Ruth’s Redemption Assured
And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, so that it may be well with you?
And now — is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you have been? Look, he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight.
So wash, and anoint yourself, and put your garments on, and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall know the place where he lies; and you shall go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. And he will tell you what you shall do.”
And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
And she went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was glad; and he came to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. And she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and lay down.
And it was at the middle of the night that the man shuddered and turned over — and look, a woman lying at his feet!
And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wing over your servant — for you are a redeemer.”
And he said: “Blessed are you by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last loyal love better than the first — by not going after the young men, whether poor or rich.
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 valor.
And now — it is true that I am a redeemer; but there is also a redeemer nearer than I.
Stay the night. And it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem you — good, let him redeem. But if he does not desire to redeem you, then I will redeem you, I myself, as the LORD lives. Lie down until the morning.”
And she lay at his feet until the morning, and rose before one man could recognize another; for he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
And he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you, and hold it out.” And she held it out; and he measured out six measures of barley and laid it on her, and he went into the city.
And she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, “How is it with you, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave me — for he said to me, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty.’”
And she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter falls — for the man will not rest unless he has finished the matter today.”