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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV)I thought that I should tell you about it and in case you buy the land while the people sitting here are listening, including these leaders of our people. If you want to buy it back into the family, then do so. But if you do not want to buy it back, then let me know, because you are the closest relative to Elimelek, and I am next after you.” ¶ “I’ll buy it,” the man replied.
Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
Or perhaps תִגְאַל
Q וְאֵֽדְעָה֙
BrLXXκᾀγὼ εἶπα, ἀποκαλύψω τὸ οὖς σου λέγων, κτῆσαι ἐναντίον τῶν καθημένων, καὶ ἐναντίον τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ μου. εἰ ἀγχιστεύεις, ἀγχίστευε· εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀγχιστεύεις, ἀνάγγειλόν μοι, καὶ γνώσομαι, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι πάρεξ σοῦ τοῦ ἀγχιστεῦσαι, κᾀγώ εἰμι μετὰ σέ· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀγχιστεῦσαι, κἀγώ εἰμι, ἀγχιστεύσω. (kagō eipa, apokalupsō to ous sou legōn, ktaʸsai enantion tōn kathaʸmenōn, kai enantion tōn presbuterōn tou laou mou. ei agⱪisteueis, agⱪisteue; ei de maʸ agⱪisteueis, anangeilon moi, kai gnōsomai, hoti ouk esti parex sou tou agⱪisteusai, kagō eimi meta se; ho de eipen, egō eimi, agⱪisteusai, kagō eimi, agⱪisteusō. )
BrTrand I said, I will inform thee, saying, Buy it before those that sit, and before the elders of my people: if thou wilt redeem it, redeem it, but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me, and I shall know; for there is no one beside thee to do the office of a kinsman, and I am after thee: and he said, I am here, I will redeem it.
ULTNow as for me, I said that I should uncover your ear, saying, ‘Buy!’ in the presence of those who are sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me so that I may know, for there is no one to redeem it besides you, and I am after you.” ¶ Then he said, “I will redeem it myself.”[fn][fn]
if you will not redeem it or perhaps if he will not redeem it (variant Hebrew manuscripts)
so that I may know or perhaps and let me know (Hebrew Qere)
USTI thought that I should tell you about it and suggest that you buy the field while the people who are sitting here are listening, including these leaders of our people. If you want to buy it back into the family, then do so. But if you do not want to buy it back, then let me know, because you are the closest relative to Elimelek, and I am next after you.” The man replied, “No, I will buy it!”
BSBI 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[fn] 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.
4:4Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts he
OEBand I thought that I would lay the matter before you, suggesting that you buy it in the presence of these men who sit here and of the elders of my people. If you will buy it and so keep it in the possession of the family, do so; but if not; then tell me, so that I may know; for no one but you has the right to buy it, and I am next to you.’ ¶ ‘I will buy it,’ he said.
WEBBEI thought I should tell you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem it besides you; and I am after you.” ¶ He said, “I will redeem it.”
NETSo I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.” He replied, “I will redeem it.”
LSVand I said, I uncover your ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants and before [the] elderly of my people; if you redeem—redeem, and if none redeems—declare [it] to me and I know, for there is none except you to redeem, and I after you.” And he says, “I redeem [it].”
FBVI decided I should tell you in case you want to buy it here in the presence of these elders of the people. If you want to redeem it, then go ahead. But it you don't, then tell me so I'll know, because you are first in line to redeem it, and I'm next.” ¶ “I want to redeem it,”[fn] said the family redeemer.
T4TI thought that I should tell you about that, and suggest that you buy it, while these elders who are sitting here are listening. If you are willing to buy the property, do that. But if you do not want to buy it, tell me, so that I will know. I am suggesting this to you because you are the one who has the first right to buy it, and I am the one who has the second/next right to buy it.” The man replied, “I will buy it!”
BBEAnd it was in my mind to give you the chance of taking it, with the approval of those seated here and of the responsible men of my people. If you are ready to do what it is right for a relation to do, then do it: but if you will not do it, say so to me now; for there is no one who has the right to do it but you, and after you myself. And he said, I will do it.
JPSand I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying: Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.' And he said: 'I will redeem it.'
ASVand I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
DRAI would have thee to understand this, and would tell thee before all that sit here, and before the ancients of my people. If thou wilt take possession of it by the right of kindred: buy it and possess it: but if it please thee not, tell me so, that I may know what I have to do. For there is no near kinsman besides thee, who art first, and me, who am second. But he answered: I will buy the field.
