Naomi Offers to Find a Husband for Ruth

1Ruth’sa mother-in-law Naomi, told her, “My daughter, should I not make inquiries about your financial security,b so you’ll be better off in life?c 2Isn’t Boaz one of our close relatives? You’ve been associating with his women servants lately. Look, he’ll be winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but don’t let him see youd until after he’s finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down. He’ll tell you what to do.”

5Ruth replied, “I’ll do everything you’ve said.” 6So she went out to the threshing floor and did precisely what her mother-in-law had advised.

Ruth’s Meeting with Boaz

7After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heart’s content, he went over and lay down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruthe came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8In the middle of the night, Boazf was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet.

9He asked her, “Who are you?”

She answered, “I’m only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edgeg of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer.”

10He replied, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You’ve added to the gracious love you’ve already demonstratedh by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. 11Don’t be afraid, my daughter. I’ll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that you’re a virtuousi woman. 12It’s true that I’m your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I. 13Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isn’t inclined to do so,j then, as the LORD lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning.”

14So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, “It shouldn’t be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor.” 15So he said, “Take your cloak and hold it out.” She did so, and he measured out six unitsk of barley and placed them in a sackl on her. Then she left for town.

Naomi’s Response to Ruth

16When Ruthm returned to her mother-in-law, Naomin asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then she related everything that the man had done for her. 17Rutho also said, “He gave me these six unitsp of barley and told me, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”q

18Naomir replied, “Be patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man won’t rest until he finishes everything today.”