Ruth 3

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBLES DES PEUPLES
1 But afterwards, when she returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi said to her: “My daughter, I will seek rest for you, and I will provide so that it may be well with you.	1 Noémi, sa belle-mère, lui dit: “Ma fille, je dois chercher à t’établir pour que tu sois heureuse.
2 This Boaz, whose young women you joined in the field, is our near relative, and this night he will winnow the threshing floor of barley.	2 Or, Booz, dont tu as suivi les servantes, est notre parent. Cette nuit il doit vanner l’orge sur son aire.
3 Therefore, wash and anoint yourself, and put on your decorative garments, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man see you, while he finishes eating and drinking.	3 Lave-toi donc, parfume-toi, mets ton manteau et descends vers l’aire à battre. Ne te fais pas reconnaître par lui avant qu’il ait fini de manger et de boire.
4 But when he goes sleep, observe the place where he sleeps. And you will approach and lift up the covering, the part which covers near his feet, and lay yourself down, and sleep there; but he will tell you what you are obliged to do.”	4 Lorsqu’il sera couché, regarde bien l’endroit où il dort. Alors tu iras, tu te feras une place à ses pieds et tu te coucheras. Lui-même te fera savoir ce que tu dois faire.”
5 She answered, “I will do everything as you have instructed.”	5 Ruth lui répondit: “Je ferai tout ce que tu m’as dit.”
6 And she went down to the threshing floor, and she did everything that her mother-in-law had commanded her.	6 Elle descendit donc vers l’aire à battre et fit tout ce que sa belle-mère lui avait ordonné.
7 And when Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and he was merry, and he had gone to sleep by the pile of sheaves, she approached secretly, and, lifting the covering near his feet, she laid herself down.	7 Booz mangea et but, il était de très bonne humeur; puis il s’en alla dormir auprès du tas d’orge. Discrètement Ruth s’y rendit, elle se fit une place à ses pieds et se coucha.
8 And behold, when it was the middle of the night, the man became frightened and confused, and he saw a woman lying near his feet.	8 Au milieu de la nuit l’homme eut un frisson, il se tourna et aperçut une femme couchée à ses pieds.
9 And he said to her, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your handmaid. Spread your covering over your servant, for you are a near relative.”	9 “Qui es-tu?” dit-il. Elle répondit: “Je suis Ruth, ta servante. Étends sur ta servante le pan de ton manteau, car tu as sur moi un droit de rachat.”
10 And he said, “You are blessed by the Lord, daughter, and you have excelled beyond your earlier benevolence, because you have not followed young men, whether poor or rich.	10 “Que Yahvé te bénisse, ma fille, lui dit-il; cet acte de fidélité est encore plus beau que le premier, car tu n’as pas recherché des jeunes gens pauvres ou riches.
11 Therefore, do not be afraid, but whatever you decide about me, I will accomplish for you. For all the people, who dwell within the gates of my city, know that you are a virtuous woman.	11 Maintenant, ma fille, sois sans crainte. Je ferai pour toi tout ce que tu me diras, car tout le monde sait bien dans ma ville que tu es une femme vertueuse.
12 Neither do I deny myself to be a near relative, but there is another nearer than I.	12 Cependant, s’il est vrai que j’ai le droit de rachat, il y a ici un parent plus proche que moi.
13 Be at peace for this night. And when morning arrives, if he is willing to uphold the law of kinship for you, things will turn out well; but if he is not willing, then, I will take you, without any doubt, as the Lord lives. Sleep until morning.”	13 Passe la nuit ici et, au matin, s’il veut exercer son droit à ton égard, c’est bien, qu’il te rachète. Mais s’il ne veut pas te racheter, aussi vrai que Dieu est vivant, c’est moi qui te rachèterai. Reste donc couchée jusqu’au matin.”
14 And so she slept by his feet until the night was ending. And she arose before men could inquire of one another. And Boaz said, “Be careful, lest someone know that you came here.”	14 Elle resta donc couchée à ses pieds jusqu’au matin. Puis, avant l’heure où un homme peut en reconnaître un autre, elle se leva. Car Booz se disait: “Il ne faut pas qu’on sache que cette femme est venue sur l’aire à battre.”
15 And again he said, “Spread your mantle that covers you, and hold it with both hands.” As she extended it and held it, he measured six measures of barley and placed it upon her. Carrying it, she went into the city.	15 Il ajouta: “Présente le manteau que tu as sur toi et tiens-le bien.” Elle l’étendit et il versa 6 mesures d’orge qu’il chargea sur elle au moment où elle retournait à la ville.
16 And she came to her mother-in-law, who said to her: “What have you been doing, daughter?” And she explained to her all that the man had accomplished for her.	16 Lorsque Ruth entra chez sa belle-mère, celle-ci lui dit: “Comment tout cela s’est-il passé, ma fille?” Ruth lui raconta tout ce que cet homme avait fait pour elle.
17 And she said, “Behold, he gave me six measures of barley, for he said, ‘I am not willing to have you return empty to your mother-in-law.’ ”	17 Elle lui dit: “Il m’a donné ces 6 mesures d’orge et il m’a dit: Tu ne reviendras pas les mains vides chez ta belle-mère.”
18 And Naomi said, “Wait, daughter, until we see how things will turn out. For the man will not rest until he has accomplished what he said.”	18 Noémi répondit: “Ma fille, tu n’as plus à t’inquiéter pour savoir comment cela finira, car cet homme voudra sûrement que tout soit réglé aujourd’hui même.”