3
1 Naomi
her mother-in-law said
to her, “My
daughter, shall I
not seek rest
for you, that
it may be
well with you?
2 Now isn’t
Boaz our kinsman,
with whose maidens
you were? Behold,
he will be
winnowing barley
tonight on the
threshing floor.
3 Therefore
wash yourself,
anoint yourself,
get dressed, and
go down to
the threshing
floor; but don’t
make yourself
known to the
man until he
has finished eating
and drinking.
4 It
shall be, when
he lies down,
that you shall
note the place
where he is
lying. Then you
shall go in,
uncover his feet,
and lie down.
Then he will
tell you what
to do.”
5 She said to
her, “All that
you say, I will
do.”
6 She went
down to the
threshing floor,
and did everything
that her
mother-in-law told
her.
7 When
Boaz had eaten and
drunk, and his
heart was merry,
he went to
lie down at
the end of
the heap of
grain. She came
softly, uncovered
his feet, and
lay down.
8 At
midnight, the man
was startled and
turned himself; and
behold, a woman
lay at his
feet.
9 He said, “Who
are you?”
She answered, “I am
Ruth your servant.
Therefore spread
the corner of
your garment over
your servant; for
you are a
near kinsman.”
10 He said, “You
are blessed by
the LORD, my
daughter. You have
shown more
kindness in
the latter end than
at the beginning,
because you didn’t
follow young men,
whether poor or
rich.
11 Now,
my daughter, don’t
be afraid. I
will do to
you all that
you say; for all
the city of
my people knows
that you are
a worthy woman.
12 Now
it is true that
I am a
near kinsman.
However, there is
a kinsman nearer
than I.
13 Stay
this night, and
in the morning,
if he will perform
for you the part
of a kinsman,
good. Let him
do the kinsman’s
duty. But if he
will not do
the duty of a
kinsman for you,
then I will
do the duty of
a kinsman for
you, as the
LORD lives. Lie
down until the
morning.”
14 She
lay at his
feet until the
morning, then she
rose up before
one could discern
another. For
he said, “Let it
not be known
that the woman came
to the threshing
floor.”
15 He said, “Bring
the mantle that is
on you, and
hold it.” She held
it; and he
measured six measures
of barley, and
laid it on
her; then he went
into the city.
16 When she
came to her
mother-in-law, she said, “How
did it go, my
daughter?”
She told her all
that the man
had done for
her.
17 She said,
“He gave me these
six measures of barley;
for he said, ‘Don’t go
empty to your
mother-in-law.’ ”
18 Then
she said, “Wait,
my daughter, until
you know what
will happen; for
the man will
not rest until
he has settled
this today.”