1 T hen Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not look for a home for you, so all will be well with you?

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to Ruth, My daughter, shall I not seek rest or a home for you, that you may prosper?

2 I s not Boaz of our family, with whose women servants you were? See, he is dividing the grain from the waste at his grain-floor tonight.

And now is not Boaz, with whose maidens you were, our relative? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

3 S o wash yourself. Pour oil on yourself and wear your best clothes. Then go down to the grain-floor. But do not let the man know who you are until he has finished eating and drinking.

Wash and anoint yourself therefore, 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.

4 W hen he lies down, watch where he lies. Go in and take the covers off his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

But when he lies down, notice the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down. And he will tell you what to do.

5 R uth said to her, “I will do all that you say.”

And Ruth said to her, All that you say to me I will do.

6 S o Ruth went down to the grain-floor and did all her mother-in-law had told her to do.

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had told her.

7 W hen Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was happy, he went to lie down beside the grain. Then Ruth came in secret. She took the covers off his feet and lay down.

And 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 came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.

8 T he man was surprised late in the night. He turned and saw that a woman was lying at his feet.

At midnight the man was startled, and he turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!

9 H e said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth, your woman servant. Spread your covering over me. For you are of our family.”

And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your maidservant. Spread your wing over your maidservant, for you are a next of kin.

10 A nd Boaz said, “May the Lord bring good to you, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than your first by not going after young men, with or without riches.

And he said, Blessed be you of the Lord, my daughter. For you have made this last loving-kindness greater than the former, for you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.

11 N ow my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a good woman.

And now, my daughter, fear not. I will do for you all you require, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of strength (worth, bravery, capability).

12 I t is true that I am of your family. But there is one closer than I.

It is true that I am your near kinsman; however, there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 S tay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

Remain tonight, and in the morning if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good; let him do it. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will do the part of a kinsman for you. Lie down until the morning.

14 S o Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor.”

And she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another; for he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.

15 A nd he said, “Bring the coat you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he loaded her with six jars full of grain. Then she went into the city.

Also he said, Bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it. So held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and laid it on her. And she went into the town.

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

And when she came home, her mother-in-law said, How have you fared, my daughter? And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her.

17 S he said, “He gave me these six jars full of grain. For he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law with empty hands.’”

And she said, He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.

18 N aomi said, “Wait until you know what is going to happen, my daughter. For the man will not rest until the thing is decided upon today.”

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he finishes the matter today.