< Luusi 3 >

1 Awo Nawomi nnyazaala wa Luusi n’amugamba nti, “Lwaki sikunoonyeza maka ag’okubeeramu, bakulabiririre eyo?
After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.
2 Ewa Bowaazi gy’obadde n’abaweereza be abawala, ye muganda waffe. Kale, ekiro kya leero ajja kuba ng’awewa sayiri mu gguuliro.
This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he winnoweth barley in the threshingfloor.
3 Kale naaba osaabe obuwoowo, era oyambale engoye zo ezisinga obulungi. Oluvannyuma oserengete mu gguuliro; naye tomuganya kumanya nti wooli, okutuusa ng’amaze okulya n’okunywa.
Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 Oluvannyuma ng’agalamiddeko wansi, weetegereze ekifo w’agalamidde, ogende obikkule ku bigere bye emirannamiro, naawe ogalamire awo; anaakubuulira eky’okukola.”
And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth: and thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet, and shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.
5 Awo Luusi n’amugamba nti, “Nzija kukola nga bw’ondagidde.”
She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.
6 N’aserengeta mu gguuliro, n’akola byonna nga nnyazaala we bwe yamulagira.
And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.
7 Awo Bowaazi bwe yamala okulya n’okunywa, era nga musanyufu, n’agenda n’agalamira ku mabbali g’entuumo ye ŋŋaano. Luusi naye n’asooba mpola mpola, n’abikkula ku bigere bye, n’agalamira awo kumpi naye.
And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.
8 Ekiro mu ttumbi, Bowaazi ne yeekanga, bwe yeekyusa n’alaba omukazi agalamidde kumpi n’ebigere bye.
And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,
9 N’amubuuza nti, “Ggwe ani?” Luusi n’addamu nti, “Nze Luusi omuweereza wo. Mbikkaako ku lugoye lwo kubanga oli mununuzi wa kika.”
And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.
10 Bowaazi n’amuddamu nti, “Mukama Katonda akuwe omukisa muwala ggwe, olw’ekisa ekinene kyondaze okusinga eky’olubereberye, kubanga togenze wa bavubuka, abagagga oba abaavu.
And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former: because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.
11 Kaakano, muwala ggwe, totya. Nzija kukukolera buli kintu kyonna ky’onoosaba. Abantu bange bonna ab’omu kibuga, bamanyi ng’oli mukazi mwegendereza.
Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 Kya mazima ddala ndi mununuzi wo, naye waliwo ansingako.
Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
13 Beera wano okutuusa obudde lwe bunaakya. Kale bw’anaayagala okukutwala, kinaaba kirungi; naye bw’anaaba nga tasiimye, Mukama Katonda nga bw’ali omulamu, nnaakutwala.”
Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth: sleep till the morning.
14 N’agalamira kumpi n’ebigere bye okutuusa enkeera, naye n’agolokoka nga tebunnalaba addeyo eka. Naye Bowaazi n’amukuutira nti, “Kireme okumanyibwa nti omukazi yazzeeko mu gguuliro.”
So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
15 Era n’amugamba aleete omunagiro gw’ayambadde; n’agukwata, n’amugerera ebigero mukaaga ebya sayiri, n’abimutikka, oluvannyuma Luusi n’addayo mu kibuga.
And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,
16 Bwe yatuuka eri nnyazaala we, Nawomi n’amubuuza nti, “Byagenze bitya muwala wange?” N’amubuulira ebintu byonna Bowaazi bye yamukoledde,
And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 era n’ayongerako nti, “Yampadde ebigero bino omukaaga ebya sayiri, n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Toddayo wa nnyazaala wo ngalo nsa.’”
And she said: Behold he hath given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother in law.
18 Nawomi n’amugamba nti, “Gumiikiriza, muwala wange, olabe ebigambo gye binakkira, kubanga leero omusajja oyo tajja kuwummula okutuusa ensonga eyo lw’anagimala.”
And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.

< Luusi 3 >