1 N aomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

Then 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?

2 N ow isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor.

Is 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.

3 T herefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor, but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

So 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.

4 I t shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lay down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

When 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.”

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

Ruth said to her, “I will do all that you say.”

6 S he went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her.

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

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. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid down.

When 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.

8 A t midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

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

9 H e said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.”

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

10 H e said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.

And 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.

11 N ow, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.

Now 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.

12 N ow it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.

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

13 S tay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives. Lie down until the morning.”

Stay 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.”

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

So 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.”

15 H e said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; then he went into the city.

And 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.

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

When 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.

17 S he said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’”

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

18 T hen she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know what will happen; for the man will not rest until he has settled this today.”

Naomi 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.”