Ruth3

Naomi instructs Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshingfloor, discreetly lying at his feet to seek his protection as a kinsman-redeemer. Ruth obeys, and when Boaz discovers her, she requests him to spread his skirt over her. Boaz commends her virtue and agrees to act as redeemer, but notes a nearer kinsman has the first right. He sends Ruth home with a gift of barley, promising to settle the matter swiftly.

Naomi Instructs Ruth's Bold Action

1
And Naomi her mother-in-law saith to her, `My daughter, do not I seek for thee rest, that it may be well with thee?
2
and now, is not Boaz of our acquaintance, with whose young women thou hast been? lo, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of barley to-night,
3
and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink;
4
and it cometh to pass when he lieth down, that thou hast known the place where he lieth down, and hast gone in, and uncovered his feet, and lain down, --and he doth declare to thee that which thou dost do.'
5
And she saith unto her, `All that thou sayest--I do.'

The Encounter at the Threshing Floor

6
And she goeth down to the threshing-floor, and doth according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her
7
And Boaz eateth and drinketh, and his heart is glad; and he goeth in to lie down at the end of the heap; and she cometh in gently, and uncovereth his feet, and lieth down.
8
And it cometh to pass, at the middle of the night, that the man trembleth, and turneth himself, and lo, a woman is lying at his feet.
9
And he saith, `Who art thou?' and she saith, `I am Ruth thy handmaid, and thou hast spread thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou art a redeemer.'

Boaz Promises to Act as Kinsman Redeemer

10
And he saith, `Blessed art thou of Jehovah, my daughter; thou hast dealt more kindly at the latter end than at the beginning--not to go after the young men, either poor or rich.
11
And now, my daughter, fear not, all that thou sayest I do to thee, for all the gate of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12
And now, surely, true, that I am a redeemer, but also there is a redeemer nearer than I.
13
Lodge to night, and it hath been in the morning, if he doth redeem thee, well: he redeemeth; and if he delight not to redeem thee, then I have redeemed thee--I; Jehovah liveth! lie down till the morning.'

The Morning Departure and Naomi’s Assurance

14
And she lieth down at his feet till the morning, and riseth before one doth discern another; and he saith, `Let it not be known that the woman hath come into the floor.'
15
And he saith, `Give the covering which is on thee, and keep hold on it;' and she keepeth hold on it, and he measureth six measures of barley, and layeth it on her; and he goeth into the city.
16
And she cometh in unto her mother-in-law, and she saith, `Who art thou, my daughter?' and she declareth to her all that the man hath done to her.
17
And she saith, `These six measures of barley he hath given to me, for he said, Thou dost not go in empty unto thy mother-in-law.'
18
And she saith, `Sit still, my daughter, till thou dost know how the matter falleth, for the man doth not rest except he hath completed the matter to-day.'
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