Ruth 3

1 And she lodged with her mother-in-law: and Noemin her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

A little later Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, don't you think I should find you a husband and a good home?

2 And now [is] not Booz our kinsman, with whose damsels you were? behold, he winnows barley this night in the floor.

Don't ignore the fact that Boaz, whose women you worked with, is closely related to us. Now tonight he will be busy winnowing grain on the threshing floor.

3 But do you wash, and anoint yourself, and put your raiment upon you, and go up to the threshing floor: do not discover yourself to the man until he has done eating and drinking.

Have a bath, put on some perfume, wear your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor—but don't let him recognize you. Once he's finished eating and drinking,

4 And it shall come to pass when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he lies down, and shall come and lift up the covering of his feet, and shall lie down; and he shall tell you what you shall do.

watch where he goes to lie down. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

5 And Ruth said to her, All that you shall say, I will do.

“I'll do everything you told me,” said Ruth.

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

She went down to the threshing floor and did what her mother-in-law had told her to do.

7 And Booz ate and drank, and his heart was glad, and he came to lie down by the side of the heap of corn; and she came secretly, and lifted up the covering of his feet.

After Boaz had finished eating and drinking, and was feeling contented, he went and lay down beside the grain pile. Ruth quietly approached him, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

8 And it came to pass at midnight that the man was amazed, and troubled, and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up. Bending forward he was surprised to see a woman lying at his feet.

9 And he said, Who are you? and she said, I am your handmaid Ruth; spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near relation.

“Who are you?” he asked. “I'm Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Please spread the corner of your cloak over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

10 And Booz said, Blessed [be] you of the Lord God, [my] daughter, for you have made your latter kindness greater than the former, in that you follow not after young men, whether [any be] poor or rich.

“May the Lord bless you, my daughter,” he said. “You are showing even more loyalty and love to the family than before. You haven't gone looking for a younger man, of whatever social status.

11 And now fear not, my daughter, whatever you shall say I will do to you; for all the tribe of my people knows that you are a virtuous woman.

So don't worry, my daughter. I will do everything you ask—everyone in town knows you are a woman of good character.

12 And now I am truly akin to you; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.

However, even though I'm one of your family redeemers, there's one who is more closely related than I am.

13 Lodge [here] for the night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will do the part of a kinsman to you, well—let him do it: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, I will do the kinsman's part to you, [as] the Lord lives; lie down till the morning.

Stay here tonight, and in the morning if he wants to redeem you, then fine, let him do it. But if he doesn't, then I promise you in the name of the living Lord, I will redeem you. Lie down here until morning.”

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before a man could know his neighbour; and Booz said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. Then she got up before it was light enough to recognize anyone because Boaz had told her, “No one must know that a woman came here to the threshing floor.”

15 And he said to her, Bring the apron that is upon you: and she held it, and he measured six measures of barley, and put them upon her, and she went into the city.

He also told her, “Bring me the cloak you're wearing and hold it out.” So she held it out and he poured out six measures of barley into it. He helped her put it on her back and she went back to town.

16 And Ruth went in to her mother-in-law, and she said to her, [My] daughter! and [Ruth] told her all that the man had done to her.

Ruth went to her mother-in-law, who asked her, “How did it go for you, my daughter?” So Ruth told her everything that Boaz had done for her.

17 And she said to her, He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, Go not empty to your mother-in-law.

“And he also gave me these six measures of barley,” she added. “He told me, ‘You mustn't go home to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 And she said, Sit still, [my] daughter, until you shall know how the matter will fall out; for the man will not rest until the matter be accomplished this day.

Naomi said to Ruth, “Wait patiently, my daughter, until you find out how it all works out. Boaz won't rest until he has it settled today.”