Ruth 3
3
Ruth and Boaz at the threshing-floor
1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, ‘My daughter, I must find a home#3:1 Hebrew find rest (see 1:9) 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#3:9 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 12 and 13. of our family.’
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#3:15 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac she 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 her 17and 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.’
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Ruth 3: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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Ruth 3
3
1After she was returned to her mother-in-law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.
2This Booz, with whose maids thou wast joined in the field, is our near kinsman: and, behold, this night he winnoweth barley in the threshing-floor.
3Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.
4And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place wherein he sleepeth. And thou shalt go in, and lift up the clothes wherewith he is covered towards his feet. And shalt lay thyself down there: and he will tell thee what thou must do.
5She answered: Whatsoever thou shalt command, I will do.
6And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother-in-law had bid her.
7And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down.
8And, behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet,
9And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid. Spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.
10And he said: Blessed art thou of the Lord, my daughter, and thy latter kindness has surpassed the former; because thou hast not followed young men either poor or rich.
11Fear not therefore, but whatsoever thou shalt say to me I will do to thee. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
13Rest thou this night: and when morning is come, if he will take thee by the right of kindred, all is well. But if he will not, I will undoubtedly take thee, as the Lord liveth. Sleep till the morning.
14So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
15And again he said: Spread thy mantle, wherewith thou art covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,
16And came to her mother-in-law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17And she said: Behold, he hath given me six measures of barley; for he said: I will not have thee return empty to thy mother-in-law.
18And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.