Ruth 3

Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek 1security for you, that it may be well with you? 2Now is not Boaz 2our 3kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4It shall be when he lies down, that you shall 4notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” 5She said to her, “5All that you say I will do.”

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7When Boaz had eaten and drunk and 6his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and 7bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a 8close relative.” 10Then he said, “9May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you 10ask, for all my people in the 11city know that you are 12a woman of excellence. 12Now it is true I am a 13close relative; however, there is a 14relative closer than I. 13Remain this night, and when morning comes, 15if he will 16redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to 17redeem you, then I will redeem you, 18as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

14So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “19Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then 20she went into the city. 16When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “21How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. 17She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter 22turns out; for the man will not rest until he has 23settled it today.”