| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you.” So they sat down together. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.” The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.” |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.” |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6“Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.” |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, “You buy the land.” |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.” |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses! May the LORD make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12And may the LORD give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.” The Descendants of Boaz |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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