YLTand I said, I uncover thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people; if thou dost redeem — redeem, and if none doth redeem — declare to me, and I know, for there is none save thee to redeem, and I after thee.' And he saith, I redeem [it].'
DrbyAnd I thought I would apprise thee of it and say, Buy [it] in the presence of the inhabitants, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem; but if thou wilt not redeem, tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].
RVAnd I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. (And I thought to disclose it unto thee/you, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou/you wilt/will redeem it, redeem it: but if thou/you wilt/will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee/you; and I am after thee/you. And he said, I will redeem it. )
SLTAnd I said, I will reveal to thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the old men of my people. If thou wilt redeem, redeem: and if thou wilt not redeem, announce to me, and I shall know: for none besides thee to redeem; and I after thee; and he will say, I will redeem.
WbstrAnd I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it , redeem it : but if thou wilt not redeem it , then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it .
KJB-1769And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.[fn] (And I thought to advertise thee/you, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou/you wilt/will redeem it, redeem it: but if thou/you wilt/will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee/you; and I am after thee/you. And he said, I will redeem it. )
4.4I thought…: Heb. I said, I will reveal in thine ear
KJB-1611And [fn]I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it, but if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell mee, that I may know: for there is none to redeeme it, besides thee, and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeeme it. (And I thought to aduertise thee/you, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou/you wilt/will redeem it, redeem it, but if thou/you wilt/will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it, besides thee/you, and I am after thee/you. And he said, I will redeem it.)
GnvaAnd I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the assistants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it: but if thou wilt not redeeme it, tel me: for I know that there is none besides thee to redeeme it, and I am after thee. Then he answered, I wil redeeme it. (And I thought to aduertise thee/you, saying, Buy it before the assistants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou/you wilt/will redeem it, redeem it: but if thou/you wilt/will not redeem it, tel me: for I know that there is none besides thee/you to redeem it, and I am after thee/you. Then he answered, I will redeem it. )
ClVgquod audire te volui, et tibi dicere coram cunctis sedentibus, et majoribus natu de populo meo. Si vis possidere jure propinquitatis, eme, et posside: sin autem displicet tibi, hoc ipsum indica mihi, ut sciam quid facere debeam: nullus enim est propinquus, excepto te, qui prior es, et me, qui secundus sum. At ille respondit: Ego agrum emam. (that to_hear you(sg) volui, and to_you to_say before to_all sedentibus, and to_the_elders born from/about to_the_people mine. When/But_if you_want get_itreyurerelativestatis, eme, and get_it: sin however displease to_you, this him indica to_me, as sciam what to_do debeam: none because it_is propinquus, excepto you(sg), who prior you_are, and me, who after/second I_am. But he answered: I agrumemam. )
4:4redeem it: The law called for a near relative, the family redeemer, to buy land when a landowner had to sell it (see Lev 25:23-34). This practice kept land in the family; the redeemer was a conservator for the land until the destitute landowner could recover economically and buy it back. • All right, I’ll redeem it: The kinsman could see a great opportunity—there was no male heir and no apparent likelihood that there would be one, so he could add the land to his own estate while doing his social duty for the family.
I should uncover your ear is an idiom that means “I should tell you” or “I should let you know.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I should inform you]
Having these men as witnesses would make the transaction legal and binding. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [before these witnesses]
Here, Boaz is asking about the man’s willingness to redeem the property. Use a natural way to express this in your language. Alternate translation: [If you are willing to buy it back to keep it in the family]
In some languages, it may be confusing to say these things together: (1) there is no one to redeem the land besides you, (2) I can redeem the land after you. It may appear that Boaz is making a statement and then contradicting it. If so, you could say this differently. Alternate translation: [you are the first in line to redeem it, and I am the next one in line]
The man uses the word myself here to emphasize that he will do it and no one else. Use a way that is natural in your language to indicate this significance. Alternate translation: [I will be the one who redeems it]
The story of Ruth is set in the time of the Judges, a few generations before the birth of King David. While much animosity often existed between Israel and Moab (Judges 3:12-30; 10:6-12:7; 2 Samuel 8:2; 10; 2 Kings 3:4-27; 2 Chronicles 20; see also Nations across the Jordan River map), other times the two nations appear to have enjoyed a somewhat congenial relationship, as is demonstrated by Naomi’s willingness to relocate to Moab to seek relief from a famine. Later Naomi’s sons also marry Moabite women, and Ruth’s devotion to Naomi and her God no doubt speaks highly of the character of many Moabites. Many years later Ruth’s great-grandson David placed his parents in the care of the king of Moab while he was on the run from King Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-4).
