Ruth 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?

And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor.

And now, is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he is winnowing barley in the threshing-floor to-night.

3 Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go down to the floor; make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done 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.”

And it shall be, when he lies down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall have lain down, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thyself down; and he will shew thee what thou shalt do.

5 She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.”

And she said to her, All that thou sayest will I do.

6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her.

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

And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. Then she went softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid herself down.

8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

And it came to pass at midnight, that 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.”

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thy handmaid: spread thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou hast the right of redemption.

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 did not follow young men, whether poor or rich.

And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter! Thou hast shewn more kindness at the end than at the first, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

11 Now, my daughter, do not 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.

And now, my daughter, fear not: all that thou sayest will I do to thee; for all the gate of my people knows that thou art a woman of worth.

12 Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.

And now, truly I am one that has the right of redemption, yet there is one that has the right of redemption who is 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.”

Stay over to-night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem thee, well — let him redeem; but if he like not to redeem thee, then will I redeem thee, [as] Jehovah liveth. 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.”

And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into 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.

And he said, Bring the cloak that thou hast upon thee, 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.

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.

And she came to her mother-in-law; and she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Do not go empty to your mother-in-law.’”

And she said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty to thy 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.”

Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.