Ruth 3:1-15 ▼

1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek for you a resting place, that it may be well with you?

2 And is not Boaz our relative, whose young women you were with? Behold, he is winnowing on the threshing floor of barley tonight.

3 And you shall wash, and you shall anoint yourself, and you shall put your garments on you, and you shall go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he finishes eating and drinking.

4 And it shall come to pass, when he lies down, that you shall know the place where he lies down, and you shall go in and you shall uncover his feet and lie down, and he—he will tell you what you shall do.”

5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me, I will do.”

6 And she went down to the threshing floor, and she did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.

7 And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was good, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap. And she came in secrecy and uncovered his feet and lay down.

8 And it came to pass in the middle of the night that the man trembled and turned himself, and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth your maidservant. And you shall spread your wing over your maidservant, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

10 And he said, “Blessed are you to YHWH, my daughter. For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after the young men, whether poor or rich.

11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. All that you say, I will do for you, for all the gate of my people knows that you are a woman of virtue.

12 And now it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, But also there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

13 Lodge the night, and it shall be in the morning that if he does redeem you, good; let him redeem. And if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you myself, as YHWH lives. Lie down until the morning.”

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning, and she arose before a man could recognize his companion. And he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

15 And he said, “Give the cloak that is on you, and hold it.” And she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her, and he went into the city.