Ruth 3

Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

1Then her mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek 1security for you, that it may go well for you? 2Now then, is Boaz not 2our relative, with whose young women you were? Behold, he is winnowing 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 reveal yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall 3take notice of the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you should do.” 5And she said to her, “4All 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 5his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and 6bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your slave. Now spread your garment over your slave, for you are a redeemer.” 10Then he said, “7May 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. 11So now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you say, for all 8my people in the city know that you are 9a woman of excellence. 12But now, although it is true that I am a redeemer, yet there is also a redeemer more closely related than I. 13Remain this night, and when morning comes, 10if he will 11redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to 12redeem you, then I will redeem you, 13as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

14So she lay at his feet until morning, and got up before one person could recognize another; and he said, “14Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15Again he said, “Give me the shawl that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then 15she went into the city. 16When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “16How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. 17She also 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 17turns out; for the man will not rest until he has 18settled it today.”