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 unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

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 of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

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 thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done 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.”

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

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

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto 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.

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade 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 corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

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

And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: 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 art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

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 thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not 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 to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

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

And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit 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.”

Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: 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: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the 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 vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

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 to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to 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, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy 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 thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.