1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, ‘My daughter, I must find a home[1] for you, where you will be well provided for.2Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing-floor.3Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing-floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.4When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.’5‘I will do whatever you say,’ Ruth answered.6So she went down to the threshing-floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.7When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.8In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned – and there was a woman lying at his feet!9‘Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she said. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer[2] of our family.’ (Le 25:25)10‘The Lord bless you, my daughter,’ he replied. ‘This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.11And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.12Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I.13Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.’14So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognised; and he said, ‘No-one must know that a woman came to the threshing-floor.’15He also said, ‘Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.’ When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he[3] went back to town.16When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, ‘How did it go, my daughter?’ Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her17and added, ‘He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, “Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.” ’18Then Naomi said, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.’
Ruth 3
English Standard Version
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? (Ru 1:9)2Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. (Ru 2:1; Ru 2:8)3Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. (2Sa 12:20; 2Sa 14:2)4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. (Jud 19:6)8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings[1] over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (De 22:30; Ru 2:20; Eze 16:8)10And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. (Ru 1:8; Ru 2:20)11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. (Pr 12:4; Pr 31:10)12And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. (Ru 4:1)13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” (De 25:5; Jud 8:19; Ru 4:5; 1Sa 14:39; 2Sa 4:9; 2Sa 12:5; 2Ki 2:2; 2Ki 2:6)14So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”15And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.16And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her,17saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’”18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”