Ruth

Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “Daughter, I must seek a home for you, where you may be happy.

Now there is our kinsman Boaz, whose girls you were close to. He will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight.

So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

When he lies down, note the place where he lies down, and go over and uncover his feet and lie down.auncover his feet and lie down An act both risqué and risky, making an unmarried woman vulnerable to social disgrace. He will tell you what you are to do.”

She replied, “I will do everything you tell me.”

She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her.

Boaz ate and drank, and in a cheerful mood went to lie down beside the grainpile. Then she went over stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down.

In the middle of the night, the man gave a start and pulled back—there was a woman lying at his feet!

“Who are you?” he asked. And she replied, “I am your handmaid Ruth. Spread your robe over your handmaid,bSpread your robe over your handmaid A formal act of espousal; cf. Ezek. 16.8. Or “Spread your wings…,” a figure for protective intervention; cf. 2.12. for you are a redeeming kinsman.”

He exclaimed, “Be blessed of GOD, daughter! Your latest deed of loyaltycYour latest deed of loyalty Namely, to have sought out a kinsman of her dead husband; see note at 2.20. is greater than the first,dthe first Namely, to have returned with Naomi. in that you have not turned to younger men, whether poor or rich.

And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the elders of my towneelders of my town Lit. “gate of my people.” know what a fine woman you are.

But while it is true I am a redeeming kinsman, there is another redeemer closer than I.

Stay for the night. Then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! Let him redeem. But if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do so myself, as GOD lives! Lie down until morning.”

So she lay at his feet until dawn. She rose before one person could distinguish another, for he thought, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

And he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing.” She held it while he measured out six measures of barley, and he put it on her back.When shefshe So in many Heb. mss; Tiberian Masoretic mss. read “he.” got back to the town,

she came to her mother-in-law, who asked, “How is it with you, daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her;

and she added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

And Naomi said, “Stay here, daughter, till you learn how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”