1 T hen Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 N ow is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.

And now, is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he is winnowing barley in the threshing-floor to-night.

3 W ash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go down to the floor; make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

4 I t shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”

And it shall be, when he lies down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall have lain down, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thyself down; and he will shew thee what thou shalt do.

5 S he said to her, “ All that you say I will do.”

And she said to her, All that thou sayest will I do.

6 S o she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.

And she went down to the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law had bidden her.

7 W hen Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.

And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. Then she went softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid herself down.

8 I t happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was startled, and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

9 H e said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thy handmaid: spread thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou hast the right of redemption.

10 T hen he said, “ May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter! Thou hast shewn more kindness at the end than at the first, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

11 N ow, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.

And now, my daughter, fear not: all that thou sayest will I do to thee; for all the gate of my people knows that thou art a woman of worth.

12 N ow it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

And now, truly I am one that has the right of redemption, yet there is one that has the right of redemption who is nearer than I.

13 R emain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

Stay over to-night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem thee, well—let him redeem; but if he like not to redeem thee, then will I redeem thee, Jehovah liveth. Lie down until the morning.

14 S o she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “ Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the threshing-floor.

15 A gain he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.

And he said, Bring the cloak that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And she held it, and he measured six of barley, and laid on her; and he went into the city.

16 W hen she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “ How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.

And she came to her mother-in-law; and she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17 S he said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

And she said, These six of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty to thy mother-in-law.

18 T hen she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”

Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.