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?

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

2 Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Look, he winnows barley tonight at the threshing 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 Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, and put on your clothes, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished 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 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lie down; then he will 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 She said to her, "All that you say I will do."

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

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

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

7 When Boaz had eaten and drank, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

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 It happened at midnight, that the man was startled and turned over; and look, 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 He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your handmaid; for you are a redeeming kinsman."

“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 He said, "Blessed are you by the LORD, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn't follow young men, whether 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 Now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy 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 Now it is true that I am a redeeming kinsman; however there is a redeemer closer than I am.

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

13 Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a redeemer, well; let him do the redeemer's part. But if he will not do the part of a redeemer for you, then I will do the part of a redeemer for you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until 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 She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing 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 He said, "Bring the cloak that is on you, and hold it." She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he 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 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 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 She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed 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 Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing 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.”