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路得有求於波阿斯

路得的婆婆拿俄米對她說:「女兒啊,我不當為你找個安身之處,使你享福嗎? 你與波阿斯的使女常在一處,波阿斯不是我們的親族嗎?他今夜在場上簸大麥, 你要沐浴抹膏,換上衣服,下到場上,卻不要使那人認出你來。你等他吃喝完了, 到他睡的時候,你看準他睡的地方,就進去掀開他腳上的被,躺臥在那裡。他必告訴你所當做的事。」 路得說:「凡你所吩咐的,我必遵行。」

路得就下到場上,照她婆婆所吩咐她的而行。 波阿斯吃喝完了,心裡歡暢,就去睡在麥堆旁邊。路得便悄悄地來掀開他腳上的被,躺臥在那裡。 到了夜半,那人忽然驚醒,翻過身來,不料有女子躺在他的腳下。 他就說:「你是誰?」回答說:「我是你的婢女路得。求你用你的衣襟遮蓋我,因為你是我一個至近的親屬。」 10 波阿斯說:「女兒啊,願你蒙耶和華賜福!你末後的恩比先前更大,因為少年人無論貧富,你都沒有跟從。 11 女兒啊,現在不要懼怕,凡你所說的,我必照著行。我本城的人都知道你是個賢德的女子。 12 我實在是你一個至近的親屬,只是還有一個人比我更近。 13 你今夜在這裡住宿,明早他若肯為你盡親屬的本分,就由他吧。倘若不肯,我指著永生的耶和華起誓:我必為你盡了本分!你只管躺到天亮。」

14 路得便在他腳下躺到天快亮,人彼此不能辨認的時候就起來了。波阿斯說:「不可使人知道有女子到場上來。」 15 又對路得說:「打開你所披的外衣。」她打開了,波阿斯就撮了六簸箕大麥,幫她扛在肩上,她便進城去了。 16 路得回到婆婆那裡,婆婆說:「女兒啊,怎麼樣了?」路得就將那人向她所行的述說了一遍。 17 又說:「那人給了我六簸箕大麥,對我說:『你不可空手回去見你的婆婆。』」 18 婆婆說:「女兒啊,你只管安坐等候,看這事怎樣成就,因為那人今日不辦成這事必不休息。」

路得麦场见波阿斯

一天,路得的婆婆拿俄米对她说:“我的女儿啊,我实在应该为你找个好归宿,使你生活幸福。 波阿斯不是我们的亲戚吗?而且你又常与他的女工在一起。今天晚上他会在麦场簸大麦。 你要梳洗打扮、抹上香膏、换件衣服,然后去麦场,但不要让他认出你是谁。等他吃饱喝足, 躺下睡觉的时候,你看准他躺卧的地方,去掀开盖在他脚上的被,躺在那里,到时他必定会告诉你该怎样做。” 路得说:“好,我一定照你的吩咐去做。”

于是,路得就到麦场去,照她婆婆吩咐的去做。 波阿斯吃过晚饭,心里舒畅,便躺在麦堆旁边睡着了。路得悄悄过去掀起盖在他脚上的被,躺在他脚旁。 到了半夜,波阿斯忽然惊醒,翻过身来,发现一个女子躺在他的脚旁, 便问道:“你是谁?”她答道:“我是你的婢女路得,请用你的衣襟遮盖我,因为你是我的近亲。” 10 波阿斯说:“姑娘,愿耶和华赐福给你,因为你一直对婆家情深义重,现在更是如此。你本来可以找一个或穷或富的年轻丈夫,然而你却没有这样做。 11 姑娘,不要怕,你所说的一切,我都会去为你安排,城里所有的人都知道你是个贤德的女子。 12 不错,我是你的近亲,可是有一个人比我更近。 13 你今晚就留在这里,明天早上,如果他答应尽亲属的义务,就由他照顾你;如果他不肯,我凭永活的耶和华起誓,我会尽我的本分。现在你只管安心睡觉吧。”

14 路得就躺在波阿斯的脚旁。天未亮,还看不清人的时候,路得就起来了。因为波阿斯曾对她说:“不可让别人知道有女人来过这里。” 15 离开的时候,波阿斯对她说:“把你的外衣拿来铺开。”路得就照做了。他用路得的外衣包了六簸箕大麦,帮她扛在肩上,她便回城了。 16 回到家中,婆婆问她:“女儿啊,怎么样了?”路得便将事情的经过都告诉了婆婆。 17 她又说:“那个人给了我六簸箕大麦,对我说,‘不要空手回去见你婆婆。’” 18 拿俄米说:“女儿啊!你只管安静等候,看这事怎样发展,因为那人今天不把事情办妥,是绝不会休息的。”

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi(A) said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a](B) for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative(C) of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.(D) Wash,(E) put on perfume,(F) and get dressed in your best clothes.(G) Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.(H) When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

“I will do whatever you say,”(I) Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor(J) and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits,(K) he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile.(L) Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment(M) over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer[b](N) of our family.”

10 “The Lord bless you,(O) my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier:(P) You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.(Q) 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family,(R) there is another who is more closely related than(S) I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer,(T) good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives(U) I will do it.(V) Lie here until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.(W)(X)

15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl(Y) you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he[c] went back to town.

16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Ruth 3:1 Hebrew find rest (see 1:9)
  2. Ruth 3:9 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 12 and 13.
  3. Ruth 3:15 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac she

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?

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

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.

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.

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

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

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.

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

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 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 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 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 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 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 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 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 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 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.