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 her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

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.

Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, 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.

Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment 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.”

Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”

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

And she 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 according to all that her mother-in-law instructed 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 after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, 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.

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying 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?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

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.

Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go 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, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

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

Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer 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.”

Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until 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.”

So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it 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 shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then 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.

When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “ Is that you, my daughter?” Then she 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, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; 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 she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”