Ruth 4:1-9

1Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, 1the 2close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, 3friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2He took ten men of the 4elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said to the 5closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land 6which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4So I thought to 7inform you, saying, ‘8Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if 9not, tell me that I may know; for 10there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order 11to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 612The 13closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would 14jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”

7Now this was 15the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel. 8So the 16closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.