Ruth 4:1-9

1Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, 1the redeemer of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Come over here, 2friend, sit down here.” And he came over and sat down. 2Then he took ten men of the 3elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3And he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has to sell the plot of land 4which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4So I thought that I would 5inform you, saying, ‘6Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if 7not, tell me so that I may know; for 8there is no one except 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 9to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6Then 10the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, otherwise I would 11jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, since I cannot redeem it.”

7Now this was 12the 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 way of confirmation in Israel. 8So the redeemer 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.