosi ebyabya iniabirikolera nyokobyalha wiwe, Naomi. Alinga Naomi iniakayisyethera Ruta embere sy’abakali be Betelehemu, na Boazi iniabiriowa omwatsi oyo. Kandi abya inianasi ngoku Ruta abya iniabiritsuka eriramya Yehova, kundi Boazi mwabugha athi: ‘Yehova akuhembe busana n’omubiiri wawu, Yehova Nyamuhanga we Israeli akulihe ndeke, iwe wabiribana ah’erisaghira omw’isi w’ebipupa biwe.’​—Ruta 2:12.

²⁹ Ebinywe ebyo ka byangabya imubyahimba Ruta! Kwenene abya iniabirithwamu erisaghira omw’isi w’ebipupa bya Yehova, ngoku ekyana ky’enyonyi kikayowa buholho omw’isi w’ebipupa bya mama wakyo. Mwasingya Boazi busana n’erimusikya athya omuthima, kandi mwalholha embere erikolha erihika erigholho.​—Ruta 2:13, 17.

30, 31. Emibere ya Ruta ey’erikolha, erisima, n’erikangania olhwanzo yikathweghesayaki?

³⁰ Ekya Ruta akolha ni ky’erileberyako ekyuwene okw’ithwe, kundi munabwire emingirirye yikalire. Mwathalengekania athi abandi batholere ibamuwathikya kundi ni mukwakali, neryo iniakatsemera akosi-kosi akamahebwa. Mwathkwa esisoni erikolha n’omuhwa omubiiri owahisi nuku awathikaye oyo anzire. Mwaligha n’erighendera okw’ihabulha erya bamuha erihambire okw’iyitheya akakolha n’ab’angasiba nabu. Ekikulhu kutsibu mwath’ibirirwa ngoku Thatha wiwe, Yehova Nyamuhanga, yuwabya busaghiro bwiwe.

³¹ Thwamakangania olhwanzo olhuli ng’olhwa Ruta n’erikwama eky’erileberyako kiwe ky’eriyikehya, erikolha kutsibu, n’erisima, nethu erikirirya lyethu irikendibya ky’erileberyako kibuya okwa bandi. Aliriryo ibbwa, Yehova mwawathikya athi Ruta na Naomi? Esura eyikakwamako yikendi thubwira.